Zhang Ziyi

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

Zhang Ziyi (Chinese: 章子怡, born February 9, 1979) is a Chinese actress, former dancer, and model. On-screen, she is known for playing independent and strong-willed characters.[1] Born and raised in Beijing, Zhang was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in 1996. That year, she made her acting debut in the television film Touching Starlight (1996). After her breakout role in Zhang Yimou's The Road Home (1999), which won her the Best Actress Award at the 2000 Hundred Flowers Awards, she gained international recognition for her performance in the wuxia martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

She went on to star in the well-received films Hero (2002), 2046 (2004), House of Flying Daggers (2004), Princess Raccoon (2005), Dangerous Liaisons (2012), and The Grandmaster (2013).[2] Her other notable films include Rush Hour 2 (2001), which marked her Hollywood debut, Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), and My Lucky Star (2013), among others.

Early life

Zhang was born and raised in Beijing, China on 9 February 1979.[3][4] Zhang began studying dance when she was 8 years old; at 11, she joined the Beijing Dance Academy at her parents' suggestion.[5] At the age of 15, Zhang won the national youth dance championship and also appeared in a handful of TV commercials and began appearing in television commercials in Hong Kong.[6]

At the Beijing Dance Academy, she studied folk dance for six years. In 1994, she won the performance award in the National Taoli Cup Dance Competition. In 1996, Zhang entered the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing at the age of 17.[7][8]

Influence and public image

Having starred in some of the most celebrated martial arts films of all time, Zhang is widely considered one of the greatest martial arts stars in the history of cinema.[9][10]

Zhang is regarded as one of the Four Dan actresses of China, along with Xu Jinglei, Zhao Wei and Zhou Xun.[11][12] One of the most recognisable Asian actresses in the Western world, Time called her "China's gift to Hollywood" in 2005.[13] The same year, Time named her one of the 100 Most Influential People.[14] In 2021, Douglas Parkes of South China Morning Post (SCMP) described Zhang as "surely the most important Chinese actress of her generation".[15]

Outside her acting career, she has modeled for multiple high-end fashion brands.[16]

Personal life

Zhang credits learning Kung-fu with making her "stronger, both mentally and physically."[17]

In May, 2015, Zhang married Chinese rock musician Wang Feng.[18] They have two children: a daughter (born December 2015)[19] and a son (born January 2020), both born in the United States.[20][21] On October 23, 2023, Zhang and Wang announced their divorce on Weibo.

References

  1. ↑ https://borrowers-ojs-azsu.tdl.org/borrowers/article/download/171/340/701
  2. ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/zhang_ziyi
  3. ↑ "In the mood for oriental siren Zhang Ziyi". China Daily. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "She Makes Magic" Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Time Asia 11 December 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  5. ↑ "Zhang Ziyi, The One that Loves You Most Is Me" Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Hao Rizi Magazine. March 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Ziyi Zhang Biography – Yahoo! Movies" Archived 27 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Yahoo!. 11 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "章子怡：中国形象的代言人". Sina (in Chinese). 10 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zhang-Ziyi#:~:text=Zhang%20Ziyi%20(born%20February%209,propelled%20her%20to%20international%20fame.
  9. ↑ https://www.slashfilm.com/818895/zhang-ziyi-had-some-unique-training-for-her-house-of-flying-daggers-role/
  10. ↑ "The silver screen's greatest martial arts stars". 26 August 2024.
  11. ↑ https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3267221/6-best-female-martial-arts-stars-michelle-yeoh-zhang-ziyi-and-lady-kung-fu
  12. ↑ "综述：谁是中国影视界新"四大名旦"？(附图)" (in Chinese). July 18, 2000. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "The memorable Ziyi Zhang". 25 January 2006.
  14. ↑ Corliss, Richard (18 April 2005). "The 2005 TIME 100 - TIME". Time.
  15. ↑ https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3121024/chinese-actress-zhang-ziyis-5-best-performances-crouching
  16. ↑ https://www.businessoffashion.com/people/zhang-ziyi/
  17. ↑ https://kungfukingdom.com/profile-zhang-ziyi/
  18. ↑ "Zhang Ziyi and Wang Feng got married in Hong Kong on May 10". The Straits Times. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi gives birth to baby girl". CBS News. Associated Press. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  20. ↑ Rui, Zhang (3 January 2020). "Zhang Ziyi gives birth to second child on New Year's Day" Archived 3 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. China.org.cn. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Tan, Kendra (4 January 2020). "Zhang Ziyi Gives Birth To A Baby Boy" Archived 25 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine Today Online. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

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