Biography
Zhang Ziyi was born on February 9, 1979, in Beijing, China, and is the daughter of an economist father and a kindergarten teacher. Raised with her older brother in an urban, working-class part of Beijing, Zhang was originally interested in dance and gymnastics.
Zhang Ziyi is one of the best-known Chinese film actresses working today, 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.
Her entry into the dance world came at age 11, when she was accepted to a secondary school affiliated with Beijing Dancing College. During the four years that she was trained in dance, she managed to pick up some awards, including one at the National Young Dancer competition.
Although a career in dance seemed promising for the graceful Zhang, she became frustrated with the art by the time she was 15, and opted to become an actress instead.
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 films, including Raise the Red Lantern, Zhang Yimou 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 was later rereleased by Sony Picture Classics, thanks to her flourishing success.
The Road Home won the "Jury Grand Prix" Silver Bear at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.
zhang in crouching tiger, hidden dragon
When Ang Lee was casting actors for his martial arts marvel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (aka Wo hu cang long), 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 was 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 film in U.S. history at the time), and went on to earn a roaring $130 million at the box office and four Academy Awards, among the long list of other 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 in rush hour 2
Zhang Ziyi was cast to play the villain in the summer 2001 sequel to the successful comedy Rush Hour, appearing opposite the comedy duo of Chris Tucker and martial arts master Jackie Chan. She was cast in the film without knowing a word of English, and despite having taken English lessons, she speaks strictly Chinese in the film (with subtitles).
zhang ziyi in memoirs of a geisha
Since then, the roles have been pouring in, most notably in hits like Hero (2002) and House of Flying Daggers (2004). After 2004's Jasmine Women (a.k.a. Mo li hua kai), Zhang Ziyi starred in the 2005 musical feature Operetta tanuki goten. She kept busy in 2005 with roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Good Cook, Likes Music.
zhang ziyi is named no. 94 in 2008 top 99
In 2007, Zhang Ziyi lent her voice to the much-anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as the character Karai, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart and Chris Evans.
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.
Zhang Ziyi's doll-like features and porcelain skin, not to mention her raging sex appeal, landed her a spot on AskMen.com's 2008 Top 99 Most Desirable Women list.
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
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
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
Hong Kong Film Awards
* 2001 - Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
* 2003 - Best Supporting Actress for Hero
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
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
Hundred Flowers Awards - 2000 - Best Actress for The Road Home
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
Hong Kong Film Awards - 2005 - Best Actress for 2046
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards - 2005 - Best Actress for 2046
Independent Spirit Awards - 2001 - Best Supporting Female for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
MTV Movie Awards - 2001 - Best Fight for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
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 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
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