Ziyi Zhang

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Birth Name: Zhang Zi-Yi (章子怡)

Age: 46, born 9 February 1979

Country of origin: China

Currently Residing In: China

Height: 5' 5"

Lists

225 votes

Chinese Beauty*Updated* (64 items)
list by lydia

Published 10 years, 9 months ago

47 comments

190 votes

Beauties and Goddesses (updated 26/01/2022) (2205 items)
list by Deanmon

Published 9 years, 8 months ago

5 comments

172 votes

Modern or Ancient (78 items)
list by lydia

Published 13 years, 3 months ago

13 comments

160 votes

Impossible celebrity couples (50 items)
list by El Raulo

Published 14 years, 6 months ago

31 comments

159 votes

If I could steal something... (14 items)
list by Aira

Published 14 years, 8 months ago

29 comments

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Ziyi Zhang Videos

The Ziyi Zhang Gallery

1066 Views, 1 votes

Added 15 years ago

Zhang ZiYi kissing her bf in Hongkong

496 Views, 1 votes

Added 11 years ago

Zhang Ziyi (章子怡) meets Eddie Peng (彭于晏) in romantic Hokkaido | Chinese short film

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Added 4 years ago

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Photos

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Description: 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. Her entry into the dance world came when she was 11, as 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. But even though a career in dance seemed promising for the graceful Zhang, she became f 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.

Her entry into the dance world came when she was 11, as 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.

But even though 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.

When The Road Home was released in China, Zhang Ziyi was given the nickname "Little Gong Li," in reference to the mega-popular Asian actress, Gong Li. While this may sound flattering, the nickname is not intended to refer to Zhang Ziyi's potential as the next Gong Li; rather, it refers to the alleged affair that Zhang Ziyi had with director Zhang Yimou. Gong Li was once considered the director's muse and mistress, but they broke up in 1994. Both Zhang Ziyi and Zhang Yimou have denied the affair.

The Road Home won the "Jury Grand Prix" Silver Bear at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.

When Ang Lee was casting actors for his martial arts marvel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (a.k.a. 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 was cast to play the villain in the summer 2001 sequel to the successful comedy Rush Hour, appearing opposite the comedy duo 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).

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 is keeping busy in 2005 with roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Good Cook, Likes Music. ... (more)

Tags: Actress (26), Chinese (16), Beautiful (8), Born 1979 (7), Asian (6), Female (5), Brunette (5), Memoirs Of A Geisha (5), Unique (4), Hero (4), Model (4), Wonderful (4), Adorable (4), Gorgeous (4), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (4), February 9 (4), Interesting (3), Funny (3), China (3), Hot (3)

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Time Well Wasted (905 person items)

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Females TV & Movies Deaths (1775 person items)

"Movies:• Touching Starlight (1996) : Dies of cancer. • Rush Hour 2 (2001) : Blown up in an explosion when she sets off a bomb in an attempt to kill Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Jackie and Chris survive by jumping out of the window, but Zhang does not escape.• Hero (2002) : Killed by Maggie Cheung in a swordfight. However, this sequence turns out to be a false report of the events, and it's revealed that she wasn't killed after all. • Purple Butterfly (2003) : Shot in the chest.• House"

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Chinese Beauty*Updated* (64 person items)

"Actress Birth Name: Zhang Zi-Yi (章子怡) Age: 35, born 9 February 1979 Height: 5' 5" Relationship Status: In a relationship Partner: Wang Feng"

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Beauty of Brown Eyes (160 person items)

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2004 Calendar of Movie Actresses (24 movies items)

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My Favorite Performances of 2000 (Female) (25 person items)

" Jen Yu - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon "You want to know who I am? I am... I am the Invincible Sword Goddess, armed with the Green Destiny that knows no equal! Be you Li or Southern Crane, bow your head and ask for mercy! I am the dragon from the desert! Who comes from nowhere and leaves no trace! Today I fly over Eu-Mei. Tomorrow... I topple Mount Wudan!""

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