Zhang Ziyi Profile



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Full Name:Zhang Ziyi
Birth Name:Zhang Ziyi
Famous As: Actress
Date of Birth: February 09, 1979
Place of Birth: Beijing, China
Height: 5' 5
Nationality: Chinese
Hair Color: Brunette
Relationships: Zhang Yimou (director)
Father: Zhang Yuanxiao
Mother: Li Zhousheng
Brother(s): Zhang Zinan (older)
Education: Joined the Beijing Dance Academy in 1990
Attended China's prestigious Central Academy of Drama
Claim to Fame: As Jiao Long in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Full Biography     Comments

Zhang Ziyi News and Gossip

  • 'Green' charcoal?
    CNN - Found Jun. 15, 2008
    China Daily reported recently that Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has not only recently decked the floor of her Beijing restaurant in it;
  • Can Shanghai host an international event?
    China Herald - Found Jun. 15, 2008
    30 in the morning as it rained outside. At a later press gathering, "Memoirs of a Geisha" actress Zhang Ziyi said she had helped raise over...
  • Hugh Grant and Zhang Ziyi Are 'Lost for Words'
    Cinematical - Found Jun. 10, 2008
    She's set to direct Lost for Words , a Universal Pictures release that may star the bumbling Brit Hugh Grant and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi .
  • Hugh Grant, Zhang Ziyi get "Lost for Words"
    People's Daily Online - Found Jun. 12, 2008
    British heart-throb Hugh Grant and 'Memoirs of a Geisha' star Zhang Ziyi are to star in a romantic comedy set in the world of moviemaking,
  • Hugh Grant and Zhang Ziyi get 'Lost for Words'
    China Post - Found Jun. 11, 2008
    AFPLOS ANGELES -- British heart throb Hugh Grant and 'Memoirs of a Geisha' star Zhang Ziyi are to star in a romantic comedy set in the world of ...
  • Zhang Ziyi: no English, no problem!
    Guardian Unlimited - Found Jun. 10, 2008
    Zhang Ziyi. Photograph: John Schultz/Reuters Zhang Ziyi must represent an irritating combination for Hollywood producers: Huge star in the...
  • The First InStyle China Featuring Zhang Ziyi
    Red Carpet Fashion Awards - Found Jun. 9, 2008
    ... model Gemma Ward, InStyle China's cover only features the home grown talent, in the gorgeous actress Zhang Ziyi. On the cover the actress is...
  • Hugh Grant, Zhang Ziyi get "Lost for Words"
    Xinhuanet - Found Jun. 11, 2008
    BEIJING, June 12 -- British heart-throb Hugh Grant and 'Memoirs of a Geisha' star Zhang Ziyi are to star in a romantic comedy set in the world of
  • Stalked: Hugh Grant, Smurfs
    Filmstalker - Found Jun. 9, 2008
    Hugh Grant and Zhang Ziyi will star together in Lost for Words. The Smurfs film is still going ahead....Visit Filmstalker for the full story.
  • Modest Zhang Ziyi
    StyleCritics - Found May. 22, 2008
    Though Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has set her mark in the Western movie world with Hollywood blockbusters like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and
 

Zhang Ziyi Biography

Zhang Ziyi
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

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

Zhang at the 2006 BAFTAs
Chinese name 章子怡
Pinyin Zhāng Zǐyí (Mandarin)
Origin People's Republic of China
Born February 9, 1979 (1979-02-09) (age 29)
Beijing, China
Occupation Actress
Years active 1999 - present

Zhang Ziyi (born February 9, 1979, in Beijing) is a Golden Rooster, Hong Kong Film Award winning and three-time BAFTA nominated Chinese film actress, 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, Seijun Suzuki and Rob Marshall.

Contents

Early life

Born in Beijing, China, Zhang joined the Beijing Dance Academy at the age of 11. When Zhang's parents suggested she go to the dance academy, she was skeptical. While at the boarding school, she noticed how catty the other girls were while competing for status amongst the teachers. Zhang disliked the attitude so much, that on one occasion, she ran away from the school.[1]

Zhang entered China's prestigious Central Academy of Drama (regarded as the top acting college in China) at the age of 15.

Career

At the age of 19, Zhang was offered her first role in Yimou's The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. Zhang further rose to fame due to her role as the headstrong Jen (Chinese version: Xia Long) in the phenomenally successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which she won the Independent Spirit's Best Supporting Actress Award and the Toronto Film Critics' Best Supporting Actress Award.

Zhang's first appearance in an American movie was in Rush Hour 2, but because she didn't speak English at the time, Jackie Chan had to translate everything the director said to her. In the movie, her character's name, "Hu Li," is translated from Mandarin Chinese to "Fox".

Zhang then appeared in Hero, with her early mentor Yimou, which was a huge success in the English-speaking world and an Oscar and a Golden Globe contender. Her next film was the avant-garde drama Purple Butterfly by Lou Ye, which competed at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Zhang went back to the martial arts genre with House of Flying Daggers (called 十面埋伏，"Attack from Ten Sides" in Chinese), which earned her a Best Actress nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

In 2046, 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.

In 2005, Zhang landed the lead role of Sayuri in the film adaptation of the international bestseller Memoirs of a Geisha. For the film, she reunited with her 2046 co-star Gong Li and with her 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.[2]

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

In the fall of 2006, Zhang played Empress Wan in The Banquet (Yè Yàn 夜宴), a film set in the Tang Dynasty.

Zhang provided the voice of Karai in the TMNT movie that was released on March 23, 2007. She later starred in The Horsemen (2008) with Dennis Quaid and in Mei Lanfang (2008).

Ambassadorship

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 "Care for 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 involved in an extramarital affair with actress Gong Li, whom he similarly debuted and with whom Zhang Ziyi was quickly compared. However, a relationship between the two remains unconfirmed.[3]

Hong Kong and Taiwanese media have often pushed at ties between Zhang and co-star Jackie Chan.[4] This was fuelled 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.

Although Zhang does not like to talk in public about her private life, in 2006, she stated in an interview that she had found love - but did not offer a name.[5] When quizzed by Phoenix TV in early 2007 if she was happy, she stated in the interview: "Yes, very much so ... I'm doing the things I enjoy." [6]

In January 2007, Zhang was spotted holding hands and kissing her new partner at a New York basketball game. The man was identified as 41-year-old, 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.[7][8]

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!"

Other information

  • Of the characters making up her name, Zhāng (章) is her surname (not to be confused with the more common Zhāng 张 which is a homonym but written with a different character), Zǐ (子) means child or esteemed person, and Yí (怡) means joy or happiness. She has appeared in English language films under the name Ziyi Zhang. In an interview, she stated that the name change was her publicist's idea of a way to appeal to Western audiences.
  • Zhang says that one of her methods of learning the English language was listening to Eminem, which apparently led to some embarrassing situations. She said "I don't always know what he is talking about, so I write down the lyrics and repeat them. Later, I understood how rude they were."[9]

Filmography

Year English Title Chinese Title Role Director
1996 Touching Starlight 星星点灯 Chen Wei Sun Wenxue
1999 The Road Home 我的父親母親 Young Zhao Di Zhang Yimou
2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 卧虎藏龙 Jen Yu Ang Lee
2001 Rush Hour 2 尖峰时刻2 Hu Li Brett Ratner
The Legend of Zu 蜀山传 Joy Tsui Hark
Musa 武士 Princess Bu-yong Kim Sung-su
2002 Hero 英雄 Moon Zhang Yimou
2003 Purple Butterfly 紫蝴蝶 Cynthia/Ding Hui Lou Ye
My Wife is a Gangster 2 我老婆是大佬2 Gangster boss Jeong Heung-sun
2004 2046 2046 Bai Ling Wong Kar-wai
House of Flying Daggers 十面埋伏 Mei Zhang Yimou
Jasmine Women 茉莉花开 Young Mo/Young Li/Young Hua Hou Yong
2005 Princess Raccoon 狸御殿 Princess Tanuki Seijun Suzuki
Memoirs of a Geisha 艺伎回忆录 Sayuri Nitta/Chiyo Sakamoto Rob Marshall
2006 The Banquet 夜宴 Wan Feng Xiaogang
2007 TMNT 忍者神龟 Karai Kevin Munroe
2008 The Horsemen 骑士 Kristen Jonas Åkerlund
Mei Lanfang 梅兰芳 Meng Xiaodong Chen Kaige
2009 Lost for Words 失语 Lin Zhen Susanne Bier
2009 Mulan 花木蘭 Hua Mulan Harvey Weinstein

Awards and nominations

Awards nominated

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

BAFTA Awards

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

Golden Globes

Golden Horse Film Festival

Hong Kong Film Awards

Image Awards

Kids' Choice Awards

MTV Movie Awards

Online Film Critics Society Awards

Satellite Awards

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Teen Choice Awards

  • 2001 - Film - Choice Breakout Performance

Awards won

Hundred Flowers Awards

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

  • 2001 - Most Promising Actress

Golden Bauhinia Awards

Golden Rooster Awards

  • 2004 - Best Actress for Mo li hua kai

Hong Kong Film Awards

  • 2005 - Best Actress for 2046

Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

  • 2005 - Best Actress for 2046

Independent Spirit Awards

MTV Movie Awards

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

Young Artist Awards

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 recently 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)[10]
  • Voted #1 in E!'s Sexiest Action Stars list in summer 2007.

See also

References

  1. ^ TIMEasia.com | She Makes Magic | 12/11/2000
  2. ^ Academy Invites 112 to Membership
  3. ^ Zhang Ziyi: Rising Movie Star
  4. ^ Zhang Ziyi at HelloZiyi.us - Ziyi is China's Best Export
  5. ^ Zhang Ziyi Is In Love, Would Love To Get Married - Starpulse Entertainment News Blog
  6. ^ 凤凰宽频_凤凰网
  7. ^ The Power 50: DETAILS Article on men.style.com
  8. ^ Zhang Ziyi Indentured to Weinsteins? - Cinematical
  9. ^ Ziyi Zhang - Ziyi: 'Eminem Was My English Teacher'
  10. ^ Ziyi poses for Playboy

External links


Persondata
NAME Zhang, Ziyi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Chinese actress
DATE OF BIRTH February 9, 1979
PLACE OF BIRTH Beijing, China
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
 

Zhang Ziyi Pictures

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Image http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/mtv movie awards 05.htm [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq03 thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq06 thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq14 thumb.jpg[/img] Picture

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Image Zhang Ziyi Zhang Ziyi was born the 9th of February 1979, in Beijing, China. She broke into acting when she was cast in the lead role of 1999s The Road Home (also known as Wo de fu qim mu qin). The role Picture

Title: zhang ziyi hair down.jpg
Description: Zhang Ziyi Zhang Ziyi was born the 9th of February 1979, in Beijing, China. She broke into acting when she was cast in the lead role of 1999s The Road Home (also known as Wo de fu qim mu qin). The role

Image Ziyi in the January issue of LOfficiel China. Picture

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Description: Ziyi in the January issue of LOfficiel China.

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Image Wallpapers Girls Zhang Ziyi Original name of picture: girls 2 Zhang Ziyi 29.jpg Right mouse click on picture and choose Use image on desktop . Picture

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Image [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq03 thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq06 thumb.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.helloziyi.us/Galleries/zhang ziyi mtv movie awards05 hq14 thumb.jpg[/img] Picture

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Image Actrita asiatica in varsta de 26 de ani, Zhang Ziyi, a fost aleasa sa joace rolul principal in cel mai recent film al lui Rob Marshall, ecranizarea dupa best seller ul lui Arthur Golden, Picture

Title: Zhang Ziyi The Geisha Girl 2.jpg
Description: Actrita asiatica in varsta de 26 de ani, Zhang Ziyi, a fost aleasa sa joace rolul principal in cel mai recent film al lui Rob Marshall, ecranizarea dupa best seller ul lui Arthur Golden,

Zhang Ziyi Videos

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video minute video of Zhang Ziyi speaking in English at the HFPA Luncheon last week. She answers a few questions and gives a speech thanking the HFPA for its donations to FilmAid International. Ziyi at HFPA Luncheon 4 MB wmv Picture

Title: ziyi at hfpa luncheon.wmv
Description: minute video of Zhang Ziyi speaking in English at the HFPA Luncheon last week. She answers a few questions and gives a speech thanking the HFPA for its donations to FilmAid International. Ziyi at HFPA Luncheon 4 MB wmv

video We have two video clips, one is her complete scene in the movie, the other a behind the scenes look at her on the set and at an autograph signing. Ziyis 30 second scene 3 MB avi Ziyi on the set 7 MB wmv Pictures Picture

Title: ziyi on gangster set.wmv
Description: We have two video clips, one is her complete scene in the movie, the other a behind the scenes look at her on the set and at an autograph signing. Ziyis 30 second scene 3 MB avi Ziyi on the set 7 MB wmv Pictures

video 46 Preview Opening Date : Oct. 15 Director : Wong Kar wai Main Cast: Gong Li, Kimura Takuya, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Maggie Cheung, Faye Wong 46 pre.wmv Preview Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea Picture

Title: 46 Preview Opening Date : Oct. 15 Director : Wong Kar wai Main...
Description: 46 Preview Opening Date : Oct. 15 Director : Wong Kar wai Main Cast: Gong Li, Kimura Takuya, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Maggie Cheung, Faye Wong 46 pre.wmv Preview Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea

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video Zhang Ziyi CCTV Interview A few days ago Ziyi was interviewed on CCTV, Chinas main television network. The interview is in Mandarin, of course, so Im only posting this three minute clip (8 MB wmv) from the half hour interview. If you want to download the whole thing, see this forum thread . Below are a couple of pictures, of higher quality than the Picture

Title: cctv ziyi interview 05 clip.wmv
Description: Zhang Ziyi CCTV Interview A few days ago Ziyi was interviewed on CCTV, Chinas main television network. The interview is in Mandarin, of course, so Im only posting this three minute clip (8 MB wmv) from the half hour interview. If you want to download the whole thing, see this forum thread . Below are a couple of pictures, of higher quality than the

video Interview with Zhang Ziyi A three minute interview she gave during the Cannes Film Festival. It is in Mandarin with English translation 5 MB wmv Picture

Title: princess raccoon ziyi interview1.wmv
Description: Interview with Zhang Ziyi A three minute interview she gave during the Cannes Film Festival. It is in Mandarin with English translation 5 MB wmv

video the Toronto Film Festival and broadcast on CityTV in Canada. The questions are mostly about House of Flying Daggers, and her answers, except for the first one, are all in English. 21 Mb wmv Picture

Title: Ziyi interview.wmv
Description: the Toronto Film Festival and broadcast on CityTV in Canada. The questions are mostly about House of Flying Daggers, and her answers, except for the first one, are all in English. 21 Mb wmv

video Behind The Scenes About Ziyi 1 MB mov The Fashion 1 MB mov Picture

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Description: Behind The Scenes About Ziyi 1 MB mov The Fashion 1 MB mov

video Dance video 2 8 MB wmv Picture

Title: ziyi early dance2.wmv
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video Dance video 1 8 MB wmv Picture

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Description: Dance video 1 8 MB wmv