Zhang Ziyi
Born: 9th February 1980
Where: Beijing, China
The former dancer is best known for her gravity-defying performance in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Zhang began her brief six-year stint as a dancer at the age of eleven but then switched to acting.
She enrolled in the China Central Drama Academy in Beijing to study acting, and won an award at a national competition at age 15.
Soon after, she began appearing in TV adverts in Hong Kong.
Spotted by Zhang Yimou in 1999, the young actress was offered the lead role in The Road Home.
Her strong performance (and the rumours of a romance with the director) led many Asian journalists to dub the newcomer "little Gong Li", after the director's former leading lady.
Zhang's breakthrough performance came in 2000 as Jen Wu, a sheltered aristocrat with a taste for adventure, in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Although director Ang Lee originally wanted the part to go to a more reputable Taiwanese actress, he decided to take his chances by casting Zhang in the role, and it paid off.
Her success led to roles in Hollywood including Rush Hour 2 opposite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
Recent work includes the historial saga Hero alongside Maggie Cheung and Jet Li.
