Gao Yuanyuan (traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Go yuányuán, born 5 October 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. In 2013, she was placed 64th on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list, 40th in 2014, 76th in 2015, and 86th in 2017.
Gao Yuanyuan is a Beijing native who graduated from the China Institute of Industrial Relations. Gao began working in the entertainment sector in 1996. Gao, unlike other mainland Chinese actresses, did not graduate from a theatre school. Rather, after being seen on the street in Beijing's Wangfujing shopping district, she began starring in a television advertisement for Meadow Gold ice cream.
Gao made her film debut in 1997 with Spicy Love Soup. Following that, she appeared in Beijing Bicycle (2001), which received the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Spring Subway, a romantic film. (2002). In 2003, she rose to prominence as Zhou Zhiruo in the television adaption of Louis Cha's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.
Gao broke into the worldwide market with the film Shanghai Dreams (2005), directed by Wang Xiaoshuai and winner of the Cannes Film Festival's Prix de Jury. Jackie Chan then chose her to star in the action comedy Rob-B-Hood. (2006). Gao has been described by Chan as having the "freshest look and chaste spirit that no Hong Kong actress could approach."
Gao next appeared in the romance film Love in the City (2007), co-starring Shawn Yue, as a deaf-mute kindergarten teacher. At the 11th Golden Phoenix Awards, her performance earned her the Newcomer Award.
Gao was then cast in Lu Chuan's film City of Life and Death (2009), which was based on the events of the Nanjing Massacre. Gao played a middle-aged teacher who assisted Nanjing residents in surviving the horrors of Japanese crimes in 1937, departing from her "girl-next-door" persona. Gao described the role as a "watershed moment" in her career, claiming that she had never taken acting seriously until she worked on the film. At the 2009 San Sebastian Film Festival, City of Life and Death took first place.
In 2010, Gao co-starred with Korean actor Jung Woo-sung in Hur Jin-ho's love film A Season of Good Rain, as well as the omnibus romance drama film Driverless. The following year, she co-starred with Daniel Wu in Johnnie To's romantic comedy Don't Go Breaking My Heart.
Gao appeared in Chen Kaige's Caught in the Web in 2012, playing a young woman who commits suicide after becoming engaged in a social media issue. The film was notably successful among young people, attracting over six million viewers and critical acclaim.
Gao returned to television in 2013 with the television series Let's Get Married, in which she played a "leftover" unmarried lady who becomes involved with a man who has a marriage phobia. The show was a commercial success and the highest-rated drama of 2013. Gao received the Best Actress Award at the 18th Beijing Chunyan Awards for her performance. Gao repeated her role in the drama's film adaption.
Gao then co-starred in the romantic film But Always with Nicholas Tse. (2014). At the 52nd Grand Bell Awards, she was named Best Foreign Actress.
Gao was ranked 86th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 in 2017.
Gao confirmed her comeback to the big screen after a two-year absence with Juno Mak's mafia epic Sons of the Neon Night.
Other pursuits
Gao was a torchbearer in the Nanjing leg of the Beijing Olympics torch relay in 2008.
Gao was named the first Chinese brand ambassador for French luxury label Longchamp in 2012.
In 2013, Gao was selected as California's tourist ambassador to China. She was chosen because she "embodies the California brand and spirit and will share her authentic passion for California with the Chinese public, inspiring them to dream of a California."
Gao was named Michael Kors' brand ambassador in 2020.
Gao has been the brand representative for French high-end jewelers Chaumet since 2021.
Personal life
In 2014, Gao married Taiwanese actor Mark Chao. They met on the set of Caught in the Web and welcomed a daughter, Rhea Chao, in June 2019, just one month after Gao announced her pregnancy. Since 2009, Yuanyuan has been a vegetarian.
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Spicy Love Soup | 爱情麻辣烫 | He Ling |
| 2001 | Beijing Bicycle | 十七岁的单车 | Xiaoxiao |
| 2002 | Spring Subway | 开往春天的地铁 | Tian'ai |
| 2005 | Shanghai Dreams | 青红 | Wu Qinghong |
| 2006 | Rob-B-Hood | 宝贝计划 | Melody |
| 2007 | Love in the City | 男才女貌 | Qin Xiaoyou |
| Unfinished Girl | 第三个人 | Xiao Ke | |
| 2008 | In Love We Trust | 左右 | School teacher |
| xXx:A Forbidden Love Story | xXx：被禁锢的爱 | ||
| 2009 | City of Life and Death | 南京！南京！ | Jiang Shuyun |
| 2010 | A Season of Good Rain | 好雨时节 | Wu Yue (May) |
| The Love of Three Smile | 三笑之才子佳人 | Top Female Scholar | |
| Ocean Heaven | 海洋天堂 | Da Fu's mother | |
| Driverless | 无人驾驶 | Xiao Yun | |
| Color Me Love | 爱出色 | Herself | |
| 2011 | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | 单身男女 | Cheng Zixin |
| 2012 | Romancing in Thin Air | 高海拔之恋II | Ding Yuanyuan |
| Caught in the Web | 搜索 | Ye Lanqiu | |
| 2013 | Blind Detective | 盲探 | Ting Ting |
| 2014 | But Always | 一生一世 | An Ran |
| Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 | 单身男女2 | Cheng Zixin | |
| 2015 | Let's Get Married | 咱们结婚吧 | Ye Wenwen |
| 2019 | Sons of the Neon Night | 风林火山 | a retired therapist |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 实习生的故事 | Gao Fei | |
| 找不着北 | Jiang Xin | ||
| 1999 | 咱老百姓 | Yu Qian | |
| 2003 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber | 倚天屠龙记 | Zhou Zhiruo |
| The Adventures of Di Renjie | 护国良相狄仁杰 | Pan Yu | |
| 准点出击 | Huang Li | ||
| 2004 | 你在微笑我却哭了 | Shen Xiao | |
| 海的誓言 | Ye Yu | ||
| 烟花三月 | Shen Wan | ||
| 爱与梦飞翔 | Hongjie | ||
| Miracle Healers | 神医侠侣 | Qinzi | |
| 2005 | The Royal Swordsmen | 天下第一 | Liusheng Piaoxu |
| The Prince of Qin, Li Shimin | 秦王李世民 | Yang Ruoxi | |
| 2007 | Love No Regrets | 爱无悔 | Gao Mingyue |
| 2009 | The Qin Empire | 大秦帝国 | Bai Xue |
| 2013 | Let's Get Married | 咱们结婚吧 | Yang Tao |
| The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils | 天龙八部 | Li Biyun |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Glamorous Encounter | 艳遇 | Lin Momo |
| 2008 | Hamlet 1990 | 哈姆雷特1990 | Ophelia |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Love in the City | 11th Golden Phoenix Awards | Newcomer Award | Won |
| 2008 | Rob-B-Hood | 29th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2012 | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | 31st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 12th Chinese Film Media Awards | Most Anticipated Actress | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Caught in the Web | 4th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2014 | Let's Get Married | 20th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| But Always | 6th Macau International Movie Festival | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Let's Get Married | 18th Chunyan Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| — | 52nd Grand Bell Awards | Best Foreign Actress | Won |
| Body Measurements | 30-22-32 inches |
| Bodytype | Slim |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 45 kg (99 lbs) |
| Waist | 22 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 43 years old (in 2023) |
| Date of Birth | October 5, 1979 |
| Full Name | Gao Yuanyuan |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Birthplace | Yungang Residential District, Beijing, China |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Qualification: High School Graduation
Profession: Actress, Model
Known For: Caught in the Web
Net Worth: $10 Million Approx
Father: Gao Junren
Marital Status: Married
Husband: Mark Chao (m. 2014)
No. of Children: 1
Daughter: Rhea Chao
Hobbies: Travelling, Dancing
Favorite Destination: Switzerland
Favorite Food: Rice
Favorite Color: Black, Brown
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