Zhang Ziyi - Biography

Last Editor: annk0123				Zhang Ziyi Biography -   Name : Zhang Ziyi Date of birth : 9 February 1979 Place of birth : Beijing, China Birth name : Zhang Zi Yi Height : 5' 5

Zhang Ziyi Trivia -

Was ranked 2nd of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan (2001). Was named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2001). Was named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2002). Voted in at #100 in FHM's Sexiest 100 Girls of 2002, UK edition. [June 2002] Her first appearance in an American movie was in Rush Hour 2 (2001), but as she didn't speak English, Jackie Chan had to translate everything the director said to her. In that movie, her character's name, "Hu Li" translated from Mandarin Chinese is "Fox". Even though she has been in many kung-fu movies, she is not actually a trained martial artist, so in fact she uses many dance moves in her fight sequences. Attended the China Central Drama College, studying Dance. Spokesmodel for: Maybelline (cosmetics), Pantene (shampoo), Coca-Cola Asia. Former Spokesmodel for Tag Heuer (watches), 2% (Korean mineral water), Lenovo Computers. Spokesmodel of Maybelline (cosmetics). Former Spokesmodel of 2% (Korean mineral water). Spokesmodel of Pantene shampoo. Spokesperson for Coca-Cola (Asia) Former spokesperson for Lenovo Computers. Family includes: Li Zhousheng (mom), Zhang Yuanxiao (dad) & Zhang Zinan (older brother) Forbes magazine's China edition recently ranked her the second most popular celebrity after NBA player 'Yao Ming' . [August 2004] [September 2004] Taking lessons to improve her English. Her father is an economist and her mother is a kindergarten teacher. Ranked #91 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" (2002) Born on the same day as actress Vicki Abashkin Joined the Beijing Dance College at 11 & the Beijing Dance Academy at 15. Is one of 112 invitees to join AMPAS in 2005. 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 Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People' List in 2005. Was listed in "Time Magazines" World's 100 Most Influential People. They called her "China's Gift to Hollywood". Was 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. Graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy

Zhang Ziyi Detailed Biography -

One of the hottest stars to emerge from China in recent years, Zhang Ziyi 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 Zhang Ziyi into the international limelight. Her meteoric shot to stardom continued with Ang Lee's Academy Award winning blockbuster, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. Zhang Ziyi'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 and during the 4 years that she trained in dance, she managed to pick up a number of awards. However, although a career in dance seemed promising for the graceful 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 Zhang Ziyi 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. Her performance was so assured that when Ang Lee was casting actors for his high-profile martial-arts extravaganza, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000) he immediately chose Zhang Ziyi for the role of the impetuous aristocrat Jen Yu. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"s roaring success ensured that Zhang Ziyi would become a familiar face to filmgoers, as the high-flying, graceful martial artist who shared fight scenes with Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat. Her role 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. Zhang Ziyi'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 Tsui Hark's 'The Legend Of Zu' as well as Wong Kar Wai's futuristic '2046'.