Zhang Ziyi
Zhāng Zǐyí (章子怡, pronounced like "Jong Dzih-ee") (born February 9, 1979) is a Chinese actress and dancer. The characters of her name can be literally translated as Zhāng (a surname, not to be confused with the more common Zhāng 张), Zǐ (child), and Yí (happiness).
Born in Beijing, People's Republic of China, she joined the Beijing Dancing College at the age of 11, and at 15 she joined the Beijing Dancing Academy. However by the age of 16 she decided to practice acting. Her first film was a low-budget made-for television movie called Touching Starlight. Her second film was The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.
She further rose to fame due to her role in the internationally successful film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In 2001 she co-starred alongside Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 2. Both of these as well as the Chinese-language Hero were highly successful in the English speaking world.
She is set to again appear with Michelle Yeoh in the adaptation of Memoirs Of A Geisha, produced by Steven Spielberg.
Filmography
Related Topics
