Zhang Ziyi is a well-known model and actress from China. She has acted in the films ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, ‘The Road Home’, ‘Musa’, ‘My Wife is a Gangster 2’, ‘Jasmine Women’, ‘Love for Life’, ‘My Lucky Star’, and ‘The Wasted Times’, and is considered one of the country’s ‘Four Dan’ (most bankable) actresses. Ziyi is also recognized for her roles in the films “Hero,” “Rush Hour 2,” “The Banquet,” and “House of Flying Daggers.” Her most critically lauded work is ‘The Grandmaster,’ for which she got 12 Best Actress awards, becoming the actress with the most accolades for a single Chinese film. Ziyi’s work in the film ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ also gained her accolades, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. From 2004 through 2010, the Chinese beauty, who is the brand ambassador for Omega Watches, Visa, Maybelline, and Garnier, ranked among the top five on Forbes’ “Celebrity 100” list. Ziyi is also the spokesperson for an organization that provides child care. She is also the Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics in China. Additionally, the Actress worked as an ambassador and image ambassador for the ScreenSingapore 2011 film festival and the 1st Beijing International Film Festival, respectively.
Youth and Early Life
Zhang Ziyi was born in Beijing, China, on 9 February 1979 to Li Zhousheng, a kindergarten teacher, and Zhang Yuanxiao, a later accountant and economist. He is her older brother, and his name is Zhang Zinan.
At the age of eight, Ziyi began dancing lessons. Later, at age 11, she entered the Beijing Dance Academy.
At the age of 15, she won the national youth dance competition and began starring in Hong Kong television commercials. At the age of 17, she enrolled at Beijing’s Central Academy of Drama.
Zhang Ziyi’s Career
In 1998, director Zhang Yimou offered Zhang Ziyi her first acting part in his film “The Road Home.” Then, in 2000, she participated in the martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
In 2001, the actress then appeared in the American film “Rush Hour 2.” She appeared in the films ‘The Legend of Zu’ and ‘Musa’ in the same year.
In 2002, Zhang co-starred opposite Tony Leung in the film “Hero.” This film was so successful that it was nominated for both the Oscars and the Golden Globes.
The Chinese beauty starred in “My Wife Is a Gangster 2” the next year. Her subsequent performance was in the romantic drama film 2046.
Zhang subsequently appeared in the films House of Flying Daggers and ‘Jasmine Women’. Next, she portrayed Princess Tanuki in the film Princess Raccoon. This film, directed by Seijun Suzuki of Japan, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Chinese actress subsequently portrayed Sayuri in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’, showcasing her musical tap-dancing skills.
In 2006, she made an appearance in the Chinese film The Banquet. One year later, she provided the voice for Karai in the American animated film TMNT.
Ziyi made the 2008 film “Forever Enthralled.” She subsequently appeared in “Horsemen,” “Sophie’s Revenge,” and “The Founding of a Republic.”
In 2011, she portrayed Gu Changwei in the AIDS-themed film “Love for Life.” She starred in the Chinese-Korean co-production “Dangerous Liaisons” a year later.
In 2013, Zhang Ziyi reprised her role as Sophie in the ‘Sophie’s Revenge’ sequel ‘My Lucky Star’. She then appeared in the romantic epic “The Crossing.”
In 2015, she produced and had a cameo appearance in the film Oh My God. She then participated in the anthology romance film Run for Love and the crime epic The Wasted Times. In 2018, she will appear in the science-fiction thriller “God Particle.”
Ziyi’s Major Opera
Zhang Ziyi acted alongside Tony Leung and Wong Kar-wai in the 2013 film The Grandmaster. According to reviewers, Ziyi’s performance in the film was her best in the entirety of her career. In addition, the film gained the actress multiple “Best Actress” honors around Asia.
Awards & Achievements
Zhang Ziyi was voted second on FHM’s ‘100 Sexiest Women list in 2001. (Taiwan edition). She earned ‘Best Supporting Actress at the 6th Golden Bauhinia Awards for ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in the same year. In the same year, her performance in the film garnered her a “Young Artist Award.”
Teen People Magazine ranked the actress among the “25 Hottest Stars Under 25” in 2001 and 2002.
Ziyi placed in the top five on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list from 2004 to 2010. (each year).
In 2005, “People” magazine included her on their list of the “50 Most Beautiful People.” In the same year, she earned the ‘Outstanding Actress’ award for ‘House of Flying Daggers’ at the 11th Huabiao Awards ceremony. In the same year, Ziyi won the ‘Best Actress prize at both the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards and the 11th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for her performance in the film 2046.’
The Chinese beauty was previously included on the list of TIME’s World’s “100 Most Influential People.”
In 2007, she was chosen as the sexiest action star by E! readers. Ziyi received the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema’ award at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival the following year.
In 2011, the Chinese actress earned the ‘Film Achievement Award’ and ‘Best Actress for her role in the film ‘Love for Life’ at the Huading Awards and Shanghai Film Critics Awards ceremonies, respectively.
Zhang Ziyi got an Order of Arts & Letter at Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Award in 2013. In the same year, she won multiple “Best/Outstanding Actress” medals at various award ceremonies, such as the 15th Huabiao Awards, 10th Huading Awards, 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival, and 50th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, to name a few.
Her Personal Life
Zhang Ziyi was granted Hong Kong residency in 2007 under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.
In March 2015, she married rock musician Wang Feng. In December of the same year, she gave birth to Wang Xingxing, their daughter.
Estimated Net Worth
Zhang Ziyi is a Chinese actress and model with an estimated net worth of $100 million. She was born in Beijing, China in February 1979 under the name Ziyi Zhang and began dancing at the age of eight. She was later admitted to the Beijing Dance Academy, and at the age of 15, she won the National Youth Dance Championship.
Trivia
She was a spokesperson for Tag Heuer, Maybelline, Pantene, Coca-Cola, and Lenovo in the past.
She served on the jury for the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2012, the Chinese website Boxun erroneously reported that the actress had been paid $100 million to have sexual relations with Chinese officials. The next year, Ziyi filed a defamation suit against the website. Finally, Boxun agreed to give her an undisclosed amount and apologize on the main page. In addition, Ziyi had won similar cases against Next Media.