Zhang Ziyi is an extremely well known Chinese actress. She was born on February 9, 1979 in Beijing, China and is probably best known for her roles in such films as ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ ‘Rush Hour 2’ and most recently ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’.
Zhang was born in Beijing, China. At the tender age of 11 years old enrolled in the Beijing Dance Academy and just four years later she joined China's prestigious Central Academy of Drama which is highly regarded as the top acting college in China.
When she reached 19 years old, Zhang was offered her first movie role in ‘The Road Home’ by Zhang Yimou, a world renowned director. The movie won The Silver Bear in the 2000 Berlin film festival. Her most remembered role came next in ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ in which she played the role of Jen. The movie was an international success and Zhang won Independent Spirit's Best Supporting Actress Award and the Toronto Film Critics' Best Supporting Actress Award for her portrayal.
In 2001 Zhang starred alongside Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 2, this was her first foray into American movies and her performance went down well. She later went on to star in a string of hugely successful movies including ‘Hero’, ‘Purple Butterfly’ and ‘House of flying daggers’
In May 2006 Zhang sat on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival, she was the youngest member to have ever done this.
Most recently Zhang has voiced Karai in the movie version of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’.
Zhang Ziyi is a global administrator for the Special Olympics and the face of Maybelline, Garnier and Shangri-la Hotel and Resort Group.
She likes to keep her personal life closely under wraps but has recently been spotted holding hands with 41-year-old, Israeli multi-millionaire, venture capitalist Vivi Nevo, the media are speculating that the two are a couple although nothing has been confirmed.