Zhang Ziyi (Mei)
One of the hottest stars to emerge from China in recent years, Ziyi Zhang stunned audiences with her debut performance in Zhang Yimou's 'The Road Home.' The film went on to win the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival 2000, propelling Ziyi Zhang into the international limelight. Her meteoric shot to stardom continued with Ang Lee's Academy Award winning blockbuster, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and Zhang Yimou's martial arts epic, 'HERO.'
Ziyi Zhang's interest in the performing arts originated in dance and gymnastics. At age eleven, she was accepted to a secondary school affiliated with the Beijing College of Dance. Although a career in dance seemed promising for the graceful Miss Zhang, her growing interest and enthusiasm for acting prevailed and she enrolled in the prestigious Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.
She was soon discovered by Zhang Yimou, the internationally celebrated director of 'Raise the Red Lantern' and 'Red Sorghum.' Zhang knew immediately that Ziyi Zhang would be perfect for his new film, 'The Road Home' (1999), and cast her in the role of a young girl in love with a schoolteacher in rural China. Ziyi Zhang later reteamed with helmer Zhang Yimou to play the brave and loyal servant, Moon, in 2003's Academy Award nominated 'HERO.'
The success of 'HERO' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' ensured that Ziyi Zhang would become a familiar face to filmgoers as the high-flying, graceful martial artist who shared fight scenes with Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat. Her role in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' garnered her the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2000 as well as the Most Promising Actress at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. In 2001, she was awarded the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Scene and was voted one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
Ziyi Zhang's talents have since moved beyond her homeland, working in Hollywood for 'Rush Hour 2' (2001) opposite the comedy duo Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, and starring in the ambitious Korean epic, 'The Warriors.' She will next be seen in Hou Yong's 'Jasmine' as well as Wong Kar Wai's futuristic '2046.'
- Filmography
- 2046 (2004)
- Jasmine (2003)
- HERO (2003)
- Purple Butterfly (2002)
- The Warriors (2001)
- Rush Hour 2 (2001)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- The Road Home (1999)
