Zhang Ziyi (born February 9, 1979 in Beijing, China) is one of the most well-known Chinese film actresses working today, with a string of Chinese and international hits to her name. She has worked with renowned directors such as Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-Wai, and Rob Marshall. Born in Beijing, China, Zhang joined the Beijing Dance Academy at the age of 11, and at 15 she entered China's prestigious Central Academy of Drama (regarded as the top acting college in China). At the age of 19, she was offered her first role in world renowned director Zhang Yimou's The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. Zhang further rose to fame due to her role in the phenomenally successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which she won the Independent Spirit's Best Supporting Actress Award and the Toronto Film Critics' Best Supporting Actress Award. Her first appearance in an American movie was in Rush Hour 2, 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". After this she went on to make Hero which was a huge success in the English-speaking world and an Oscar and a Golden Globe contender. Her next film was the avant-garde drama Purple Butterfly which competed at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. She went back to the martial arts genre with House of Flying Daggers, which earned her a Best Actress nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. For her next drama 2046, directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring many of the best-known Chinese actresses (from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland), Zhang won the Hong Kong Film Critics' Best Actress Award and the Hong Kong Film Academy's Best Actress Award. Showing her whimsical musical tap-dancing side, Zhang starred in Princess Raccoon directed by 82-year-old Japanese legend Seijun Suzuki who was honored at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. She plays the leading role of Sayuri in the adaptation of the international bestseller Memoirs of a Geisha, with her Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon co-star Michelle Yeoh, as well as Gong Li and Ken Watanabe. The movie was produced by Steven Spielberg, directed by Rob Marshall, and released in December 2005. Zhang has received a Best Actress - Drama Golden Globe nomination for her role. Zhang has also been known to sing, and was featured on the House Of Flying Daggers Soundtrack with her own musical rendition of the ancient Chinese poem Jia RŽn Qu (The Beauty Song). The song was also featured in a scene in the film. On 27 June, 2005 it was announced that Zhang had accepted an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), placing her among the ranks of those able to vote on the Academy Awards. In May 2006, Zhang became the youngest member to sit on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival. In the fall of 2006, Zhang' most recent film was released, a new drama set in the Tang Dynasty of China called The Banquet. Zhang Ziyi can be seen endorsing Maybelline, GARNIER, and Asience (Japanese shampoo brand). She is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. Most recently she will provide the voice of Karai in the upcoming TMNT movie in March. She is now currently filming a movie called The Horsemen with Dennis Quaid. Her current boyfriend is said to be Vivi Nevo, a TimeWarner shareholder. Awards nominated Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA * 2001 - Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * 2005 - Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers BAFTA Awards * 2001 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * 2005 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for House of Flying Daggers * 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Memoirs of a Geisha Chicago Film Critics Association Awards * 2001 - Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Golden Globes * 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for Memoirs of a Geisha Golden Horse Film Festival * 2000 - Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * 2004 - Best Actress for 2046 Hong Kong Film Awards * 2001 - Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * 2003 - Best Supporting Actress for Hero Image Awards * 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Memoirs of a Geisha Kids' Choice Awards * 2002 - Favorite Female Action Hero for Rush Hour 2 MTV Movie Awards * 2001 - Breakthrough Female Performance for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * 2002 - Best Villain for Rush Hour 2 * 2005 - Best Fight for House of Flying Daggers *(For Zhang Ziyi vs. The Emperor's guards) * 2006 - Sexiest Performance for Memoirs of a Geisha Online Film Critics Society Awards * 2001 - Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Satellite Awards * 2005 - Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for Memoirs of a Geisha Screen Actors Guild Awards * 2006 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Memoirs of a Geisha Teen Choice Awards * 2001 - Film - Choice Breakout Performance Movies: Actress: * In Production * 2000s * 1990s 1. The Horsemen (2007) (filming) .... Kristen 2. TMNT (2007) (voice) .... Karai ... aka T.M.N.T. (USA: promotional abbreviation) 3. Ye yan (2006) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Empress Wan ... aka The Banquet (International: English title) 4. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) .... Chiyo/Sayuri 5. Operetta tanuki goten (2005) .... Tanukihime ... aka Princess Raccoon (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (UK) 6. Mo li hua kai (2004) .... Young Mo/young Li/young Hua ... aka Blossoming Jasmine (literal English title) ... aka Jasmine Flower (International: English title) ... aka Jasmine Women (International: English title) 7. 2046 (2004) .... Bai Ling 8. Shi mian mai fu (2004) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Mei ... aka House of Flying Daggers (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (Singapore: English title) (USA) ... aka Attack from Ten Directions (International: English title: literal title) 9. Jopog manura 2: Dolaon jeonseol (2003) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Triad Boss ... aka My Wife Is a Gangster 2 (International: English title) 10. Zi hudie (2003) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Cynthia/Ding Hui ... aka Purple Butterfly (International: English title) 11. Ying xiong (2002) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Moon ... aka Hero (USA) ... aka Jet Li's Hero (USA) ... aka Quentin Tarantino Presents Hero (USA: promotional title) 12. Musa (2001) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Princess Bu-yong ... aka Musa the Warrior (Canada: English title) ... aka The Warriors (informal English title) ... aka Wu shi (China: Mandarin title) 13. Shu shan zheng zhuan (2001) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Joy ... aka The Legend of Zu (Hong Kong: English title) ... aka Zu Warriors (USA) 14. Rush Hour 2 (2001) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Hu Li 15. Wo hu cang long (2000) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Jen Yu (Mandarin version)/Jiao Long (English dubbed version) ... aka Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (International: English title) (UK) (USA) ... aka Ngo foo chong lung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title) ... aka Wo hu cang long (China: Mandarin title) 16. Wo de fu qin mu qin (1999) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Zhao Di, Young ... aka The Road Home (International: English title) (USA: DVD title) ... aka My Father and Mother (literal English title) 17. Xing xing dian deng (1996) (TV) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Chen Wei Miscellaneous Crew: 1. Shi mian mai fu (2004) (singer) ... aka House of Flying Daggers (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (Singapore: English title) (USA) ... aka Attack from Ten Directions (International: English title: literal title) 2. Making Magic Out of Mire (2001) (V) (special thanks) Self: 1. The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter 2. 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself 3. The Orange British Academy Film Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself 4. 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself 5. Live from the Red Carpet: The 2006 Golden Globe Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself 6. "The Film Programme" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005) ... aka Film '72 (UK) ... aka Film '73 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '74 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '75 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '76 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '77 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '78 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '79 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '80 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '81 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '82 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '83 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '84 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '85 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '86 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '87 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '88 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '89 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '90 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '91 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '92 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '93 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '94 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '95 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '96 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '97 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '98 (UK: new title) ... aka Film '99 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2000 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2001 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2002 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2003 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2004 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2005 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2006 (UK: new title) ... aka Film 2007 (UK: new title) - Episode dated 29 December 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself 7. MovieReal: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) (TV) .... Herself 8. "Today" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005) ... aka NBC News Today (USA: promotional title) ... aka The Today Show (USA) - Episode dated 8 December 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself 9. "The View" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005) - Episode dated 7 December 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself 10. The 11th China Movie Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself-Winner:Best Actress 11. 2005 MTV Movie Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter 12. The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Co-presenter: Best Visual Effects 13. Making Magic Out of Mire (2001) (V) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Herself 14. The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2001) (TV) (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Herself 15. Kung Fu Choreography (2001) (V) .... Herself 16. Attaining International Stardom (2001) (V) .... Herself Archive Footage: 1. Fashion Police Academy Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself 2. Alberto Iglesias, el mœsico fiel (2006) (TV) (uncredited) .... Chiyo/Sayuri 3. "Rank" - 25 Toughest Stars (2002) TV Episode (as Zhang Ziyi) .... Herself 4. Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002) (V) .... Jen Yu (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
