Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are lightly crosslinked liquid crystal polymers, where LC units are oriented uniformly in the whole sample (monodomain). The key characteristic of monodomain LCEs is that they have the capability to deform unidirectionally, reversibly and largely (strains of 20 – 200%) upon stimulation of heat or light. However, electrical energy is the most convenient and the most in demand stimuli, because the nature does use electrical impulses between nerves and muscles/skins for actuation and sensing with extraordinary efficacy, and electrical stimulation is also more widely utilizable as driving forces in industrial devices. Unfortunately, the examples of electroactive LCEs (eLCEs) are still rare. An ionic electroactive polymer (EAP) is typically a tri-layer system consisting of an ionically conducting membrane sandwiched by two electronically conducting polymers as electrodes. This soft ionic EAP can convert either electrical stimulation into reversible and large bending deformations under low voltage (<2V) (actuator) or convert mechanical stimulation into electrical signal (sensor). Unfortunately, large muscle-like unidirectional contraction/elongation cannot be achieved in this ionic EAP. In this project, we propose to develop new multifunctional eLCEs as biomimetic and bio-sourced actuators and sensors, that comprise both LCEs and ionic EAPs, and use as much as possible bio-based starting materials from bio-feedstocks (sugar, cellulose, cholesterol). These new ionic eLCEs can perform bending and unidirectional contraction/elongation in a decoupling way or in a concomitant way, all under the control of electrical signals. This new combination will offer more degrees of freedom and of control and will bring smart materials closer to biomimetic artificial muscles and sensors.