Gong Li (
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
: 巩俐; born 31 December 1965) is a Chinese actress. She starred in three of the four
Chinese-language
Chinese (, especially when referring to written Chinese) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and many minority ethnic groups in Greater China. About 1.3 billion people (or approximately 16% of the wor ...
films that were nominated for the
Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...
.
Gong was born in
Shenyang,
Liaoning, and grew up in
Jinan,
Shandong. She enrolled at the
Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, from where she graduated in 1989. While a student at the Academy, she was spotted by director
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
and debuted in Zhang's ''
Red Sorghum'' in 1987. Gong and Zhang's professional and personal relationship received much media attention in the Chinese-speaking world, as they continued to collaborate on a string of critically acclaimed movies, including the Oscar-nominated features ''
Ju Dou
''Ju Dou'' () is a 1990 film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang and starring Gong Li as the title character. It is notable for being printed in vivid Technicolor long after the process had been abandoned in the United States. It was also ...
'' (1990) and ''
Raise the Red Lantern
''Raise the Red Lantern'' is a 1991 film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by of the 1990 novella '' Raise the Red Lantern'' (originally ''Wives and Concubines'') by Su Tong. The film was later adapted into an ...
'' (1991). For her role in the Zhang-directed ''
The Story of Qiu Ju
''The Story of Qiu Ju'' () is a 1992 Chinese comedy-drama film. The film was directed by Zhang Yimou and, as in many of his films, stars Gong Li in the title role. The screenplay is an adaption of Chen Yuanbin's (陈源斌) novella ''The Wan Famil ...
'' (1992), Gong won the
Volpi Cup for Best Actress
The Volpi Cup for Best Actress is an award presented by the Venice Film Festival. It is given by the festival jury in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance from the films in the competition slate. It is named in honor o ...
at the
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
.
Gong also starred in the
Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige (; born 12 August 1952) is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema.Berry, Michael (2002). "Chen Kaige: Historical Revolution and Cinematic Rebellion" in Speaking in Images: Interviews wi ...
-directed Oscar-nominated ''
Farewell My Concubine'' (1993), for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic organization founded in 1935 by Wanda Hale from the New York ''Daily News''. Its membership includes over 30 film critics from New York-based daily and weekly newspapers, magaz ...
. In English-language films, she won the
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress
The National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress is one of the annual film awards given (since 1954) by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Winners
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Mult ...
for her
Memoirs of a Geisha
''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and ...
(2005), directed by
Rob Marshall
Robert Doyle Marshall Jr.http://www.alumni.cmu.edu/s/1410/images/editor_documents/alumnirelations/getinvolved/alumniawards/all_honorees_2018june1.pdf (born October 17, 1960) is an American film and theater director, producer, and choreographer. ...
. Other notable appearances include ''
Flirting Scholar
''Flirting Scholar'' (Cantonese: 唐伯虎點秋香; Jyutping: Tong4 Baak3fu2 dim2 Cau2heong1) is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Lee Lik-Chi. It parodies famous works of literature which feature the same characters and settings.
The ...
'' (1993), ''
To Live'' (1994), ''
Chinese Box
''Chinese Box'' is a 1997 movie directed by Wayne Wang and starring Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung and Michael Hui.
The movie is set and was made at the time of Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China on June 30, 199 ...
'' (1997), ''
The Emperor and the Assassin
''The Emperor and the Assassin'', also known as ''The First Emperor'', is a 1998 - 1999 Chinese historical romance film based primarily on Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, as described in Sima Qian's ''Records of the Grand Histo ...
'' (1998), ''
Breaking the Silence'' (2000), ''
Zhou Yu's Train
''Zhou Yu's Train'' () is a 2002 Chinese film, based on a novella by Bei Cun, directed by Sun Zhou, and starring Gong Li and Tony Leung Ka-Fai.
The title refers to a poetic compilation published by the character in the movie played by Leung. ...
'' (2003), ''
2046'' (2004), ''
Miami Vice
''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two M ...
'' (2006), ''
Curse of the Golden Flower
''Curse of the Golden Flower'' () is a 2006 Chinese epic wuxia drama film written and directed by Zhang Yimou. The Mandarin Chinese title of the movie is taken from the last line of the Qi dynasty poem written by the rebel leader Huang Chao who h ...
'' (2006), and ''
Coming Home'' (2014).
Gong was head of jury at the
2000 Berlin Film Festival and the
2002 Venice Film Festival, the first Asian person to hold such position at both events. Over the course of her career, Gong has won three
Hundred Flowers Awards
The Hundred Flowers Awards () are, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards honouring the best in Chinese cinema, as well as Hong Kong cinema and the Cinema of Taiwan, they are classified as the Chinese equiv ...
, two
Golden Rooster Awards
The Golden Rooster Awards () are film awards given in mainland China. The awards were originally given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981. Award recipients receive a statuette in the shap ...
, a
Hong Kong Film Award, and honorary awards at the
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
and
Cannes
Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. T ...
film festivals. She was appointed as a Commander (Commandeur) of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France in 2010.
Early life
Gong Li was born on 31 December 1965 in
Shenyang,
Liaoning,
China, the youngest of five children. Her father was a professor of economics and her mother was a teacher. She grew up in
Jinan, the capital of
Shandong. She has been fond of singing and dancing since childhood, and dreamt of becoming a singer.
She studied in Jinan Sanhe Street
Primary School
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
. When she was in grade two, she was recommended by the school to sing children's songs at Jinan People's Broadcasting Station. In Jinan No.2
Middle School
A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...
, Gong spent six years in high school, when she was a member of the school's literature and art team.
In 1985, she was accepted to study at the
Central Academy of Drama in Beijing; she graduated in 1989. While a student at the Central Academy of Drama, she was discovered by
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
, who chose her for the lead role in ''
Red Sorghum,'' his first film as a director.
[Ghahremani, Yasmin; Stanmeyer, Anastacia (24 September 1999), "Nation builders". ''Asiaweek''. 25 (38):74]
Acting career
1987–1989: Career beginnings
In 1987, Gong was first chosen by director
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
to act in the anti-Japanese war romance
''Red Sorghum'', which officially launched her 15-year cooperation with the China's
fifth-generation directors. The film won the
Golden Bear
The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin.
History
The win ...
at the
38th Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese film to win this award. It also won the
Golden Rooster Awards
The Golden Rooster Awards () are film awards given in mainland China. The awards were originally given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981. Award recipients receive a statuette in the shap ...
and the
Hundred Flowers Awards
The Hundred Flowers Awards () are, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards honouring the best in Chinese cinema, as well as Hong Kong cinema and the Cinema of Taiwan, they are classified as the Chinese equiv ...
for Best Picture in 1988.
In 1989, Gong starred in
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
’s second counterterrorism film,
Codename Cougar
''Codename Cougar'' (also known as ''Codename: Cougar'', ''Operation Cougar'' or ''The Puma Action'') is a 1989 Chinese thriller film. It was co-directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang. Unlike the bulk of Zhang's early works (ranging from 1986' ...
, for which she won the
Hundred Flowers Awards
The Hundred Flowers Awards () are, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards honouring the best in Chinese cinema, as well as Hong Kong cinema and the Cinema of Taiwan, they are classified as the Chinese equiv ...
for Best Supporting Actress, ushering in a new stage of exploring acting skills and style.
1990–1999: Fifth generation filmmakers and international spotlight
![Gong Li Andie MacDowell 1998 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Gong_Li_Andie_MacDowell_1998_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Over the several years following her 1987 acting debut in ''Red Sorghum'', Gong received international acclaim for her roles in several more Zhang Yimou films.
[Dargis, Manohla (5 December 2004), "Glamour's New Orientation". ''New York Times''. 154 (53054):Arts & Leisure 1]
In 1990, Gong Continued to cooperate with
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
and starred in his family ethics movie
Ju Dou
''Ju Dou'' () is a 1990 film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang and starring Gong Li as the title character. It is notable for being printed in vivid Technicolor long after the process had been abandoned in the United States. It was also ...
, which won the Luis Buñuel Special Award at the
1990 Cannes Film Festival
The 43rd Cannes Film Festival was held from 10 to 21 May 1990. The Palme d'Or went to '' Wild at Heart'' by David Lynch.
The festival opened with '' Dreams'', directed by Akira Kurosawa and closed with ''The Comfort of Strangers'', directed by Pau ...
and was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the
63rd Academy Awards
The 63rd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 25, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the ce ...
, becoming the first Chinese film to be nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Gong also won the Best Actress award at the Varna International Film Festival.
In 1991, Gong starred in Zhang Yimou's representative film
Raise the Red Lantern
''Raise the Red Lantern'' is a 1991 film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by of the 1990 novella '' Raise the Red Lantern'' (originally ''Wives and Concubines'') by Su Tong. The film was later adapted into an ...
, which won the
Silver Lion award at the
48th Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the
64th Academy Awards
The 64th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 1991 in the United States and took place on March 30, 1992, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beg ...
. Gong, playing a rebellious mistress in the film, won the
Hundred Flowers Awards
The Hundred Flowers Awards () are, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards honouring the best in Chinese cinema, as well as Hong Kong cinema and the Cinema of Taiwan, they are classified as the Chinese equiv ...
for Best Actress and was nominated for the
David di Donatello Awards and the
NSFC for Best Actress. Her performance in the ''
Raise the Red Lantern
''Raise the Red Lantern'' is a 1991 film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by of the 1990 novella '' Raise the Red Lantern'' (originally ''Wives and Concubines'') by Su Tong. The film was later adapted into an ...
'' (1991) put her in the international spotlight again.
[
In 1992, Gong starred in the rural drama ]The Story of Qiu Ju
''The Story of Qiu Ju'' () is a 1992 Chinese comedy-drama film. The film was directed by Zhang Yimou and, as in many of his films, stars Gong Li in the title role. The screenplay is an adaption of Chen Yuanbin's (陈源斌) novella ''The Wan Famil ...
, which won the Golden Lion award
The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguishe ...
at the 49th Venice International Film Festival. Gong's portrayal of rural woman Qiu Ju not only won the Golden Rooster Awards
The Golden Rooster Awards () are film awards given in mainland China. The awards were originally given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981. Award recipients receive a statuette in the shap ...
and the Japanese Movie Critics Awards
are presented annually since 1991.
As with the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the selection committee consists of film critics.
Award winners 1990s
1991 (1st Japanese Movie Critics Award ...
for Best Actress, but also helped her named Best Actress at the 49th Venice Film Festival.
In 1993, she received a New York Film Critics Circle
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic organization founded in 1935 by Wanda Hale from the New York ''Daily News''. Its membership includes over 30 film critics from New York-based daily and weekly newspapers, magaz ...
award for her role in '' Farewell My Concubine'' (1993). Directed by Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige (; born 12 August 1952) is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema.Berry, Michael (2002). "Chen Kaige: Historical Revolution and Cinematic Rebellion" in Speaking in Images: Interviews wi ...
, the film was her first major role with a director other than Zhang Yimou. In the same year, she was awarded with the Berlinale Camera at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival
The 43rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 February 1993. The Golden Bear was awarded to American-Taiwanese film '' The Wedding Banquet'' directed by Ang Lee and Chinese film '' Xiāng hún nǚ'' directed by Xie ...
. '' Premiere'' magazine ranked her performance in ''Farewell My Concubine'' as the 89th greatest performance of all time. She also worked with renowned director Stephen Chow in comedy films '' God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai'' (1991) and ''Flirting Scholar
''Flirting Scholar'' (Cantonese: 唐伯虎點秋香; Jyutping: Tong4 Baak3fu2 dim2 Cau2heong1) is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy film directed by Lee Lik-Chi. It parodies famous works of literature which feature the same characters and settings.
The ...
'' (1993).
Immune to political repercussions because of her fame, Gong Li began criticizing the censorship policy in China. Her films ''Farewell My Concubine'' and ''The Story of Qiu Ju'' were initially banned in China for being thinly-veiled critiques of the Chinese government.[No byline (25 February 2000), "First lady of film". ''Asiaweek''. 26 (7):34] Regarding the sexual content in ''Ju Dou
''Ju Dou'' () is a 1990 film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang and starring Gong Li as the title character. It is notable for being printed in vivid Technicolor long after the process had been abandoned in the United States. It was also ...
'', Chinese censorship deemed the film "a bad influence on the physical and spiritual health of young people."[
In 1994, Gong played Jia Zhen, the wife of Xu Fugui, in the drama " To Live" with Zhang Yimou, which won the ]Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival
The 47th Cannes Film Festival was held from 12 to 23 May 1994. The Palme d'Or went to the American film '' Pulp Fiction'' directed by Quentin Tarantino.
The festival opened with '' The Hudsucker Proxy'', directed by Joel Coen and closed with ''S ...
. She was also nominated for the Chlotrudis Awards for Best Actress.
In 1995, Gong starred in ''Shanghai Triad
''Shanghai Triad'' is a 1995 Chinese crime-drama film, directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. The script is written by Bi Feiyu based on Li Xiao's 1994 novel ''Rules of a Clan'' (门规). The film is set in the criminal underworld of 193 ...
'', her breakup with Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
, in which she played a seductive stage queen. The film won the Technical Grand Prize of Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
, the National Board of Review
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminat ...
for Best Foreign Language film, and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is a Golden Globe Award presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film coul ...
.
These roles established her reputation, according to ''Asiaweek
''Asiaweek'' was an English-language news magazine focusing on Asia, published weekly by Asiaweek Limited, a subsidiary of Time Inc. Based in Hong Kong, it was established in 1975, and ceased publication with its 7 December 2001 issue due to a ...
'', as
In 1996, Gong and Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige (; born 12 August 1952) is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema.Berry, Michael (2002). "Chen Kaige: Historical Revolution and Cinematic Rebellion" in Speaking in Images: Interviews wi ...
collaborated again in the romantic film ''Temptress Moon
''Temptress Moon'' is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige. It was jointly produced by the Shanghai Film Studio and the Taipei-based Tomson Films. The film saw Chen reuniting with Leslie Cheung and Gong Li who had previously worked with him ...
'', which was in competition for the Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
of the 1996 Cannes Film Festival
The 49th Cannes Film Festival was held from 9 to 20 May 1996 in film, 1996. The Palme d'Or went to ''Secrets & Lies (film), Secrets & Lies'' by Mike Leigh.
The festival opened with ''Ridicule (film), Ridicule'', directed by Patrice Leconte and cl ...
. Gong has been nominated for her second best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ...
for her role as rebellious teenage girl Ru Yi. She also appeared on the cover of Time magazine
''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Ma ...
(1996).
In 1997, Gong worked with Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons (; born 19 September 1948) is an English actor and activist. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969 and has appeared in many West End theatre ...
on the romantic drama ''Chinese Box
''Chinese Box'' is a 1997 movie directed by Wayne Wang and starring Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung and Michael Hui.
The movie is set and was made at the time of Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China on June 30, 199 ...
'', which won the Best Original Music award at the Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
. In the same year, Gong was invited to be a jury at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
The 50th Cannes Film Festival was held from 7 to 18 May 1997. The Palme d'Or was jointly awarded to '' Ta'm e guilass'' by Abbas Kiarostami and ''Unagi'' by Shohei Imamura. Jeanne Moreau was the mistress of ceremonies.
The festival opened with ...
, becoming the first Chinese to be a jury at the festival.
In June 1998, Gong Li became a recipient of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
In 1999, Gong and Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige (; born 12 August 1952) is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema.Berry, Michael (2002). "Chen Kaige: Historical Revolution and Cinematic Rebellion" in Speaking in Images: Interviews wi ...
collaborated for the third film ''The Emperor and the Assassin
''The Emperor and the Assassin'', also known as ''The First Emperor'', is a 1998 - 1999 Chinese historical romance film based primarily on Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, as described in Sima Qian's ''Records of the Grand Histo ...
'', which won the Technical Grand Prize at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
The 52nd Cannes Film Festival was held from 12 to 23 May 1999. Canadian filmmaker, actor and author David Cronenberg was the Jury President. The Palme d'Or went to the French– Belgian film ''Rosetta'' by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.
The festi ...
.
In many of her early movies, Gong represents a tragic victim and an abused soul (physically or emotionally), trying to release herself from an impossible maze of corruption, violence and suppression. In ''Raise the Red Lantern
''Raise the Red Lantern'' is a 1991 film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. It is an adaptation by of the 1990 novella '' Raise the Red Lantern'' (originally ''Wives and Concubines'') by Su Tong. The film was later adapted into an ...
'' and ''Shanghai Triad
''Shanghai Triad'' is a 1995 Chinese crime-drama film, directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. The script is written by Bi Feiyu based on Li Xiao's 1994 novel ''Rules of a Clan'' (门规). The film is set in the criminal underworld of 193 ...
'' (1995) an additional tragic element is added to her being as she unintentionally becomes the executioner of new innocent victims, making her realize that she has assisted the dark cynical system.
2000–2004: Worldwide recognition
In 2000, Gong won her second international Best Actress trophy for her performance as a struggling single mother in '' Breaking the Silence'' (2000) at the Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Interna ...
, directed by Sun Zhou. She attended the Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Interna ...
that year, where she was awarded a special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement for her outstanding achievement. In the same year, Gong was invited by the Berlin Film Festival to be the president of its international jury for the festival's 50th anniversary.
Gong was invited to head the jury of the Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
in 2002.
In 2003, Gong heads review committee of Tokyo Film Festival
The is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and is considered to be the ...
.
In the early 2000s, Gong also starred in two films directed by Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai (born 17 July 1958) is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter, and producer. His films are characterised by nonlinear narratives, atmospheric music, and vivid cinematography involving bold, saturated colours. A pivotal figure ...
, '' 2046'' and ''Eros
In Greek mythology, Eros (, ; grc, Ἔρως, Érōs, Love, Desire) is the Greek god of love and sex. His Roman counterpart was Cupid ("desire").''Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia'', The Book People, Haydock, 1995, p. 215. In the ear ...
'' (both in 2004), which were seen as "an important opportunity to get rid of the influence of Zhang Yimou". She also attended the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 57th Cannes Film Festival started on 12 and ran until 23 May 2004. The Palme d'Or went to the American film ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' by Michael Moore.
The festival opened with '' La mala educación'', directed by Pedro Almodóvar and closed with ...
, where she was awarded the Festival Trophy for her contributions to film.
2005–2018: Hollywood and Chinese cinema
Despite her popularity, Gong avoided Hollywood for years, due to a lack of confidence in speaking English. She made her English speaking debut in 2005 when she starred as Hatsumomo in ''Memoirs of a Geisha
''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and ...
''. Her performance was met with generally positive reviews. Time Magazine
''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Ma ...
's Richard Corliss to describe her as Gong also won the National Board of Review
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminat ...
for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Hatsumomo. Her other English-language roles to date included ''Miami Vice
''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two M ...
'' in 2006 and ''Hannibal Rising
''Hannibal Rising'' is a psychological horror novel by American author Thomas Harris, published in 2006. It is a prequel to his three previous books featuring his most famous character, the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The ...
'' in 2007. In all three films, she learned her English lines phonetically
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds, or in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians. ...
.
Through three English-language films, Gong has gradually established herself in Hollywood. Speaking of the Hollywood experience, Gong said it broadened her horizons, gave her a better idea of what she liked and allowed her to experiment with different acting styles.
In 2006, Gong worked again with Zhang Yimou for historical epic ''Curse of the Golden Flower
''Curse of the Golden Flower'' () is a 2006 Chinese epic wuxia drama film written and directed by Zhang Yimou. The Mandarin Chinese title of the movie is taken from the last line of the Qi dynasty poem written by the rebel leader Huang Chao who h ...
'', for which She won the best Actress at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 15 April 2007 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Bowie Tsang, Nick Cheung and Lam Chi-chung. Twenty-six winners in nineteen categories were unveiled, with film '' After This Our ...
. ''Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...
'' named her performance as the Empress as the 7th greatest performance of the year.
She narrated ''Beijing'' (2008), an audio walking tour by Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French high-end luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ranging from luxury bags and leather ...
and Soundwalk, which won an Audie Award for Best Original Work in 2009.
In 2010, Gong starred in the World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
-era thriller ''Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...
'' as a spy who is disguised as the wife of a triad boss (played by Chow Yun-fat). She turned to documentaries and photographs about World War II, besides taking dancing classes three times a week, to ensure an accurate portrayal of the character. During a press junket for the film, she stated that she was becoming more selective with the Chinese language projects offered to her.
She also emphasized in the interview:
In 2014, Gong was the president of the jury for the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival. Later that same year, she reunited with Zhang Yimou for the film '' Coming Home'', which is set during the throes of the Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goa ...
; this film was their first collaboration since 2006.
In 2016, Gong took on her first action role in ''The Monkey King 2
''The Monkey King 2'' (Chinese: 西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精) is a 2016 Hong Kong-Chinese action fantasy film based on the classic 16th-century novel ''Journey to the West'' by Wu Cheng'en. The film was shot in 3D and is a sequel to the ...
'', playing the White Bone Demon
Baigujing () is a demon from the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. The name is translated into English as ''White Bone Spirit'' in the William John Francis Jenner translation. Baigujing is a shapeshifting demoness, and in her true form s ...
.
In 2018, Gong served as the jury president of 55th Golden Horse Awards
The 55th Golden Horse Awards () took place on November 17, 2018 at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. Organized by the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee, the awards honored the best in Chinese-language films of 2 ...
.
2019–present: Global comeback and return to the screen
In 2019, Gong was cast in Lou Ye
Lou Ye (), born 1965, is a Chinese screenwriter- director who is commonly grouped with the " Sixth Generation" directors of Chinese cinema.
Films
Born in Shanghai, Lou was educated at the Beijing Film Academy. In 1993, he made his first film ''W ...
's period drama '' Saturday Fiction'', where she plays an actress who is working undercover gathering intelligence for the Allies. The film was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 76th Venice International Film Festival
The 76th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 28 August to 7 September 2019. Film director Lucrecia Martel was appointed as the President of the Jury. '' The Truth'', directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, was selected to open the f ...
. Gong learned shooting and hypnosis for the spy film. Her performance gained rave reviews. That year, she was also cast in the live-action adaptation of the 1998 Disney animated film ''Mulan
Hua Mulan () is a legendary folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century CE) of Chinese history.
According to legend, Mulan took her aged father's place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as ...
'', as a powerful witch. While the film, released in 2020, had a mixed reception, Gong's performance was widely praised by critics. The Vanity Fair's chief critic, Richard Lawson, wrote in his review, "It is a pleasure as ever to watch Gong do her thing, slinking and thrashing around in a fabulous black witch’s cloak."
The Hollywood Reporter commented:
In 2020, Gong was cast in Peter Chan
Peter Ho-sun Chan (born 28 November 1962) is a film director and producer.
Early life
Chan was born in British Hong Kong to parents China. He and his family moved to Thailand when he was 12, where he grew up amongst the international Chine ...
's biographical film '' Leap'', where she plays the hard-driving, real-life head coach of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team Lang Ping
"Jenny" Lang Ping (; born 10 December 1960) is a Chinese former volleyball player and the current head coach of China's women's national volleyball team. She is the former head coach of the United States women's national volleyball team. As a p ...
.
In 2021, Gong was invited to be the jury president of the 11th Beijing International Film Festival
The Beijing International Film Festival (Chinese: 北京国际电影节), abbreviated BJIFF, is a film festival in Beijing, China. Founded in 2011, the film festival is supported and sponsored by China Film Administration, China Media Group a ...
, becoming the first female jury president in the history of the festival.
Personal life
Her personal and professional relationship with director Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (; born 2 April 1950) is a Chinese film director, producer, writer, actor and former cinematographer.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retriev ...
has been highly publicized. The pair collaborated on six films between 1987 and 1995, before ending their relationship. They reunited in 2006 for the film ''Curse of the Golden Flower
''Curse of the Golden Flower'' () is a 2006 Chinese epic wuxia drama film written and directed by Zhang Yimou. The Mandarin Chinese title of the movie is taken from the last line of the Qi dynasty poem written by the rebel leader Huang Chao who h ...
'' and in 2014 on '' Coming Home''.
In November 1996, Gong married Singaporean tobacco tycoon Ooi Hoe Seong at Hong Kong's China Club
The China Club is a retro-chic, Shanghai-style club and Michelin star restaurant in Hong Kong. It is related to the China Clubs in Singapore and Beijing but not to the clubs of the same name in New York City and Berlin, Germany.
The China Club ...
.[No byline (10 February 1997), "Gong Li & Ooi Hoe Seong". ''People''. 47 (5):112]
But the couple have rarely been seen in public and it is not known whether they have any children.
Gong was nominated Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill ambassador is a post-nominal honorific title, a professional occupation and/or authoritative designation that is assigned to a person who advocates for a specific cause or global issue on the basis of their notability such as a publ ...
of the Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)french: link=no, Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture; it, Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l'Alimentazione e l'Agricoltura is an intern ...
of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.
In 2006, she was voted the most beautiful woman in China.
Gong applied for Singapore citizenship in early 2008. When overseas professional obligations prevented her from showing up at her scheduled August citizenship ceremony, she was harshly criticized for not making it a priority. On Saturday, 8 November 2008, Gong, in an effort to make amends, attended a citizenship ceremony held at Teck Ghee Community Club and received her Singapore citizenship certificate from Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah
Lee Bee Wah ( zh, s=李美花, p=Lǐ Měihuā; born 6 October 1960), also known as ''Huajie'' ( zh, s=花姐, p=Huājiě, l=Sister Flower), is a Malaysian-born Singaporean retired politician and engineer.
A member of the country's governing Pe ...
. Gong was reportedly considering renouncing Singapore citizenship after being blacklisted in China.
On 28 June 2010, Gong's agent confirmed that Gong Li and her husband Ooi had divorced.
In 2019, Gong Li married French composer Jean-Michel Jarre
Jean-Michel André Jarre (; born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and new-age genres, and is known for organising outdoor spectacles featuring his music, accompani ...
.
Filmography
Films
Dubbing
Talk show
Music video
Discography
Endorsements
Gong is the first Chinese ambassador for L'Oreal Paris in 1997. She also served as ambassador for Midea Midea may refer to:
* Midea Group (美的集团), a Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer
* Midea, Greece, a Greek town
* Midea (Argolid), a citadel in the town of the same name
* Midea or Mideia, name of four figures in Greek mythology
* '' ...
, Chopard
Le Petit-Fils de L.-U. Chopard & Cie S.A., commonly known as Chopard, is a Swiss manufacturer and retailer of luxury watches, jewellery and accessories. Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Sonvilier, Switzerland, Chopard has been owned by ...
and Osim International
OSIM International Pte Ltd () is a Singapore-based company that manufactures wellness technology and lifestyle products such as well being chairs, massage chairs and sofas, slimming belts, and pulse massagers. The company also recently ventured ...
.
From 2013 to 2018, Gong served as the global ambassadors for Piaget Piaget () may refer to:
People with the surname
* Édouard Piaget (18171910), a Swiss entomologist
* Jean Piaget (18961980), a Swiss developmental psychologist
* Paul Piaget (disambiguation), several people
* Solange Piaget Knowles (born 1986) ...
.
Gong served as the global brand ambassador for Hisense
Hisense Group is a Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Televisions are the main products of Hisense, and it is the largest TV manufacturer in China by market ...
on September 27, 2020.
Since 2021, Gong has been the first Chinese artist to become the global high jewelry ambassador for Cartier.
Charities
* Gong was appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace UNESCO Artists for Peace are international celebrity advocates for the United Nations agency UNESCO. This category of advocate is intended to heighten public awareness in addition to the categories UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
UNESCO Goodwill Amba ...
in 2000.
* Gong was appointed FAO Goodwill Ambassador
FAO Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal status and job description assigned to goodwill ambassadors and advocates who are designated by the United Nations. FAO goodwill ambassadors are cele ...
on World Food Day 2000. "To launch an appeal against hunger is not a waste of time.
* Gong has been invited by the United Nations Environment Program
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on th ...
(UNEP) to be Global Environmental Ambassador, and to urge the public to give up bad habits that are harmful to the environment and to reduce the discharge of carbon dioxide in 2008.
* Gong Li's Portrait on display at "The Transformative Power of Art" Exhibition, at the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizi ...
headquarters in 2016.
Awards and nominations
Jury
*1997 – 50th Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
*2000 – 50th Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...
*2002 – 59th Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
*2003 – 16th Tokyo International Film Festival
The is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and is considered to be the ...
*2014 – 17th Shanghai International Film Festival
The Shanghai International Film Festival (, French: ''Festival international du film de Shanghai''), abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia.
"China's biggest film festival" according to the Hollywood Reporter. Nex ...
*2018 – 55th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards
*2021 – 11th Beijing International Film Festival
The 11th Beijing International Film Festival () was held in Beijing, China. Hosted by the Beijing Municipal Government and the China Media Group, the festival opened on September 21 with the Chinese 2021 film '' The Battle at Lake Changjin'' by ...
See also
* Cinema of China
References
External links
*
Gong Li
Video produced by '' Makers: Women Who Make America''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gong, Li
1965 births
Living people
20th-century Chinese actresses
21st-century Chinese actresses
21st-century Singaporean actresses
Actresses from Shenyang
Central Academy of Drama alumni
Chinese emigrants to Singapore
Chinese film actresses
FAO Goodwill ambassadors
People who lost Chinese citizenship
Naturalised citizens of Singapore
Singaporean film actresses
Volpi Cup for Best Actress winners
Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres