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 ''CJ7'' () is a 2008 Hong Kong–Chinese comic science fiction film co-written, co-produced, starring, and directed by Stephen Chow. It was released on January 31, 2008, in Hong Kong. It was also released on March 14, 2008, in the United States ...

'' — which brought her media attention and kick-started her acting career, and Ruo Lan in the 2016 film '' The Mermaid''.

Early life and career

Zhang was born in

Dezhou Dezhou () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Liaocheng to the southwest, Binzhou to the northeast, and the province of Hebei t ...

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in His ...

province. She left Shandong at the age of 15 to attend acting school in

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Chinese, Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four Direct-administered municipalities of China, direct-administered municipalities of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the ...

. Zhang appeared in a minor, uncredited role in the 2007 film ''

The Longest Night in Shanghai ''The Longest Night in Shanghai'' () is a 2007 film produced by Japan's Movie Eye Entertainment and directed by Chinese director Zhang Yibai. It is a rare collaboration between China and Japan. The film consists of a diverse cast. It stars Chine ...

''.

Stephen Chow Stephen Chow Sing-chi (, born 22 June 1962), known professionally as Stephen Chow, is a Hong Kong filmmaker, former actor and comedian, known for '' Shaolin Soccer'' and '' Kung Fu Hustle''. Early life and education Stephen Chow was born in Hong K ...

first noticed her in an advertisement for

Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in fried chicken. It is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, wit ...

, 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 ''

'', 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 girls" () is a nickname for actresses who starred alongside Stephen Chow, often as the main character's romantic interest. Many are young, new actresses who go on to receive considerable media attention after appearing in one of Chow's fil ...

"—Sing Yeh is a common nickname of Chow's). After ''CJ7'', Zhang appeared in the

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

ese film ''

Shaolin Girl is a 2008 Japanese sports action comedy film inspired by the Stephen Chow's film ''Shaolin Soccer'' (2001). Unlike the original film, the movie focuses on women's lacrosse. It starred Japanese actress Ko Shibasaki and Hong Kong actors Lam Chi C ...

'' (which was also produced by Chow). Chow considered casting her in ''

Dragonball Evolution ''Dragonball Evolution'' is a 2009 American science fantasy superhero-martial arts film directed by James Wong, produced by Stephen Chow, and written by Ben Ramsey. It is based on the Japanese ''Dragon Ball'' manga series created by Akira Toriyam ...

'', but the role was ultimately given to another actress. Zhang then starred in the romantic comedy ''

All About Women ''All About Women'' (), originally titled ''She Ain't Mean'' and ''Not All Women Are Bad'', is a 2008 Chinese romantic comedy-drama film directed by Tsui Hark. Starring Zhou Xun, Kitty Zhang and Gwei Lun-mei, the film tells a series of inter ...

'' playing a headstrong business woman. In 2009, she played a country girl with a passion for hip-hop music in ''

Jump Jumping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism or non-living (e.g., robotic) mechanical system propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory. Jump or Jumping also may refer to: Places * Jump, Kentucky or Jump S ...

'', a musical comedy directed by

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and penned by Stephen Chow. Zhang ventured next to the horror genre in the '' Curse of the Deserted'', where she played a college student scoping out a haunted house. She then starred in the kungfu comedy '' The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman'', playing a dance hostess. In 2012, Zhang was cast in the role of

Qian Xuesen Qian Xuesen, or Hsue-Shen Tsien (; 11 December 1911 – 31 October 2009), was a Chinese mathematician, cyberneticist, aerospace engineer, and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of aerodynamics and established engineering ...

's wife, Jiang Ying in the biopic of the author. She then starred in the

film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...

of the Chinese literary classic ''White Deer Plain'' written by

Chen Zhongshi Chen Zhongshi (; 3 August 1942 – 29 April 2016) was a Chinese author. He started writing prose in 1965 and finished his magnum opus ''White Deer Plain'' in 1993 (for which he won the Mao Dun Literature Prize in 1997). In 1979, he became a mem ...

. 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. Zhang won her first "Best Actress" trophy at the

Chinese American Film Festival Chinese American Film Festival (CAFF) is an American film festival held every November since 2006 in California (with events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, previously also in San Diego). History In 2005, the Chinese American Film Festival w ...

. She was also voted the Most Popular Actress at the

Beijing College Student Film Festival Beijing College Student Film Festival, first held in 1993, is an annual event organized by Beijing Normal University and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio, Film and Television. It is held in April or May, and is one of the biggest film festivals i ...

for her performance. In 2014, Zhang played a supporting role 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 film '' Dearest'', receiving acclaim for performance as a mother who lost a child. In 2015, Zhang was cast alongside

Brandon Routh Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film '' Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of N ...

in '' Lost in the Pacific'', a sci-fi action adventure film directed by

Vincent Zhou Vincent Zhou (born October 25, 2000) is an American figure skater. He is a 2022 Olympic Games team event silver medalist, a two-time World bronze medalist (2019, 2022), the 2019 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy cham ...

. Zhang reunited with mentor Stephen Chow in his 2016 film '' The Mermaid'', where she played the film's antagonist. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' praised Zhang for "letting herself go.. with her bitchiness and predatory sex appeal". ''The Mermaid'' was the highest-grossing film of all-time, and revived Zhang's waning film career. In 2017, Zhang starred in the fantasy comedy film ''The Golden Monk'' directed by

Wong Jing Wong Jing ( born 3 May 1955) is a Hong Kong film director, Film producer, producer, actor, News presenter, presenter, and screenwriter. A prolific filmmaker with strong instincts for crowd-pleasing and publicity, Wong Jing played a prominent ...

. The same year, she starred in

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 ...

's fantasy mystery film '' Legend of the Demon Cat''. Zhang won the Best Supporting Actress award at the

Asian Film Awards Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

for her performance.

Personal life

Zhang Yuqi and

Wang Quan'an Wang Quan'an () (b. 1965) is a Sixth Generation Chinese film director. Wang was born in Yan'an, China. He graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1991. He had a ten-year relationship with actress and muse Yu Nan, which ended in 2009. Career ...

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. Zhang married businessman Yuan Bayuan in October 2016. On 27 September 2018, Zhang and Yuan Bayuan issued a statement that they had agreed to divorce.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Variety show

Awards

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zhang, Yuqi 1987 births Living people Actresses from Shandong 21st-century Chinese actresses People from Dezhou Chinese film actresses Chinese television actresses Best Supporting Actress Asian Film Award winners Affiliated Chinese Opera School of Shanghai Theatre Academy alumni