The Chinese entertainment industry is one of the largest film markets in the world and it boasts of many legendary stars who rule a million hearts. These stars have defined the Chinese entertainment industry and successfully got a strong foothold in Hollywood. Some iconic Chinese actors and actresses since the ’80s are: -
1. Jackie Chan
Actor, writer, producer, director, martial artist, comedian, and stunt man Jackie Chan needs no introduction. Jackie Chan has a long list of film awards and nominations in his name. The star is known for action choreography in films. Chan received Lifetime Achievement Award (1993) at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. He holds two Guinness World Records. One is for most stunts done by any actor and the second for most credits in a single movie. Chan says that he has repeatedly broken bones right from skull to toe while doing these stunts, but this doesn’t deter him from taking the plunge again and again. Jackie Chan truly deserves a standing ovation.
2. Pu Cunxin
Famous Chinese actor, author, and philanthropist, Pu Cunxin was born on 31 July 1953. Pu is known not only for his movies and dramas but also for some great theatrical performances. Some of his famous films are Love For Life, Three kingdoms: Resurrection of the dragon, Agreed Not to Separate, and The Blue Kite, among many others. Pu is the Vice President of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
3. Gong Li
Internationally acclaimed 56 years old Chinese actress Gong Li made her debut in 1987 with the movie Red Sorghum, directed by Zhang Yimou. This movie became a roaring success. After this, they both churned out a series of hit movies, including The Story of Qiu Ju for which Gong won the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival. Li is known for her performances in movies like Farewell My Concubine and Memoirs of a Geisha. Li is the first Chinese actress to become a global brand ambassador for the jewelry brand Cartier.
4. Ziyi Zhang
Whenever there is a mention of Ang Lee’s movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it is incomplete without acknowledging Ziyi Zhang’s portrayal in the movie. The movie bagged four Academy Awards out of ten. Ziyi won the best actress award in a leading role for the critically acclaimed movie Memoirs of a Geisha. She is one of the Four Dan Actresses of China and has an exhaustive list of nominations and awards to her credit.
5. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Tony Leung Chiu is best known for his performance in the movie,’ In the Mood for Love’ which won him the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival. He started his career with television and gained a reputation for his comic style. He is one of the five most popular young leading actors of the 80s, popularly knowns as the Five Tiger Generals of the Chinese media industry. Tony Leung is one of Asia’s 25 Greatest Actors of All Time.
6. Joan Chen
Joan Che began her acting career in 1977 with the film, ‘Youth’ in which she played the role of a deaf and mute girl. There has been no looking back for the actress ever since. The actress and director achieved stardom as a teenager and people call her, ‘The Elizabeth Tailor of China’. Joan also became famous in Hollywood for her legendary role in ‘The Last Emperor’ and the television series ‘Twin Peaks’
7. Gaowa Siquin
Gaowa had a difficult childhood after her father’s death when she was four. Gaowa was a born dancer, but God had other plans for her. Misfortune struck when she injured her foot and had to give up on her passion. The incident led to the dancer’s foray into acting. The actress has delivered many memorable performances in movies like Kang Xi Dynasty, Full Moon in New York, Home Coming, and Rickshaw Boy, amongst others.
8. Jet Li
Li Lianje, popularly known as Jet Li grew up in poverty as a child. He is a celebrity who rose from rags to riches. He entered the Chinese entertainment industry with the timeless action film Shaolin Temple and started an era of kung-fu action films. He is known for his performance as a villain in Lethal Weapon. In 2000 Li bagged the leading role in the Hollywood movie Romeo Must Die. Jet Li is a retired Wushu Champion.
9. Stephen Chow
Stephen Chow gained recognition as an anchor of a children’s show on television and gradually made his way into the Chinese entertainment business. Chow won the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor in his debut movie Final Justice and became increasingly popular with The Final Combat. Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle made him an international icon.
10. Wen Jiang
Wen Jiang is a well-known Chinese actor, screenwriter, and director. Jiang’s career rose with the movie ‘The Last Emperor’ followed by Hibiscus Town, for which he won the award for Best Actor at the Hundred Flowers Award. Apart from enacting in movies, Jiang has been a part of many television series. ‘The Heat of the Sun’ was Jiang’s first movie.
