Zhang Yuqi Explained

Zhang Yuqi
Birth Name:Zhang Shuang
Alias:Kitty Zhang
Birth Date:8 August 1987[1]
Birth Place:Dezhou, Shandong, China
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2007–present
Agent:Zhang Yuqi Studio (Easy Entertainment)
Spouse:
    Children:2
    Module:
    Child:yes
    T:張雨綺
    S:张雨绮
    P:Zhāng Yǔqǐ
    Module2:
    Child:yes
    T:張爽
    S:张爽
    P:Zhāng Shuǎng

    Zhang Yuqi (; born 8 August 1987), also known as Kitty Zhang, is a Chinese actress best known for portraying Mrs. Yuen in the 2008 film CJ7 — which brought her media attention and kick-started her acting career,[2] and Ruo Lan in the 2016 film The Mermaid.

    Early life and career

    Zhang was born in Dezhou, Shandong province. She left Shandong at the age of 15 to attend acting school in Shanghai.

    Zhang appeared in a minor, uncredited role in the 2007 film The Longest Night in Shanghai. Stephen Chow first noticed her in an advertisement for Kentucky Fried Chicken, and recruited her into his agency. Zhang was given arduous training in acting, dancing, and singing. She made her debut in the science fiction film CJ7, playing a young teacher. The role brought her major media attention, and because of Chow's tradition of placing stars alongside new actresses who later gain other major roles, Zhang has been called one of the "星女郎" (xīng nǚ láng, "star girls" or "Sing girls"—Sing Yeh is a common nickname of Chow's).

    After CJ7, Zhang appeared in the Japanese film Shaolin Girl (which was also produced by Chow).[3] Chow considered casting her in Dragonball Evolution,[4] but the role was ultimately given to another actress.[5]

    Zhang then starred in the romantic comedy All About Women playing a headstrong business woman.[6] [7] In 2009, she played a country girl with a passion for hip-hop music in Jump, a musical comedy directed by Stephen Fung and penned by Stephen Chow.[8]

    Zhang ventured next to the horror genre in the Curse of the Deserted, where she played a college student scoping out a haunted house.[9] She then starred in the kungfu comedy The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman, playing a dance hostess.[10]

    In 2012, Zhang was cast in the role of Qian Xuesen's wife, Jiang Ying in the biopic of the author.[11] She then starred in the film adaptation of the Chinese literary classic White Deer Plain written by Chen Zhongshi.[12] She plays Tian Xiao'e, a sensual, illiterate woman who follows her instincts. The role posed a challenge to Zhang, as it involved intimate scenes. Many other actresses rejected the role.[13] Zhang won her first "Best Actress" trophy at the Chinese American Film Festival. She was also voted the Most Popular Actress at the Beijing College Student Film Festival for her performance.[14]

    In 2014, Zhang played a supporting role in Peter Chan's film Dearest, receiving acclaim for performance as a mother who lost a child.[15]

    In 2015, Zhang was cast alongside Brandon Routh in Lost in the Pacific, a sci-fi action adventure film directed by Vincent Zhou.[16]

    Zhang reunited with mentor Stephen Chow in his 2016 film The Mermaid, where she played the film's antagonist. Variety praised Zhang for "letting herself go.. with her bitchiness and predatory sex appeal".[17] The Mermaid was the highest-grossing film of all-time, and revived Zhang's waning film career.[18]

    In 2017, Zhang starred in the fantasy comedy film The Golden Monk directed by Wong Jing.[19] The same year, she starred in Chen Kaige's fantasy mystery film Legend of the Demon Cat.[20] Zhang won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Asian Film Awards for her performance.[21]

    Personal life

    Zhang Yuqi and Wang Quan'an had a whirlwind romance in 2011, and they married on 18 April in that year. But Zhang has announced they were divorced on 2 July 2015.[22]

    Zhang married businessman Yuan Bayuan in October 2016.[23]

    On 27 September 2018, Zhang and Yuan Bayuan issued a statement that they had agreed to divorce.[24]

    Filmography

    Film

    Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
    2007 The Longest Night in Shanghai Cameo
    2008 CJ7 Mrs. Yuen
    Shaolin Girl Minmin Ryû
    All About Women Tang Lu
    2009 Jump Phoenix
    2010 Here Comes Fortune Wu Shanshan [25]
    Curse of the Deserted Ouyang Xiaozhi
    2011 The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman Madam Mei
    2012 Qian Xuesen
    General's Command Documentary film
    White Deer Plain Tian Xiao'e
    2014 Dearest Fan Yun
    2015 The Honey Enemy Xia Xiaoyu [26]
    2016 Lost in the Pacific Ruo Xin
    The Mermaid Ruo Lan
    2017 Come Across Love Li Xin [27]
    The Golden Monk Jing Jing
    Legend of the Demon Cat Chun Qin
    2019 The Sexy Guys 最佳男友进化论 Wen Jing [28]

    Television series

    Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
    2017 Ice Fantasy Destiny Li Luo [29]
    2019 Behind The Scenes Xin Huimei Special appearance[30]
    2020 Candle in the Tomb: The Lost Caverns Shirley Yang [31]
    2021Cracking Case拆·案 Gong Shuchun Guest appearance[32]
    2022Mom Wow加油妈妈Zhou Nannan[33]
    Candle in the Tomb: Kunlun Tomb鬼吹灯之昆仑神宫Shirley Yang[34]
    2023 The Outsider (Chinese Drama)繁华似锦Su Mo Main Role

    Variety show

    Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
    2020Sisters Who Make Waves乘风破浪的姐姐Cast member[35]
    Lady Land姐姐的爱乐之程Cast member

    Awards

    Year Award Category Nominated work Ref.
    2012 Best Actress White Deer Plain [36]
    2013
    Society Award White Deer Plain, Qian Xuesen [37]
    2017 29th Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers Awards Most Charismatic Actress The Mermaid [38]
    2018 Legend of the Demon Cat

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 张雨绮(Yuqi Zhang),1986年8月8日出生于山东省德州市. Sina. zh.
    2. Web site: Zhang Yuqi. Hollywood.com.
    3. Web site: 《少林少女》杀青 周星驰张雨绮东京道贺(图). 28 March 2008. Sina. zh.
    4. Web site: Dragon Ball to become live-action film . China.org . 15 December 2007 .
    5. Web site: Carly . Mayberry . Chung goes live with 'Dragonball' . . 6 December 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516230240/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c5caf365ab6a9b8d98afe2ed1581d89 . 16 May 2008 .
    6. Web site: New poster of "Not All Women Are Bad" released. 13 October 2008. China Daily.
    7. Web site: Hark Tsui to shoot new movie. China.org.cn. 30 December 2007.
    8. Web site: 星女郎张雨绮跳舞热身新片 冯德伦贴身指导. Sina. 21 August 2007. zh.
    9. Web site: 余文乐张雨绮领衔 《荒村公寓》8月13日上映. 21 July 2010. Mtime. zh.
    10. Web site: Zhang Yuqi looks stunning in new film. China Daily. 16 March 2011.
    11. Web site: Chen Kun and Zhang Yuqi takes lead in Qian Xuesen biopic. China Daily. 9 March 2011.
    12. Web site: Good adaptation of epic novel. China Daily. 20 August 2012.
    13. Web site: Unforgettable roles of a film in the making. China Daily. 15 October 2010.
    14. Web site: The 20th Beijing College Student Film Festival award ceremony. China Daily. 14 May 2013.
    15. Web site: 张雨绮曾出演陈可辛《亲爱的》. 18 March 2015. Tencent. zh.
    16. Web site: Brandon Routh, China's Zhang Yuqi Sign Up for 'Lost in the Pacific'. The Hollywood Reporter. 20 February 2015.
    17. Web site: Film Review: 'The Mermaid'. Variety. 10 February 2017.
    18. Web site: WHO'S THAT IN THE FRONT ROW? DESIGNERS COURT ASIAN STARS, FROM CL TO KITTY ZHANG. 9 March 2016. The Hollywood Reporter.
    19. Web site: Wong Jing's new comedy to be screened on National Day holiday. China Daily. 1 August 2017.
    20. Web site: Stills from "The Legend of the Demon Cat" Released. Asian Movie Pulse. 3 November 2016.
    21. Web site: Asian Film Awards: 'Youth' Wins Top Prize From 'Demon Cat'. 17 March 2018. Variety.
    22. News: CJ7 star Kitty Zhang announces split after husband's paid-sex arrest, Chinese Internet congratulates her. The Straits Times. 3 July 2015.
    23. Web site: Kitty Zhang's whirlwind remarriage. 28 October 2016. The Straits Times.
    24. Web site: 张雨绮宣布离婚 将缺席明日《心动的信号》录制张雨绮离婚柳岩_新浪娱乐_新浪网. 新浪娱乐. 27 September 2018. ent.sina.com.cn. 14 June 2019.
    25. Web site: 《财神到》曝海报 张雨绮"一元钱"结缘张震. 19 January 2010. Mtime. zh.
    26. Web site: 《情敌蜜月》曝"奔跑吧"特辑 张雨绮霍建华"追爱大作战". 11 August 2015. Mtime. zh.
    27. Web site: 张雨绮《不期而遇》联手张猛曝剧照. 30 March 2017. Mtime. zh.
    28. Web site: 《最佳男友进化论》定档4.12 郑恺"套路"张雨绮. 28 March 2019. Sina. zh.
    29. Web site: 《幻城》拍现代版!冯绍峰张雨绮马天宇领衔. 21 February 2017. Sina. zh.
    30. Web site: 张雨绮回归幕后 《幕后之王》迎来大结局. 28 January 2019. ifeng. zh.
    31. Web site: 张雨绮《龙岭迷窟》开机 饰演Shirley杨一角引期待. 12 May 2019. ifeng. zh.
    32. Web site: 民国悬疑推理剧《拆·案》首曝剧照董璇谷嘉诚张雨绮怀正义破悬案. May 20, 2020. Sina. zh.
    33. Web site: 张雨绮新剧《加油妈妈》开播 突破风格首次饰演单亲妈妈_YNET.com北青网 . 2022-09-24 . ent.ynet.com (in Chinese).
    34. Web site: 《昆仑神宫》定档9月21日 “铁三角”集结探索全新雪山秘境_YNET.com北青网 . 2022-09-24 . ent.ynet.com (in Chinese).
    35. Web site: 《乘风破浪的姐姐》突然上线,30位姐姐集结. June 12, 2020. Beijing News. zh.
    36. Web site: The Chinese American Film Festival gives out Golden Angel Awards. 1 November 2012. Asia Pacific Arts.
    37. Web site: 张雨绮荣获电影表演艺术学会奖 与前辈交流心得. 11 September 2013. NetEase. zh.
    38. Web site: 任贤齐张雨绮获颁最具魅力演员奖. 12 March 2017. Singtao Daily. zh.