Lisa Wu

Lisa Wu
Born	Sharon Millette Hartwell
Birthplace	Inglewood, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, actress, realtor, screenwriter, designer
Known for	The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Hollywood Divas

Lisa Wu (born Sharon Millette Hartwell in Inglewood, California) is an American television personality, actress, realtor, screenwriter, and designer. She first gained widespread public attention as an original cast member of Bravo's reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which premiered in 2008, and later appeared on TV One's Hollywood Divas. During her time on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Wu became known for her entrepreneurial ventures and her then-marriage to former NFL linebacker Ed Hartwell. Beyond reality television, Wu has pursued careers in screenwriting, fashion design, and real estate, establishing herself as a multifaceted figure in entertainment and business. She is also an author, having written a book titled When the Cake Is Made.

Early Life

Lisa Wu was born Sharon Millette Hartwell in Inglewood, California, a city in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. She is of mixed heritage; her mother, Victoria Carrie Brislis Wu, was of Chinese descent. Wu grew up in Southern California and developed interests in entertainment and business from an early age. Details regarding her siblings and the specifics of her upbringing remain limited in publicly available sources.

Career

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Wu rose to national prominence as one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the Atlanta-based installment of Bravo's successful Real Housewives franchise. The series was announced in June 2008 as Bravo's expansion of the docu-series franchise into the southern United States. During her tenure on the show, Wu was featured alongside her then-husband, former NFL player Ed Hartwell, and their life in Duluth, Georgia, where the couple had built a home together.

Wu appeared on the series during its first two seasons. Her time on the show was marked by both her business ventures and interpersonal dynamics with other cast members. One notable incident involved allegations made by fellow cast member Kim Zolciak, who claimed that Wu had threatened her. Wu publicly denied the allegations, stating in an interview with Essence magazine, "I never threatened to kill Kim."

After departing The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Wu reflected on her experience with the franchise. In a 2014 interview with Bravo's The Daily Dish, she discussed her life after the show and the various professional endeavors she had pursued since leaving the series.

Hollywood Divas

Following her departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Wu joined the cast of Hollywood Divas, a reality television series on TV One. The show, which focused on the lives of women in the entertainment industry navigating their careers in Hollywood, provided Wu with a new platform on television. In a 2015 interview with DELUX Magazine, which featured Wu on its cover, she discussed her involvement with the show and her broader ambitions in the entertainment industry. Wu described her various projects and made clear that she was not content to be defined solely by her previous reality television appearances.

Screenwriting and Acting

Beyond her reality television career, Wu has pursued work as a screenwriter and actress. Her filmography, as cataloged on IMDb, includes credits in both acting and writing roles. Wu has sought to establish herself in scripted entertainment in addition to unscripted television, working on projects outside of the reality genre that brought her initial fame.

Real Estate

Wu has also worked as a licensed realtor. Her involvement in real estate has been documented in various media appearances, and she has been identified as active in the property market. This career path has been part of her broader portfolio of professional activities spanning entertainment, business, and property.

Writing

Wu authored a book titled When the Cake Is Made. In an interview with Essence magazine, she discussed the book and its connection to her experiences, including her time on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The book represented one of several ventures Wu pursued as she expanded her career beyond reality television.

Fashion and Design

Wu has also been involved in fashion design, adding to her range of entrepreneurial activities. Her design work has been referenced in various media profiles as part of her multifaceted career.

Personal Life

Wu was married to former NFL linebacker Ed Hartwell. During their marriage, the couple resided in a home they built together in Duluth, Georgia, which was featured on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and profiled by Essence magazine. The marriage between Wu and Hartwell ended in divorce, with court documents indicating that the divorce was finalized in early 2012.

Wu's mother, Victoria Carrie Brislis Wu, was of Chinese heritage. The loss of her mother was a significant event in Wu's personal life, and the obituary for Victoria Carrie Brislis Wu has been publicly documented.

Recognition

Wu's career in reality television brought her considerable public recognition. As an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, one of the highest-rated installments in the Real Housewives franchise, Wu gained a significant media profile. Her appearances on the show led to interviews and features in outlets including Essence magazine and DELUX Magazine, which featured her on its cover in 2015.

Wu's post-Housewives career on Hollywood Divas further maintained her visibility in the entertainment industry. Her work across multiple fields—including television, writing, real estate, and fashion—has been noted in media coverage as an example of diversified career pursuits in the entertainment world.