Zhang Ziyi – Biography
Zhang Ziyi (Chinese: 章子怡, pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí; born February 9, 1979) is a Chinese film actress and singer. Zhang is considered one of the Four Young Dan actresses (四小花旦) in China, along with Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei, and Zhou Xun.[1] 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, Jackie Chan, Seijun Suzuki and Rob Marshall.
Early on Zhang pursued interests in dance and gymnastics. At age 11, she was accepted into a secondary school affiliated with the prestigious Beijing Dancing College. While she picked up some awards, she became frustrated with the pressures.
At 15, Zhang opted to become an actress instead and enrolled in Beijing’s acclaimed Central Drama Academy. Four years later, she auditioned for a shampoo commercial by China’s renowned director Zhang Yimou, who used the advertisement as a way to screen actresses for his upcoming film, The Road Home. The veteran director cast her for the lead, the role of a young, rural schoolgirl in love with a schoolteacher.
In 2000, Zhang landed a high-profile part as the headstrong Jen Yu in Ang Lee’s phenomenally successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The role earned Zhang the Independent Spirit’s Best Supporting Actress Award and the Toronto Film Critics’ Best Supporting Actress Award.
* A hair-raising experience
She therefore enrolled in the Central Drama Academy in Beijing, where she received her dramatic training. Zhang Ziyi’s calling was answered when she least expected it. She auditioned for a shampoo commercial, directed by Zhang Yimou (one of China’s most renowned directors). The director of many successful film, including Raise the Red Lantern, used the commercial as a way to audition actresses for his upcoming film.
Zhang Yimou knew that Zhang Ziyi was the perfect choice for the part of a young, rural schoolgirl in love with a schoolteacher, and she was cast in the lead role of 1999’s The Road Home (also known as Wo de fu qim mu qin). Since Zhang Ziyi was unknown at the time of the film’s release, it will be re-released with Sony Picture Classics in 2001 thanks to her flourishing success.
When The Road Home was released in China, Zhang Ziyi was given the nickname “Little Gong Li,” in reference to the mega-popular Asian actress, Gong Li. While this may sound flattering, the nickname is not intended to refer to Zhang Ziyi’s potential as the next Gong Li, rather, it refers to the alleged affair that Zhang Ziyi had with director Zhang Yimou. Gong Li was once considered the director’s muse and mistress, but they broke up in 1994. Both Zhang Ziyi and Zhang Yimou have denied the affair.
The Road Home won the Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.
* Watch the Dragon fly
When Ang Lee was casting actors for his martial-arts marvel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he had famous Taiwanese actress Shu Qi in mind for the role of butt-kicking aristocrat Jen Yu. But after seeing Zhang Ziyi’s performance in The Road Home, he knew she’d be the one for the role — and she probably only exceeded Lee’s expectations.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon became one of the biggest hits of 2000 (and the most popular foreign films in US history), and went on to earn a roaring $130 million at the box office and garner 4 Academy Awards, among the long list of awards it won.
The film’s success ensured that Zhang Ziyi would become a familiar face to filmgoers, as the high-flying, graceful martial artist who shares fight scenes with Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat and has sex with Chang Chen in the Gobi Desert.
Her role garnered her the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2000 as well as the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Scene in 2001. She was also one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World, in 2001.
Zhang Ziyi Beach Photos
Categories: Celebrities, Photos
