83 Zhang Ziyi

Born in Beijing in 1979, Zhang first studied the arts at the Beijing Dance Academy and later joined the highly regarded Central Academy of Drama. This move to acting proved to be a good choice, as Zhang went on to star in such milestone films as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Rush Hour 2 (2001), Hero (2002), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), among others. Demonstrating her intelligence and artistic prowess, she accepted her invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2005, and is now an eligible voter for the Academy Awards.

One good year deserves another, which is why Zhang kept her ground on our Top 99, falling only four spots from last year’s ranking at No. 79. Following her AMPAS acceptance in 2005, Zhang was selected to sit on the jury of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the youngest juror in the festival’s history. Acting-wise, Zhang was seen in 2006 as an empress in the dramatic film The Banquet, a period piece set in China’s Tang dynasty. Zhang’s CV also became a lot more crowded in 2006 thanks to the attention she received for her previous effort, Memoirs of a Geisha. The recognition for her work on that film included various nominations and awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the Golden Globes, the Image Awards, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and MTV awards.

As for 2007, Zhang seems to have a relatively light schedule with only two major projects slated for release. Her voice will be heard in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, along with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, and Billy West. Zhang will then be hitting screens late in the year with the serial-killer thriller The Horsemen, costarring Dennis Quaid.

Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi pictures
Zhang Ziyi pics
Zhang Ziyi Gallery

83 Zhang Ziyi