Zhou Xun

Zhou Xun
Background information
Chinese name 周迅
Pinyin Zhōu Xùn (Mandarin)
Jyutping Zau1 Seon3 (Cantonese)
Vietnamese name Chu Tấn
Born (1974-10-18) October 18, 1974
Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
Ethnicity Han
Alma mater Zhejiang Art School
Occupation
Years active 1991–present
Voice type(s) Contralto
Label(s) Zhou Xun Studio
Spouse(s)
Archie Kao (m. 2014)
Parents Zhou Tianning (father)
Chen Yiqin (mother)
Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
Best Actress
2006 Perhaps Love
Best Supporting Actress
2007 The Banquet
Golden Bauhinia Awards
Best Actress
2006 Perhaps Love
Best Supporting Actress
2007 The Banquet
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
Best Actress
2005 Perhaps Love
Golden Horse Awards
Best Actress
2005 Perhaps Love
Golden Rooster Awards
Best Actress
2009 The Equation of Love and Death
Hundred Flowers Awards
Best Actress
2002 A Pinwheel Without Wind

Zhou Xun (Chinese: 周迅, born 18 October 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. She gained international fame for her roles in Suzhou River (2000) and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002).

Zhou has won Best Actress honors from Asian Film Awards, Beijing College Student Film Festival, Chinese Director's Association Awards, China TV Golden Eagle Award, Chinese Film Media Awards, Golden Bauhinia Awards, Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, Golden Rooster Awards, Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, Hundred Flowers Awards, Shanghai Television Festival and Shanghai Film Critics Awards; as well as the French award-giving body Festival du Film de Paris. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China.

Early life

Zhou was born to a middle-class family in Quzhou, Zhejiang. Her father, Zhou Tianning (周天宁), was a local film projectionist, and her mother, Chen Yiqin (陈以琴), was a salesperson at a department store. She had her schooling in Quzhou No.1 Middle School. After she graduated, Zhou enrolled at the Zhejiang Arts Institute to further her interest in dramatic arts, against the wishes of her parents, who wanted her to graduate from a university. She was handpicked for a role in the film Strange Tales Amongst Old and Desolate Tombs during her teenage years in school.

Acting career

1995–2004: Beginnings and Breakthrough

Zhou debuted in the comedy movie The Pampered Wife. She next starred in Chen Kaige's films, Temptress Moon and The Emperor and the Assassin. But it was not until in 2000 that Zhou received recognition in China. With her role as young Princess Taiping in historical drama Palace of Desire, Zhou received the Audience's Choice for Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards at the 18th China TV Golden Eagle Award.[1]

Zhou achieved breakthrough on the big screen with Lou Ye's Suzhou River (2000), which won her the Best Actress award at the 15th Festival du Film de Paris. That year, she was named one of the Four Dan Actresses alongside Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Wei and Xu Jinglei.[2] She further achieved international recognition when she starred in the Franco-Chinese romance drama film Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002).[3]

A string of successful projects followed. In her first Hong Kong film Hollywood Hong Kong directed by Fruit Chan, Zhou impressed critics with her performance. Hollywood magazine Variety praise Zhou saying "Zhou is superb, moving with ease between her various personalities and always convincing in each".[4] Her next film, romance-themed A Pinwheel Without Wind won her the Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Actress.[5] Among Zhou's earlier notable works also include television series The Legend of the Condor Heroes and the film Baobei in Love.[6]

2005–2011: Critical acclaim

Zhou impressed critics once again with her performance in Peter Chan's musical film Perhaps Love (2005). The film represented Hong Kong at the 2006 Academy Awards.[7] Zhou received Best Actress awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards,[8] Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award,[9] Golden Bauhinia Awards[10] and Golden Horse Awards.[11] She next starred in Feng Xiaogang's wuxia film The Banquet (2006), inspired from William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Zhou plays the girlfriend of the crown prince, equivalent to Ophelia.[12] She won the Golden Bauhinia Awards[13] and Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress.[14] In 2007, she starred in Susie Au's film Ming Ming, which was highly praised at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival. Zhou played dual roles - twins with absolutely different characteristics and personalities.[15]

With a string of successful films, Zhou was brought into the spotlight as one of China's top actresses. Her ability to pull off various roles makes her a favorite with Chinese directors and won her the reputation of "Angel in the World" among the audience.[16]

She then starred in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death (2008) as a taxicab driver on the lookout for her missing boyfriend.[17] Critics again praised Zhou, crediting the film's success to Zhou's performance as Li Mi.[18] Zhou went on to receive Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Awards,[19] Shanghai Film Critics Awards,[20] Golden Rooster Film Festival,[21] and Chinese Film Media Awards.[22] The same year she appeared in Gordon Chan's horror-adventure film Painted Skin, a remake of a classic supernatural thriller of the same title.[23] Next came spy thriller The Message (2009), about Japanese invaders in China who try to ferret out a spy among their Chinese collaborators.[24]. She was the 1st actress won Best Leading Actress awards at the Hong Kong Film Award, Golden Horse Film Awards and Golden Rooster Award.

In 2009, Zhou was named the Star of the Year at CineAsia exhibition and distribution convention in Hong Kong.[25] Asia-Pacific Producers Network (APN) also honored her as the Asian Star of the Year for her exemplary box office achievements.[26] In an interview with CNN, Zhou was named Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time.[27]

Zhou next featured in biographic drama film Confucius (2010)[28] and filmed the wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) directed by Tsui Hark.[29]

2012–present: Directorial and Hollywood debut, Television comeback

Zhou made her directorial debut with the short film Five Demon Traps (2011), which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a demon killer.[30]

In 2012, Zhou made her Hollywood debut in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas, playing multiple roles in the film.[31] Zhou then reprised her role in Painted Skin: The Resurrection (2012), the sequel to Painted Skin.[32] The film grossed over the 700 million yuan ($109.8 million) landmark, becoming the highest-grossing Chinese-language movie of all time then.[33]

Zhou returned to television after 10 years in Red Sorghum (2014), based on Nobel prize laureate Mo Yan's 1986/1987 novel of the same name.[34] Zhou's performance in the series was highly praised by the author himself for her immaculate grasp of the character's inner turmoil.[35] Zhou won the Best Actress Award at the Shanghai Television Festival[36] and Asian Television Award.[37]

The same year, she received the Chevalier medal in the Order of Arts and Letters by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius for her contribution in film, public welfare and Sino-French communications in Beijing, China.[38] She was also rated as China's favorite star, ranking first on the 15th Huading Award international celebrity's satisfaction survey.[39]

In 2015, Zhou served as a jury for the 5th Beijing International Film Festival.[40] Zhou returned to the big screen in 2017, starring in war film Our Time Will Come directed by Ann Hui.[41]

She returned to the small screen in 2018, starring in historical drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace.[42] The same year, she starred in the romance film Last Letter directed by Shunji Iwai.[43] Zhou is set to star in the wuxia film The Weary Poet.[44]

Social activities

Zhou at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2007

Zhou Xun was named the first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador for China in 2008 with a special focus of promoting environmental sustainability.[45][46] Zhou jointly runs a campaign 'Our Part', which promotes ‘tips for green living’.[47]

In 2010, she became the Laureate of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Champions of the Earth (Inspiration & Action). She was the first entertainer in the world to receive this honour.[48] She was also the Green Ambassador for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.[49]

In 2011, Zhou has been honored as one of the 2011 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum.[50]

Fashion

Since 2011, Zhou was formally announced as a new ambassador for Chanel. Chanel chief designer Karl Lagerfeld noted Zhou Xun for her strong fashion sense, describing the actress as "a synthesis of young Coco Chanel and Ballet Troupe Zizi Jeanmaire."[51][52]

Personal life

Zhou Xun married American actor Archie Kao on July 16, 2014 on stage after a charity event in Hangzhou, China.[53]

Zhou received Hong Kong citizenship under the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme".[54]

Filmography

Film

YearEnglish titleChinese titleRoleNotes
1991Old Grave古墓荒斋Jiao Na
1993Story of Rouge Chamber胭楼记Zheng Yue'e
1995The Pampered Wife小娇妻Yangyang
女儿红Hua Dao
1996Temptress Moon风月Little dance girl
1998My Rice Noodle Shop花桥荣记Xie Yan
1999The Emperor and the Assassin荊軻刺秦王Blind girl
2000Suzhou River苏州河Mei Mei / Mou Dan
If I Lose You如果没有爱Xun
2001Beijing Bicycle十七岁的单车Hong Qin
Hollywood Hong Kong香港有个好莱坞Hung Hung/Tong Tong
2002A Pinwheel Without Wind烟雨红颜Zhao Ningjing
Where Have All the Flowers Gone那时花开Huan Zi
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress巴尔扎克和小裁缝Little seamstress
2004Baobei in Love恋爱中的宝贝Bao Bei
2005A West Lake Moment鸳鸯蝴蝶Xiao Yu
Beauty Remains美人依旧Xiao Fei
Stolen Life生死劫Yan Ni
Perhaps Love如果·爱Sun Na
2006The Banquet夜宴Qingnü
2007Ming Ming明明Mingming / Nana
2008The Equation of Love and Death李米的猜想Li Mi
Painted Skin画皮Xiao Wei
All About Women女人不坏Ou Fanfan[55]
2009The Message风声Gu Xiaomeng
2010Confucius孔子Nanzi
True Legend苏乞儿Yuan Ying
2011The Founding of a Party建党伟业Wang Huiwu
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate龙门飞甲Jade
2012The Great Magician大魔术师Liu Yin[56]
Painted Skin: The Resurrection画皮IIXiao Wei
The Silent War听风者Zhang Xuening[57]
Cloud Atlas云图Talbot/Hotel Manager
Yoona~939
Rose
2014Overheard 3窃听风云3Ruan Yuehua[58]
Women Who Flirt撒娇女人最好命Zhang Hui
Meet Miss Anxiety我的早更女友Qi Jia[59]
2017Remain Silent保持沉默Duan MulanNot released[60]
Our Time Will Come明月几时有Fang Gu
2018Last Letter你好，之华Zhi Hua
2019 The Weary Poet诗眼倦天涯Wen Sanchun

Television series

YearEnglish titleChinese titleRoleNotes
1997红处方Shen Pei
1998警坛风云Lin Peipei
1999绿衣红娘Fan Xiaoxuan
2000金钱本色Mandy
开心就好Tan Gege
Palace of Desire大明宫词young Princess Taiping
April Rhapsody人间四月天Lin Huiyin
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom太平天国Shi Yiyang
心网Na Niu
缘来一家人Tao Tao
2001Love Story in Shanghai像雾像雨又像风Du Xinyu
2002Ripening Orange橘子红了Xiu He
2003The Legend of the Condor Heroes射雕英雄传Huang Rong
Beach海滩A'Tong
Business Family买办之家Su Boyuan/Xia He
2014Red Sorghum红高粱Jiu'er/Cang Jiulian
2018Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace如懿传Ulanara·Ruyi

Voiced films

YearTitleNotes
2015Nature is Speaking[61]
The Little Prince[62]
2016Born in China[63]

Discography

Albums

YearEnglish titleChinese titleNotes
2003:Summer 夏天
2005Come Across偶遇[64]

Singles

YearEnglish titleChinese titleAlbumNotes
1999"Wander Aimlessly"飘摇Hainan Hainan
2000"Heart like a Tragic Melody"心如悲歌Heaven and Earth Musical OST
2001"No Choice"无奈Ripening Orange OST
"Spring Comes Back and Forth"春去春又回
2002"A Head of Lychee, Three Grabs of Fire"一棵荔枝三把火Hollywood Hong Kong OST
2013"Sunrise and Sunset"日出日末Beach OST
"Looking at the Sea"看海
2004"In My eye"Baobei in Love OST
"Empty like the Sky"虚拟天空
"Busy Line"占线
"The Body Hasn't Move, The Heart Already Wandered"身未动,心已远N/ATheme song of Travel Channel
2005"Journey"行囊N/A
"Outside"外面Perhaps Love OST
"Crossroads"十字街头
"Forget Who I Am"忘了我是谁with Takeshi Kaneshiro
"Bubble"泡泡N/APromotional song for Olay
2006"Song of the Yue"越人歌The Banquet OST
"Electric Shadows"电影往事Electric Shadows OST
"Look"看看Ming Ming OSTwith Anthony Wong
"Song of the Vagrant"[65]流浪者之歌
2007"Companion"伴侣N/APromotional song for Motorola Moto
2008"Outside the Window"窗外The Equation of Love and Death OST
"Love Earnestly"用力爱All About Women OST
2009"Love and Hate Extensively"爱恨恢恢N/ATheme song of Zhu Xian 2
2010"True Legend"[66]走马看黄花True Legend OST
2011"Only One in the World"这世界唯一的你N/A
2012"Guess the Lover"猜情人The Great Magician OSTwith Tony Leung Chiu-wai
2014"For the Child"给小孩One Day OST
"A Switch to Happiness"[67]幸福的开关N/A

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "第一届金鹰节获奖名单暨第18届电视金鹰奖获奖名单". Hunan TV (in Chinese). 2008-07-25.
  2. ↑ "Zhou Xun: China's queen of quirk". CNN. 2010-01-29.
  3. ↑ "Actress and Environmentalist Zhou Xun". China Radio International. 2008-06-10.
  4. ↑ "Review: 'Hollywood, Hong Kong'". Variety. 2001-09-04.
  5. ↑ "Galaxy of stars come out for film awards". China Daily. 2002-10-23.
  6. ↑ "'Baober in Love' Draws Raves, Rants and Crowds". China.org.cn. 2004-04-24.
  7. ↑ "HK musical"Perhaps Love" debutes in Beijing". Sina. Xinhua News Agency. 2005-11-30.
  8. ↑ "Zhou Xun Won Best Actress". China Radio International. 2006-04-10.
  9. ↑ "Zhou won the Best Actress award in HK". China Daily. 2006-02-23.
  10. ↑ "11th HK Golden Bauhinia Awards". China.org.cn. 2006-08-14.
  11. ↑ "Zhou Xun Takes Top Honor at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards". China.org.cn. 2006-11-26.
  12. ↑ "Zhou Xun in THE BANQUET". China Radio International. 2006-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Beijing Confidential". China Daily. 2009-09-27.
  14. ↑ "Chinese mainland stars who have won at the HKFA". China Daily. 2014-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Zhou Xun's Latest Film "Ming Ming"". China Radio International. 2007-04-13.
  16. ↑ "Zhou Xun: angel in the world". China Daily. 2010-01-29.
  17. ↑ "Zhou Xun-'The Equation of Love and Death'". China Radio International. 2009-10-13.
  18. ↑ "The Equation of Love and Death". Foreigner.cn.com. 2009-08-31.
  19. ↑ "Zhou Xun Crowned at Asian Film Awards". China Radio International. 2009-03-24.
  20. ↑ "第18届永乐杯上海影评人奖揭晓". Sina (in Chinese). 2009-06-13.
  21. ↑ "Zhou Xun Celebrates 35th Birthday and Best Actress Award". China Radio International. 2009-10-19.
  22. ↑ "华语电影传媒大奖揭晓 范伟周迅称帝封后". Tencent (in Chinese). 2009-06-21.
  23. ↑ "Stills of All-star Movie Painted Skin Made Public". China Radio International. 2008-06-16.
  24. ↑ "New Posters of "The Message" Released". China Radio International. 2009-06-08.
  25. ↑ "Chinese actress Zhou Xun to be honored as 'Star of the year'". The Independent. 2009-11-14.
  26. ↑ "周迅笑傲亚洲影坛 斩获"年度亚洲之星"大奖". 21.cn.com (in Chinese). 2009-06-16.
  27. ↑ "Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time". CNN. 2010-03-04.
  28. ↑ "Confucius, he safe". China Daily. 2009-05-28.
  29. ↑ "'The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' Starts Filming". China Radio International. 2010-10-11.
  30. ↑ "Actress Zhou Xun Tries on Directing". China Radio International. 2011-12-27.
  31. ↑ "'Cloud Atlas' Raises Zhou Xun's Profile". The Wall Street Journal. 2011-09-15.
  32. ↑ "Re-imagined fantasy about love". China Daily. 2012-08-03.
  33. ↑ "Ludicrous 'Painted Skin'". The China Post. 2012-07-13.
  34. ↑ "Zhou Xun to lead TV adaptation of 'Red Sorghum'". China Daily. 2013-08-14.
  35. ↑ "Chinese female stars' wage unveiled". Sina. 2015-01-15.
  36. ↑ "21st Shanghai Television Festival". China.org.cn. 2015-06-13.
  37. ↑ "2015 Winners". Asian Television Awards. 2015-12-02.
  38. ↑ "Zhou Xun awarded honour of Chevalier in order of Arts and Letters". Sina. China Daily. 2014-02-24.
  39. ↑ "Zhou Xun rated as China's favorite star". Sina. China Daily. 2014-11-27.
  40. ↑ "Beijing film fest announces A-list jury and events". China.org.cn. 2015-03-20.
  41. ↑ "Ann Hui's new war epic marks HK's return to China". China.org.cn. 2017-02-10.
  42. ↑ "TV series on royal romances hits screen". China Daily. August 21, 2018.
  43. ↑ "《你好，之华》首曝预告定档11月9日 岩井俊二合作周迅 故事神似《情书》". Mtime (in Chinese). 19 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "周迅×陈坤《诗眼倦天涯》首曝剧照". Mtime (in Chinese). 24 July 2018.
  45. ↑ "Zhou Xun, 1st UNDP Goodwill Ambassador". China Daily. undp.org.cn. 2009-08-05.
  46. ↑ "Actress Promotes Environmental Protection". China Radio International. 2005-05-31.
  47. ↑ "Zhou Xun Protects Environment with UNDP". China Radio International. 2008-03-05.
  48. ↑ "Chinese actress wins UN environment award". The Independent. 2010-04-21.
  49. ↑ "Zhou Xun:Expo green queen". China Daily. Shanghai Daily. 2009-05-06.
  50. ↑ "Actress Zhou Xun among Young Global Leaders". China Daily. China Radio International. 2011-03-18.
  51. ↑ "Zhou Xun to become the Chinese ambassador for Chanel". Asia Pacific Arts. 2011-10-18.
  52. ↑ "Zhou Xun Chanel Ambassadress For China". Chanel. 2011-10-18.
  53. ↑ "Zhou Xun and Archie Kao Wed in Surprise Public Ceremony in China". People Magazine. 2014-07-17.
  54. ↑ "Zhou Xun Obtains Hong Kong Citizenship". China Radio International. 2009-02-08.
  55. ↑ ""Not All Women Are Bad", a contemporary comedy". CCTV. 2008-10-11.
  56. ↑ "'The Great Magician'". China Radio International. 2011-12-20.
  57. ↑ "Tony Leung, Zhou Xun Play 'The Silent War'". China Radio International. 2012-07-02.
  58. ↑ "Overheard 3". China Radio International. 2012-06-05.
  59. ↑ "Zhou Xun and Tong Dawei shoot for new movie". Sina. Xinhua News Agency. 2014-09-26.
  60. ↑ "《保持沉默》海报曝光 周迅吴镇宇祖峰三足鼎立". ent.ifeng (in Chinese). 2016-06-24.
  61. ↑ "Top stars lend voices to 'Nature Is Speaking'". China.org.cn. 2015-04-13.
  62. ↑ "Huang Bo and Zhou Xun Join Chinese Version of The Little Prince". China Radio International. 2015-09-11.
  63. ↑ "'Born in China' due for release on Aug 12". China Daily. 2016-07-08.
  64. ↑ "Zhou Xun new album on sale". China Daily.
  65. ↑ "Zhou Xun, Anthony Wong Shoot "Ming Ming" Music Video". China Radio International. 2007-03-28.
  66. ↑ "Actress Zhou Xun croons for 'True Legend'". China Radio International. 2010-01-26.
  67. ↑ "Zhou Xun releases new song for Christmas". Sina. Xinhua News Agency. 2014-12-05.
Awards
Asian Film Awards
Preceded by
Jeon Do-yeon
for Secret Sunshine		 Best Actress
2009
for The Equation of Love and Death 		Succeeded by
Kim Hye-ja
for Mother
Golden Bauhinia Awards
Preceded by
Rene Liu
for A World Without Thieves		 Best Actress
2006
for Perhaps Love 		Succeeded by
Gong Li
for Curse of the Golden Flower
Charlene Choi
for Simply Actors
Preceded by
Teresa Mo
for 2 Young		 Best Supporting Actress
2007
for The Banquet 		Succeeded by
None
Golden Horse Awards
Preceded by
Shu Qi
for Three Times		 Best Actress
2006
for Perhaps Love 		Succeeded by
Joan Chen
for The Home Song Stories
Hong Kong Film Awards
Preceded by
Zhang Ziyi
for 2046		 Best Actress
2006
for Perhaps Love 		Succeeded by
Gong Li
for Curse of the Golden Flower
Preceded by
Teresa Mo
for 2 Young		 Best Supporting Actress
2007
for The Banquet 		Succeeded by
Susan Shaw
for The Pye-Dog
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
Preceded by
Zhang Ziyi
for 2046		 Best Actress
2005
for Perhaps Love 		Succeeded by
Gong Li
for Curse of the Golden Flower
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