Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi (; ; born 9 February 1979), sometimes credited Ziyi Zhang, is a Chinese actress, known for playing independent and strong-willed characters. Born and raised in Beijing, Zhang was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in 1996. That year, she made her acting debut in the television film ''Touching Starlight'' (1996). After her breakout role in Zhang Yimou's ''The Road Home'' (1999), which won her Best Actress at the 2000 Hundred Flowers Awards, she gained international fame for her performance in Ang Lee's wuxia film ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' (2000).

Zhang made her Hollywood debut as a villain in ''Rush Hour 2'' (2001), followed by ''Memoirs of a Geisha'' (2005). She reunited with Zhang Yimou in the films ''Hero'' (2002) and ''House of Flying Daggers'' (2004). Her collaboration with Wong Kar-wai in ''2046'' (2004) won her Best Actress at the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards. After a career slump following the scandalous “Triple Gates,” she made a major comeback with Wong’s ''The Grandmaster'' (2013), earning 12 different Best Actress awards and becoming the most awarded Chinese actress for a single film.

Zhang is regarded as one of the Four Dan actresses of China. From 2004 to 2010, she ranked in the Top 5 of ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list every year. In 2008, she was awarded with the Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema award at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival. One of the most recognisable Asian actresses in the Western world, ''Time'' called her "China's gift to Hollywood" in 2005. The same year, ''Time'' named her one of the 100 Most Influential People. In 2013, she received the French Cultural Order at the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Provided by Wikipedia