Zhou Xun (born October 18, 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of China's Four Dan Actresses. She rose to international prominence with her roles in Suzhou River (2000) and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2004). (2002). She became the first Chinese actor to win the "Grand Slam" in 2009, when she won the Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards, and the Golden Rooster Awards.
Zhou has received Best Actress awards from Asian Film Awards, Asian Television Awards, Beijing College Student Film Festival, China Film Director's Guild 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, Huading Awards, Shanghai Television Festival, and Shanghai Film Critics Awards, as well as Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, Hundred Flowers Awards,
Zhou was born in Quzhou, Zhejiang, to a middle-class family. Her father, Zhou Tianning (), was a local film projectionist, and her mother, Chen Yiqin (), worked as a department store salesperson. She attended Quzhou No.1 Middle School for her education. Zhou enrolled at the Zhejiang Arts Institute after graduation to pursue her interest in dramatic arts, against the wishes of her parents, who wanted her to graduate from a university. During her high school years, she was handpicked for a role in the film Strange Tales Among Old and Desolate Tombs.
Acting career from 1995 to 2004: Starting points and breakthroughs
Zhou made her film debut in the comedy The Pampered Wife (1995). She then appeared in two Chen Kaige films, Temptress Moon (1996) and The Emperor and the Assassin (1997). (1999). But it wasn't until 2000 that Zhou was recognized in China. Zhou won the Audience Choice for Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards at the 18th China TV Golden Eagle Awards for her role as young Princess Taiping in the historical drama Palace of Desire.
Zhou made her big screen debut in Lou Ye's Suzhou River (2000), where she won Best Actress at the 15th Festival du Film de Paris. She was named one of the Four Dan Actresses that year, alongside Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Wei, and Xu Jinglei. She rose to international prominence after appearing in the Franco-Chinese romance drama film Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002).
Following that, a string of successful projects ensued. Zhou's performance in Fruit Chan's first Hong Kong film, Hollywood Hong Kong, impressed critics. According to Variety, Zhou is "superb," "moving with ease between her various personalities and always convincing in each." April Rhapsody (2000), Love Story in Shanghai (2001), and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003) are among Zhou's earlier notable works;
2005-2011: Critical acclaim
She went on to star in Feng Xiaogang's wuxia film The Banquet (2006), which was based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Zhou is the crown prince's girlfriend, the equivalent of Ophelia. Susie Au's film Ming Ming, which premiered at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival in 2007, starred her. Zhou portrayed twins with completely different characteristics and personalities.
She then played a taxi driver looking for her missing boyfriend in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death (2008). Critics praised Zhou once more, crediting the film's success to her performance as Li Mi. Zhou later won Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Awards, the Shanghai Film Critics Awards, the Golden Rooster Film Festival, and the Chinese Film Media Awards. The same year, she starred in Gordon Chan's horror-adventure film Painted Skin, a remake of the same-named classic supernatural thriller. The spy thriller The Message (2009) followed, about Japanese invaders in China attempting to find a spy among their Chinese collaborators.
Zhou was named Star of the Year at the CineAsia exhibition and distribution convention in Hong Kong in 2009. She was also named Asian Star of the Year by the Asia-Pacific Producers Network (APN) for her outstanding box office achievements. Zhou was named one of Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time in an interview with CNN.
Tsui Hark directed her in the wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011).
2012–present: Directorial and Hollywood debuts, as well as a return to television
Zhou made her directorial debut in 2011 with the short film Five Demon Traps, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a demon killer.
Zhou made her Hollywood debut in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas in 2012, playing multiple roles. The film surpassed the 700 million yuan ($109.8 million) mark, making it the highest-grossing Chinese-language film of all time at the time.
After ten years, Zhou returned to television in Red Sorghum, based on Nobel laureate Mo Yan's 1986/1987 novel of the same name. The author praised Zhou's performance in the series for her flawless grasp of the character's inner turmoil. Zhou won the Asian Television Award for Best Actress.
In 2018, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards for her performance in the romance film Last Letter, directed by Shunji Iwai.
Zhou appeared in the crime thriller film Remain Silent in 2019.
Zhou appeared in the fantasy film The Yinyang Master in 2021.
Zhou will appear in the wuxia film The Weary Poet as well as the family drama film The Eleventh Chapter.
Social gatherings
On Earth Day 2010, Zhou was named one of the 'Champions of the Earth' for her work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), becoming the world's first entertainer to receive this honor.
In 2008, Zhou Xun was named China's first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, with a special emphasis on promoting environmental sustainability. Zhou is a co-founder of the 'Our Part' campaign, which promotes "green living tips."
On April 22, 2010, she was named the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Champions of the Earth Laureate (Inspiration & Action). She was the world's first entertainer to receive this honor.
Fashion
Zhou was appointed as Miu Miu's global spokesperson in 2006. She was chosen as a Lancel brand ambassador for the Greater China region in 2008. Zhou has been a Chanel ambassador since 2011. Zhou Xun's strong fashion sense was noted by Chanel chief designer Karl Lagerfeld, who described the actress as "a synthesis of young Coco Chanel and Ballet Troupe Zizi Jeanmaire."
Vogue China and Vogue Taiwan, Chinese and Hong Kong Harper's Bazaar, Chinese and Hong Kong Elle, Chinese and Taiwanese Marie Claire, Chinese and Hong Kong Cosmopolitan, Chinese L'Officiel, Chinese Madame Figaro, Chinese Numéro, Chinese T, Chinese GQ, Chinese Esquire, Chinese Elle Men, Chinese Harper's Bazaar Men.
Private life
Marriage
Zhou Xun married American actor Archie Kao on stage after a charity event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China on July 16, 2014. Zhou announced their divorce on her Sina Weibo account on December 23, 2020.
Zhou was granted Hong Kong citizenship in 2009 through the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme."
Anecdote Zhou was terrified of water as a child after nearly drowning. However, most of the dramas in which she has appeared have underwater scenes. For example, she was required to soak in water for half a month while filming "Painted Skin: The Resurrection."
In an interview with several magazines in 2012, Zhou stated that receiving too much information was a burden for her because she was not good at expressing herself and rarely used the Internet, so she did not apply for accounts on popular social networking sites such as Weibo.
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Old Grave | 古墓荒斋 | Jiao Na |
| 1993 | Story of Rouge Chamber | 胭楼记 | Zheng Yue'e |
| 1995 | The Pampered Wife | 小娇妻 | Yangyang |
| Maiden Rosé | 女儿红 | Hua Dao | |
| 1996 | Temptress Moon | 风月 | Little dance girl |
| 1998 | My Rice Noodle Shop | 花桥荣记 | Xie Yan |
| 1999 | The Emperor and the Assassin | 荊軻刺秦王 | Blind girl |
| 2000 | Suzhou River | 苏州河 | Mei Mei / Mou Dan |
| If I Lose You | 如果没有爱 | Xun | |
| 2001 | Beijing Bicycle | 十七岁的单车 | Hong Qin |
| Hollywood Hong Kong | 香港有个好莱坞 | Hung Hung/Tong Tong | |
| 2002 | A 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 | |
| 2004 | Baobei in Love | 恋爱中的宝贝 | Bao Bei |
| 2005 | A 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 | |
| 2006 | The Banquet | 夜宴 | Qingnü |
| 2007 | Ming Ming | 明明 | Mingming / Nana |
| 2008 | The 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 | |
| 2009 | The Message | 风声 | Gu Xiaomeng |
| 2010 | Confucius | 孔子 | Nanzi |
| True Legend | 苏乞儿 | Yuan Ying | |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Wang Huiwu |
| The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate | 龙门飞甲 | Jade | |
| 2012 | The Great Magician | 大魔术师 | Liu Yin |
| Painted Skin: The Resurrection | 画皮II | Xiao Wei | |
| The Silent War | 听风者 | Zhang Xuening | |
| Cloud Atlas | 云图 | Talbot / Yoona-939 / Rose | |
| 2014 | Overheard 3 | 窃听风云3 | Ruan Yuehua |
| Women Who Flirt | 撒娇女人最好命 | Zhang Hui | |
| Meet Miss Anxiety | 我的早更女友 | Qi Jia | |
| 2017 | Our Time Will Come | 明月几时有 | Fang Gu |
| 2018 | Last Letter | 你好，之华 | Yuan Zhihua |
| 2019 | Remain Silent | 保持沉默 | Duan Mulan |
| 2021 | The Yinyang Master | 侍神令 | Bai Ni |
| The Eleventh Chapter | 第十一回 | Jin Cailing | |
| 2022 | Hero | 世间有她 | Shen Yue |
| 2023 | Hidden Blade | 无名 | Ms. Chen |
| TBA | The Weary Poet | 诗眼倦天涯 | Wen Sanchun |
| Across the Furious Sea | 涉过愤怒的海 | Jing Lan | |
| Moonlight Blade | 天涯明月刀 |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Red Recipe | 红处方 | Shen Pei |
| 1998 | The Police Scene | 警坛风云 | Lin Peipei |
| 1999 | Maid in Green | 绿衣红娘 | Fan Xiaoxuan |
| 2000 | The True Color of Money | 金钱本色 | Mandy |
| Just Happy | 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 | |
| Heart Network | 心网 | Na Niu | |
| Life Unexpected | 缘来一家人 | Tao Tao | |
| 2001 | Love Story in Shanghai | 像雾像雨又像风 | Du Xinyu |
| 2002 | Ripening Orange | 橘子红了 | Xiu He |
| 2003 | The 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 | |
| 2014 | Red Sorghum | 红高粱 | Jiu'er/Cang Jiulian |
| 2018 | Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace | 如懿传 | Ula Nara Ruyi |
| 2020 | Imperfect Love | 不完美的她 | Lin Xuzhi |
| 2021 | Medal of the Republic | 功勋之屠呦呦 | Tu Youyou |
| A Little Mood for Love | 小敏家 | Liu Xiaomin | |
| 2023 | Imperfect Victim | 不完美受害人 | Lin Han |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Devil Nail Clippers | 指甲刀人魔 | Li Kaiyi |
| 2011 | Jump | 纵身一跃 | Herself |
| 2012 | 2032: The Future We Want | 2032 我们期望的未 | Herself |
| I Know U | 星知我心 | D24 | |
| 2014 | One Day:The Rising Sun | 太阳会飞 | Zhou |
| Green | 绿 | Herself | |
| 2016 | Roman Holiday | Vogue Film之《罗马假期》 | |
| 2019 | Once Upon A Night | Vogue Film之《再见宝贝》 | Herself |
| 2020 | Daughter | 女儿 | Taxi Driver |
| 2020 | Le Vrai Où | 花的游吟 | Club Singer |
| 2022 | All Tomorrow's Parties | 我的朋友 | Xiao Zhou |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2015 | The Little Prince |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Les Aventures d'Anthony | 陪安东尼度过漫长岁月 | Janet Chun |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Lead actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Five Demon Traps | 五行伏妖 | Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Wu Gang |
| Year | English title | Chinese title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003: | Summer | 夏天 |
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | Theme song of Travel Channel | |
| 2005 | "Journey" | 行囊 | — | |
| "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 | — | Promotional 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 OST | with Anthony Wong | |
| "Song of the Vagrant"[79] | 流浪者之歌 | |||
| 2007 | "Companion" | 伴侣 | — | Promotional 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 | Zhu Xian 2 OST | |
| 2011 | "Only One in the World" | 这世界唯一的你 | — | |
| 2012 | "Guess the Lover" | 猜情人 | The Great Magician OST | with Tony Leung Chiu-wai |
| 2014 | "For the Child" | 给小孩 | One Day OST | |
| "A Switch to Happiness"[80] | 幸福的开关 | — | ||
| 2018 | "Appearance" | 样子 | Last Letter OST | |
| 2019 | "What a Woderful World" | 多美好的世界啊 | featuring Laura Fygi | |
| "Spring Time" | 春光 | — | ||
| "A Lifelong Wait" | 一生守候 | Remain Silent OST | ||
| 2020 | "Gaze Beyond" | 遥望 | Run For Young OST | with Chen Kun |
| "You're Good" | 你真好 | Days and Nights in Wuhan OST | ||
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Zhou Xun
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 7th |
| 2005 | 7th |
| 2006 | 2nd |
| 2007 | 6th |
| 2008 | 8th |
| 2009 | 9th |
| 2013 | 91st |
| 2014 | 15th |
| 2015 | 17th |
| 2017 | 60th |
| 2019 | 53rd |
| 2020 | 65th |
| Body Measurements | 32-23-34 inches |
| Bodytype | Slim |
| Height | 5 feet 3½ inches (1.61 m) |
| Weight | 48 kg (105 lbs) |
| Waist | 23 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Shoe Size | 6.5 (US) |
| Dress Size | 4 (US) |
| Nickname | Zhou |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 48 years old (in 2023) |
| Date of Birth | October 18, 1974 |
| Full Name | Zhou Xun |
| Profession | Actress, Singer |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Birthplace | Quzhou, China |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Qualification: Zhejiang Art School (Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art)
Profession: Actress, Singer
Known For: Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace
Net Worth: $20 Million Approx
Father: Chen Yiqin
Mother: Zhou Tianyu
Marital Status: Single
Past Relationships:
Archie Kao (m. 2014–2020)
Hobbies: Photoshoot, Painting
Favorite Destination: Switzerland
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Color: Red, Purple
Favorite Pets: Cat
,-Biography,-Wiki,-Age,-Boyfriend-&-More-134.jpg "Surabhi-Samriddhi Mehra (Chinky Minky), Biography, Wiki, Age, Boyfriend & More")
