PLEASURE WORLD

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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 at age 11, when 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.

zhang ziyi from dance to drama
Although 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 Ziyi in the road home

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.

zhang in crouching tiger, hidden dragon
When Ang Lee was casting actors for his martial arts marvel, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (aka 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 in rush hour 2

Zhang Ziyi was cast to play the villain in the summer 2001 sequel to the successful comedy Rush Hour, appearing opposite the comedy duo of 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).

Zhang Ziyi in memoirs of a geisha

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 kept busy in 2005 with roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Good Cook, Likes Music.
zhang ziyi is named no. 94 in 2008 top 99
In 2007, Zhang Ziyi lent her voice to the much-anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as the character Karai, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart and Chris Evans.

Zhang Ziyi’s doll-like features and porcelain skin, not to mention her raging sex appeal, landed her a spot on AskMen.com’s 2008 Top 99 Most Desirable Women list.

Smoking a cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?

Filmography

Awards and nominations

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

Asian Film Awards,

• 2007 – Best Actress for The Banquet

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

Chlotrudis Awards

• 2006 – Best Supporting Actress for 2046

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
• 2009 – Best Supporting Actress for Forever Enthralled

Golden Rooster Awards

• 2009 – Best Actress for Forever Enthralled

Hong Kong Film Awards

• 2001 – Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• 2003 – Best Supporting Actress for Hero

Hundred Flowers Awards

• 2006 – Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers

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

National Society of Film Critics Awards

• 2005 – Best Supporting Actress for 2046

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

Awards won

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

• 2001 – Most Promising Actress

Golden Bauhinia Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Golden Rooster Awards

• 2004 – Best Actress for Mo li hua kai (Jasmine Women)

Hong Kong Film Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for 2046

Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for 2046

Huabiao Film Awards

• 2005 – Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers
• 2005 – Best Actress for Forever Enthralled

Hundred Flowers Awards

• 2000 – Best Actress for The Road Home

Independent Spirit Awards

• 2001 – Best Supporting Female for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Iranian Film Festival

• 2001 – Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

MTV Movie Awards

• 2001 – Best Fight for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Versus entire bar)

Shanghai International Film Festival

• 2008 – Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

• 2000 – Best Supporting Performance, Female for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Young Artist Awards

• 2001 – Best Young Actress in an International Film for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Magazine recognition

• Ranked 2nd of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan (2001).
• Named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2001).
• Named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine (2002).
• Ranked #91 in Stuff magazine’s “102 Sexiest Women In The World” (2002)
• Voted in at #100 in FHM’s Sexiest 100 Girls of 2002, UK edition. [June 2002]
• Forbes magazine’s China edition ranked her the second most popular celebrity after NBA player ‘Yao Ming’ . [August 2004]
• 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’s ’50 Most Beautiful People’ List in 2005.
• Listed in TIME’s World’s 100 Most Influential People. They called her “China’s Gift to Hollywood”.
• 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.
• Included in People’s 100 Most Beautiful People in the World the second year in a row in 2006. This is now her third appearance on the list.
• Voted in at #86 in FHM’s sexiest women in the world in 2006. She had not appeared in the list since 2002.
• Topped Japanese Playboy’s “100 Sexiest Women in Asia” list and was featured on the cover. (April 2006)[17]
• Voted #1 in E!’s Sexiest Action Stars list in summer 2007.
• Ranked #3 in Japanese magazine CLASSY’s ‘Super Perfect Head-to-Body Size Ratio List’ in January 2009.