Zhang Ziyi

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang.

Zhang Ziyi
at the 2006 British Academy Film Awards
Chinese name	章子怡
Pinyin	Zhāng Zǐyí (Mandarin)
Origin	People's Republic of China
Born	February 9, 1979 (1979-02-09) (age 32) Beijing, China
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996–present
Official Website	www.helloziyi.com

Zhang Ziyi^[1] (Chinese: 章子怡; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí; Wade–Giles: Chang Tzu-i; born February 9, 1979) is a Chinese film actress. Zhang is coined by the media as one of the Four Young Dan actresses (四小花旦) in the Film Industry in China, along with Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei, and Zhou Xun.^[2] With a string of Chinese and international hits to her name, she has worked with renowned directors such as Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-Wai, Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, Lou Ye, Seijun Suzuki, Feng Xiaogang and Rob Marshall.

She achieved wider fame after starring in major roles for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), House of Flying Daggers (2004), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).

In May 2006, Zhang became the youngest member to sit on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival.

Early life

Zhang Ziyi was born and raised in Beijing, China, to Zhang Yuanxiao, an accountant and later economist, and Li Zhousheng, a kindergarten teacher.^[3][4] She is very close to her older brother, Zhang Zinan (Chinese: 章子男; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐnán; born 1973). Zhang began studying dance when she was 8 years old; subsequently, she joined the Beijing Dance Academy by her parents' suggestion at the age of 11.^[5] While at this boarding school, she noticed how mean the other girls were to each other while competing for status amongst the teachers. Zhang disliked the attitudes of her peers and teachers so much that, on one occasion, she ran away from the school.^[4] At the age of 15, Zhang won the national youth dance championship and began appearing in television commercials in Hong Kong.^[6]

In 1996, Zhang entered China's prestigious Central Academy of Drama (regarded as the top acting college in China) at the age of 18.

Career

1999–2002

At the age of 19, Zhang was offered her first role in Zhang Yimou's The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.

She rose to further fame and acclaim in her role as the brave but headstrong Jen (Chinese version: Yu Jiao Long) in the phenomenally worldwide popular and successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which she won several awards in the Western world, such as Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards and Independent Spirit Awards. Zhang's first appearance in an American movie was in Rush Hour 2, but because she did not speak English at the time, Jackie Chan had to interpret everything the director said to her. In the movie, her character's name is "Hu Li", which is Mandarin Chinese for "Fox".

Zhang then appeared in Hero (2002), with her early mentor Zhang Yimou, a huge success in the English-speaking world and was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe award.

2003–2006

She then signed on to film an avant-garde drama, Purple Butterfly (2003), which competed in the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Zhang went back to the martial arts genre in House of Flying Daggers (2004), which earned her a Best Actress nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In 2046 (2004), directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring many of the best-known Chinese actors and actresses, Zhang was the female lead and won the Hong Kong Film Critics' Best Actress Award and the Hong Kong Film Academy's Best Actress Award.

Showing her whimsical musical tap-dancing side, Zhang starred in Princess Raccoon, directed by Japanese legend Seijun Suzuki, who was honored at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. She then accepted the lead role of Sayuri in the film adaptation based on the international bestseller Memoirs of a Geisha. Controversy arose in Japan and China about having a Chinese woman portray a Japanese geisha. For this film, she was reunited with her 2046 co-star Gong Li and with Crouching Tiger co-star Michelle Yeoh. For the role, Zhang received a 2006 Golden Globe Award nomination, a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and a BAFTA nomination.

Zhang has also been known to sing, and was featured on the House of Flying Daggers soundtrack with her own musical rendition of the ancient Chinese poem, Jia Rén Qu (佳人曲, The Beauty Song). The song was also featured in two scenes in the film.

On June 27, 2005, it was announced that Zhang had accepted an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), placing her among the ranks of those able to vote on the Academy Awards.^[7] She then appeared as Empress Wan in The Banquet (2006), a film set in the Tang Dynasty.

2007–present

Zhang provided the voice of Karai in TMNT (2007). She later starred in Forever Enthralled (2008) and appeared in The Horsemen (2009) with Dennis Quaid.

In January 2010, it was announced she had plans to produce a film adaptation of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan; however, it was announced that she had turned down the role due to a busy schedule.^[8]

Zhang has been cast in the role of Lin Huiyin in a 2011 film.^[9]

She is also slated to produce and star in a live action adaptation of the 1998 Disney film Mulan as the titular character.^[10] Production is to begin October 2010.

Ambassadorship and representation

Advertising billboard in Hong Kong of Zhang Ziyi fronting Omega watches

Zhang is the face of Maybelline, Garnier and Shangri-la Hotel and Resort Group. She is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and a spokesperson for "Save the Children," a foster-home program in China.

Personal life

Soon after Zhang's debut in Zhang Yimou's The Road Home, rumors arose regarding a possible affair between the actress and the older director. Zhang Yimou was previously rumored to be involved in an affair with actress Gong Li, whom he similarly debuted and with whom Ziyi was quickly compared. However, no relationship has been confirmed.^[11]

Hong Kong and Taiwanese media have often pushed at ties between Zhang and co-star Jackie Chan.^[12] This was fueled in part by photos that emerged of the pair during celebrations of Chan's birthday on the set of Rush Hour 2.

Zhang for a while was publicly linked with Fok Kai-shan, grandson of Hong Kong business tycoon Henry Fok.

In the July 2006 issue of Interview Magazine, Zhang Ziyi spoke of her movies' contents and being careful about the roles she takes on, especially in Hollywood.

She stated in an early interview that if she had not become an actress, she would have liked to have been a kindergarten teacher, as she "...love[s] children!"

In January 2007, Zhang was spotted holding hands and kissing her new boyfriend at a New York basketball game. The man was identified as Israeli multi-millionaire and venture capitalist, Vivi Nevo. The two were again seen together at an Oscar party in Los Angeles. Nevo, who has previously been tied to model Kate Moss, is a major shareholder in Time Warner and an early backer of The Weinstein Company with whom Zhang is purported to have a multi-film deal. Zhang Ziyi and Nevo are currently engaged.^[14][15] Zhang has also obtained Hong Kong residentship through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme for her contribution to the local film industry.^[16]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Awards nominated

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

• 2001 – Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2005 – Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers

Asian Film Awards,

• 2007 – Best Actress for The Banquet

BAFTA Awards

• 2001 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2005 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for House of Flying Daggers
• 2006 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Memoirs of a Geisha

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Chlotrudis Awards

• 2006 – Best Supporting Actress for 2046

Golden Globes

• 2006 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for Memoirs of a Geisha

Golden Horse Film Festival

• 2000 – Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2004 – Best Actress for 2046
• 2009 – Best Supporting Actress for Forever Enthralled

Golden Rooster Awards

• 2009 – Best Actress for Forever Enthralled

Hong Kong Film Awards

• 2001 – Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2003 – Best Supporting Actress for Hero

Hundred Flowers Awards

• 2006 – Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers

Image Awards

• 2006 – Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Memoirs of a Geisha

Kids' Choice Awards

• 2002 – Favorite Female Action Hero for Rush Hour 2

MTV Movie Awards

• 2001 – Breakthrough Female Performance for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2002 – Best Villain for Rush Hour 2
• 2005 – Best Fight for House of Flying Daggers (For Zhang Ziyi vs. The Emperor's guards)
• 2006 – Sexiest Performance for Memoirs of a Geisha

National Society of Film Critics Awards

• 2005 – Best Supporting Actress for 2046

Online Film Critics Society Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Satellite Awards

• 2005 – Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for Memoirs of a Geisha

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 2006 – Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Memoirs of a Geisha

Teen Choice Awards

• 2001 – Film — Choice Breakout Performance

Awards won

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

• 2001 – Most Promising Actress

Golden Bauhinia Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Golden Rooster Awards

• 2004 – Best Actress for Mo li hua kai (Jasmine Women)

Hong Kong Film Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for 2046

Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for 2046

Huabiao Film Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers
• 2005 – Best Actress for Forever Enthralled

Hundred Flowers Awards

• 2000 – Best Actress for The Road Home

Independent Spirit Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Female for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Iranian Film Festival

• 2001 – Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

MTV Movie Awards

• 2001 – Best Fight for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Versus entire bar)

Shanghai International Film Festival

• 2008 – Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

• 2000 – Best Supporting Performance, Female for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Young Artist Awards

• 2001 – Best Young Actress in an International Film for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Magazine recognition

• Ranked 2nd of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan (2001).
• Named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2001).
• Named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2002).
• Ranked #91 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" (2002)
• Voted in at #100 in FHM's Sexiest 100 Girls of 2002, UK edition. [June 2002]
• Forbes magazine's China edition ranked her the second most popular celebrity after NBA player 'Yao Ming' . [August 2004]
• Named by Entertainment Weekly in their 'The Must List' 2005. Listed 38th out of the 122 people and things the magazine "loves" this year, Ziyi was the only Chinese to be included.
• Selected by Southern People Weekly magazine as 'Chinese Top Ten Leaders Of The Younger Generation' in 2005.
• Listed in People's '50 Most Beautiful People' List in 2005.
• Listed in TIME's World's 100 Most Influential People. They called her "China's Gift to Hollywood".
• Ranked one of the '100 Most Beautiful Women in the World' in the July 2005 issue of Harpers & Queen magazine. It was her first time on the list. She was ranked number 15.
• Included in People's 100 Most Beautiful People in the World the second year in a row in 2006. This is now her third appearance on the list.
• Voted in at #86 in FHM's sexiest women in the world in 2006. She had not appeared in the list since 2002.
• Topped Japanese Playboy's "100 Sexiest Women in Asia" list and was featured on the cover. (April 2006)^[17]
• Voted #1 in E!'s Sexiest Action Stars list in summer 2007.
• Ranked #3 in Japanese magazine CLASSY's 'Super Perfect Head-to-Body Size Ratio List' in January 2009.

See also

• Cinema of China

References

External links

• Zhang Ziyi at the Internet Movie Database
• Zhang Ziyi's Official Website