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) with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, followed by her international breakthrough ''Memoirs of a Geisha'' (2005). She reunited with Zhang in the films ''Hero'' (2002) and ''House of Flying Daggers'' (2004). She collaborated with Wong Kar-wai on ''2046'' (2004), which won her the Best Actress at the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards, and on ''The Grandmaster'' (2013), for which she received 12 Best Actress awards, making her 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