Mentioned here once before as China’s third ‘most beautiful person’, Chinese model, actress, and singer Zhou Xun is currently one of the most promising young faces in the Asian film industry.Born in Quzhou, China, Zhou Xun began her career in the dramatic arts at the Zhejiang Arts Institute to the objections of her parents who insisted on a traditional education. She was picked for several minor roles and cameos in her early career and did not receive a major part until Lou Ye’s tragic love story, ‘Suzhou River’ in 2000.

In 2002, Zhou played the title role of the Little Seamstress in ‘Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress’ earning her international recognition when the film was nominated for Golden Tulip in the 2003 Istanbul International Film Festival and Best Foreign Language Film in the 2003 Golden Globes. She also starred in the highly popular 2002 television series ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ which earned some of the highest ratings in mainland China during the same year.

Perhaps Love (2005)

Zhou broke into the Hong Kong film scene in 2005 as the lead actress in Peter Chan’s musical film ‘Perhaps Love’. Working side by side with Japanese-Chinese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro and Hong Kong singing sensation Jacky Cheung, Zhou won the Best Actress Award in 2006 for both the Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards.

In 2006, Zhou Xun played “Ophelia” co-starring with Zhang Ziyi in the Hong Kong “wu-xia” film ‘The Banquet’. The film had its international premiere at the Venice Film Festival and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival the day of its release in mainstream China. Her role as Qing Nu or “Ophelia” won her Best Supporting Actress in the 2007 Hong Kong Film Awards.

Ming Ming (2006)

During the same year, Zhou Xun went on to release the Hong Kong action/romance film Ming Ming in her dual-role as a sleek, modern-day martial arts action heroine who steals an incredible sum for her lover, D, in order to survive the Hong Kong underworld and unlock the secrets of a cryptic message, and also as her own identical twin, Nana.

In addition to her acting career, Zhou Xun has released two solo albums entitled Summer (2003) and Come Across (2005) and sang in her lead role in ‘Perhaps Love’.

Zhou Xun on MTV:

She is currently working on two films, The Encounter of Li Mi and Painted Skin, both expected for release in 2008.

(source: wikipeda, imdb)

Stats:

Birthdate: October 18, 1976 (age 31)
Blood Type: O
Weight: 41 kg (90 lb)
Height: 161 cm (5’3)

Zhou Xun on the Web:

Zhou Xun @ Wikipedia
Zhou Xun @ The Daily Model**
Zhou Xun @ IMDB
Zhou Xun Pictures @ Pretties**
Zhou Xun Pictures & Backgrounds @ mm52

Trailers:

The Banquet International Trailer**
Perhaps Love Trailer (CN)
Perhaps Love Trailer (KR)**

Videos:

Zhou Xun – Perhaps Love “Wai Mian”**
Zhou Xun – Piao Yao**
Zhou Xun – Chocolate Commercial**
Zhou Xun & Zhang ZiYi at The Banquet

**Highly Recommended