Ziyi Zhang Biography

Fast Facts

• Originally dreamed of following in the footsteps of her mother and becoming a kindergarten teacher
• Enrolled in the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy at age 11 and spent the next six years there in training
• Won China's national youth dance championship, which led to appearances in TV commercials
• Made theatrical-movie debut in 1999's The Road Home after meeting acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou while auditioning for a shampoo commercial he was directing
• Costarring in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made her an international star; Hero, House of Flying Daggers and 2046 cemented her reputation
• Solidified her star power in Hollywood by starring in Memoirs of a Geisha, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination
• Became a producer with Sophie's Revenge in 2009