Biography of Zhang Zi YiDate of Birth
9 February 1979, Beijing, China
Birth Name
Zhang Zi-Yi
Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)
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.
Graduated in acting from Central Drama Academy, the top acting college in China.
Former spokesmodel for Tag Heuer watches.
Spokesmodel of Maybelline (cosmetics).
Former Spokesmodel of 2% (Korean mineral water).
Former spokesmodel of Pantene shampoo.
Former 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 Academy at 11 and the Central Drama College at 17.
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
Was included in People magazine'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.
Was voted in at #86 in FHM's sexiest women in the world in 2006. She had not appeared in the list since 2002.
Was a member of the jury at the 2006 Cannes Festival.
Is Global Ambassador for Special Olympics movement. She joins a select group of celebrities who are dedicated to spreading the Special Olympics message including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; boxing legend Muhammad Ali; and Olympian Nadia Comaneci.
On November 21, 2006, the Wall Street Journal voted her one of its "Top 10 Remarkable Women In Asian Business Circles". The newspaper commented that although Zhang Ziyi is not a typical business leader, she has great influence on the entertainment industry.
Name is pronounced Jang (rhymes with 'young') DziYee.
Personal Quotes
"In China, we don't consider someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a long time, and we know what's underneath the skin."
After Crouching Tiger (Wo hu cang long (2000)), there was a big change for me, with all the attention thrust upon me. I got lot of work: my first Hollywood film, Rush Hour 2 (2001), and a lot of advertisements in Asia. I think for me it's a very good part of my life. I've been lucky, because I've had great characters to play. Now I really want to work with good directors.
You know, I never think I can become an actress. But it happened. Not because I dreamed it, but because it happened.
It's my first time in a lead and I have to speak English! In a Japanese accent! [on Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)].
It was so hard working for him, but I like the challenge. We don't learn the script, every day we had to, erm ... improvise. [on working with Wong Kar-wai in '2046']
"For Western women, it's much easier to be yourself. If you want to do something, you just go and do it. In an Asian context, women are still much more modest and conservative. I want, through my roles, to express the parts in the hearts of Chinese women that they feel unable to let out."
Chinese women are much more modest than American women when it comes to clothes. We tend to show less flesh.
I've discovered that I value simplicity above all in dressing. I don't like anything I wear to be too complicated or fussy.
"Even though I've done Hollywood films, I still don't think of myself as a Hollywood actress."
"I always think it's really hard if you are Asian or Chinese to be really in Hollywood. There are not so many really great characters for you. I always think you are lucky to get offered [something like] 'Memoirs of a Geisha', but I don't think it will happen all the time."
"But I enjoy being an actress a lot, because I can feel different women's lives. I have the chance to feel like a geisha one day, and on another day maybe a scientist. That's the interesting part for me. My profession has helped me to grow up."
"I don't like kick-ass stereotypical roles. I already turn a lot down, even when they promise me a lot of money. I really want to do something in Europe. With a small movie, it can be an interesting challenge. But I have to get the right project. I don't think it's so important to go to Hollywood. All that trash that comes out of there! I don't want to do that."
"Working in Hollywood, it's clear the more money you have, the more technology you can get. So you can build a whole Japanese set. Only in Hollywood! I couldn't believe the first day I walked on the set. Rob Marshall walked me like a tourist round the set. It took 40 minutes, so how big was that? Today it can be winter, and tomorrow summer. Everything's unbelievable."
Salary
Rush Hour 2 (2001) $450,000
Wo hu cang long (2000) $130,000 (from Chinese currency)
Wo de fu qin mu qin (1999) $270,000 (from Chinese currency)
Where Are They Now
(November 2004) In L.A. shooting Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).
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