Biography
Who is Zhao Wei?
Early life and education
Zhao Wei was born in Wuhu, Anhui, China. She grew up in this city as the second child of Wei Qiying, a primary school teacher, and Zhao Jiahai, an engineer. She has one older brother named Zhao Jian, who works as her business partner and holds major shares in Talent Television & Film.
Her formal schooling began at Wuhu Normal School Affiliated Primary School and continued through Wuhu No. 17 Middle School. After finishing secondary education at Wuhu Normal School in 1994, she moved to Shanghai to study at the Xie Jin Heng Tong Star Academy of Performing Arts. In 1996, she earned a place at the Beijing Film Academy with the highest entrance exam score in the country. She completed her degree in performing arts there in 2000 after receiving a 90 out of 100 on her final thesis.
How Zhao became famous
Her first acting appearance occurred in 1994 in the film A Soul Haunted by Painting, where she played a young prostitute. Following training in Shanghai, she secured her first major role in the 1996 film Penitentiary Angel. This helped her transition into television roles, including her first lead part in the series Sisters in Beijing.
The actress achieved big popularity through the 1998 television series My Fair Princess. Playing the character Huan Zhu Ge Ge, she became widely known across Asia. In 1999, she became the youngest actress to receive the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress. This success led to other major projects like the 2001 drama Romance in the Rain.
Career highlights
Zhao Wei transitioned into film with roles in movies such as Shaolin Soccer and So Close. She earned critical acclaim for her performance in Jade Goddess of Mercy, which earned her the Golden Phoenix Award in 2004. Other well-known film credits include Moment in Peking, Painted Skin, and Mulan.
Beyond acting, she is a singer with seven released albums and a filmmaker. She made her directorial debut with the successful film So Young in 2013. Also, she serves as the second largest shareholder of Alibaba Pictures. Her professional success was reflected in her high rankings on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list during the 2010s.
Personal life and status
Zhao Wei is married to Huang Youlong. Her career has seen various accolades, including a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress for her work in Dearest. She has also won the Golden Goblet Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Since August 27, 2021, the Chinese government has blacklisted Zhao Wei. As a result, much of her content has been removed from the Chinese internet. Despite these challenges, her legacy as a prominent figure in mandopop and cinema remains documented through her extensive filmography and musical discography.
Birthday and age
Zhao Wei was born on March 12, 1976, which makes Zhao 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Zhao shares the date with 55 other famous people.
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