Lucy Liu's Animated 'Kung Fu' Fun!

LUCY LIU teaches JACK BLACK the virtues of martial arts in 'Kung Fu Panda,' the family fun CGI-animated comedy in theaters June 6, and "The Insider" has her take on the deadly discipline!

"The idea of martial arts is that you can probably do a lot of damage to somebody if you needed to," she explains, "but the idea that you know that you can and that you don't is really the art [and] the beauty behind martial arts."

In 'Kung Fu Panda,' Jack plays Po, a clumsy panda who works in his family's noodle shop and dreams of being a kung fu king. One day, his dreams become reality when he is unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and study with his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress (ANGELINA JOLIE), Crane ("Arrested Development" star DAVID CROSS), Mantis ('Knocked Up''s SETH ROGEN), Monkey (JACKIE CHAN) and Viper (Liu) -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu (DUSTIN HOFFMAN).

"Viper's a snake, which can be very deceiving, because she seems quite lethal, but she's actually quite sweet," explains Lucy.

But can Po turn his greatest weaknesses into his greatest strengths when he's faced with the Furious Five's deadliest foe -- the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung ('Deadwood' star IAN McSHANE)?

"I just loved the idea of the underdog coming up and having something that he doesn't know he has: potential," says Lucy.

Watch "The Insider" for more with the stars of 'Kung Fu Panda'!

Published 5/22/08 by the Insider