Full Name: Zhang Ziyi (Zhang is her surname)

Eye Colour: Brown

Height: 5’4.5” (1.64m)

Date of Birth: February 9^th, 1979

Current Age: 27

Star Sign: Aquarius

Place of Birth: Beijing, China

Favourite Singers: Leslie Cheung, Norah Jones & Usher

Education: Beijing Dance Academy, China

                   China Centre Drama College

Family: Mother: Li Zhousheng

             Father: Zhang Yuanxiao

             Brother: Zhang Zinan

Occupation: Actress

Filmography:

Ye Yan (2006) playing The Empress

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) playing Chiyo

Operetta Tanukigoten (2005) playing Tanukihime

Jasmine Women (2004) playing Young Li

2046 (2004) playing Bai Ling

House of Flying Daggers (2004) playing Mei

My Wife Is a Gangster 2 (2003)

Purple Butterfly (2003) playing Cynthia

Hero (2002) playing Moon

The Warriors (2001) playing Princess Bu-yong

The Legend of Zu (2001) playing Joy

Rush Hour 2 (2001) playing Hu Li

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) playing Jen Yu

The Road Home (1999) playing young Zhao Di

Xing xing dian deng (1996) playing Chen Wei

Her Family History: Ziyi grew up in a working class family in Beijing, China where she still lives today. Her father Yuanxiao is an economist and her mother Zhousheng is a kindergarten teacher. Her older brother Zinan runs an advertising agency and works as Ziyi’s agent in China.

Interesting Facts about Ziyi:

      Ziyi’s blood Type is O

      She studied dance at the middle and secondary school of the Beijing Dance Academy, specializing in folk dance for which she won the 4^th Annual National Young Dancer competition in 1994. She left the academy when she was 17

      While at the China Central Drama College she auditioned to be in a shampoo commercial to be filmed by Zhang Yimou, but she did not get the role

      Ranked #2 on FHM’s “100 sexiest Women in Taiwan” in 2001,  #100 in 2002 in the UK Edition & #86 in the UK 2006 Edition

      She was named one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 by Teen People Magazine in 2001 & 2002

Ziyi's first American movie appearance was in 'Rush Hour 2' but she didn't speak a word of English, so her co-star Jackie Chan had to translate everything the producer said to her

     Her character Hu Li in 'Rush Hour 2' translates to "Fox" in Mandarin Chinese

      Despite appearing in several kung-fu movies, she is not a trained martial artist so many of her fight sequences are dance moves

      Ziyi is a former spokesmodel for Tag Heuer watches, Korean Mineral water & Lenovo computers

      She is a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics, Pantene shampoo & Coca-cola in Asia

      Forbes magazine's China edition recently ranked her the second most popular celebrity after NBA player Yao Ming

      She is taking lessons to improve her English

      Ranked #91 in Stuff Magazine’s “102 sexiest women in the world” in 2004

      Ziyi was born on exactly the same day as actresses Vicki Abashkin & Mena Suvari

      She was one of 112 invites in 2005 to join AMPAS

      People magazine named her one of “100 Most Beautiful People in the world” in 2005 & 2006

      Time magazine named her one of the world’s 100 most Influential People and “China’s gift to Hollywood”

      Ranked #15 on the “100 most beautiful women in the world” list for Harpers & Queen magazine in July, 2005

      Ziyi earned $450,000 for ‘Rush Hour 2’, $270,000 for ‘The Road Home’ & $130,000 for ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’

      Her surname “Zhang” translates to an essay or a chapter of a book, “Zi” means child or esteemed person & “yi” means joy or happiness

      She has won several awards including Best Actress & Most promising actress

Ziyi’s 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 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, 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.

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."