Zhou Xun (, born 18 October 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. She gained international fame for her roles in Suzhou River (2000) and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002). Zhou went on to star in notable films Perhaps Love (2005), The Equation of Love and Death (2008), Painted Skin (2008), The Message (2009), Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011), Our Time Will Come (2017) and Across the Furious Sea (2023). In television, her works include Palace of Desire (2000), The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003), Red Sorghum (2014), Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018), A Little Mood for Love (2021) and Imperfect Victim (2023). In 2009, she became the first Chinese actor to win the "Grand Slam", after winning Best Actress at the three most prestigious Chinese-language film awards, the Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Rooster Awards.

Early life

Zhou was born to a middle-class family in Quzhou, Zhejiang. Her father, Zhou Tianning (周天宁), was a local film projectionist, and her mother, Chen Yiqin (陈以琴), was a salesperson at a department store. She had her schooling in Quzhou No.1 Middle School. After she graduated, Zhou enrolled at the Zhejiang Art School to further her interest in dramatic arts, against the wishes of her parents, who wanted her to pursue a practical degree. She was handpicked for a role in the film Strange Tales Amongst Old and Desolate Tombs during her teenage years in school.

Acting career

1995–2004: Beginnings and breakthrough

Zhou debuted in the comedy movie The Pampered Wife (1995). She next starred in Chen Kaige's films, Temptress Moon (1996) and The Emperor and the Assassin (1999). But it was not until in 2000 that Zhou received recognition in China. With her role as young Princess Taiping in historical drama Palace of Desire, Zhou received the Audience's Choice for Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards at the 18th China TV Golden Eagle Award. Zhou achieved breakthrough on the big screen with Lou Ye's Suzhou River (2000), which won her the Best Actress award at the 15th Festival du Film de Paris. That year, she was named one of the Four Dan Actresses alongside Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Wei and Xu Jinglei. She further achieved international recognition when she starred in the Franco-Chinese romance drama film Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002). With her praised performance in Liu De-kai's film A Pinwheel Without Wind (2002), Zhou won Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress, marking the first time she won a major domestic film award. A string of successful projects followed. In her first Hong Kong film Hollywood Hong Kong directed by Fruit Chan, which was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 58th Venice International Film Festival, Zhou received her first Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress nomination and impressed critics with her performance. Hollywood magazine Variety praise Zhou saying "Zhou is superb, moving with ease between her various personalities and always convincing in each". Among Zhou's earlier notable works also include television series April Rhapsody (2000), Love Story in Shanghai (2001), Ripening Orange (2002) and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003).

2005–2011: Critical acclaim

In 2005, Zhou starred the leading role in the musical film Perhaps Love directed by Peter Chan. For her nuanced performance in capturing the stark contrast between a rural girl and a woman living at the pinnacle of urban wealth in this film, she was awarded the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress, in addition to Hong Kong Film Award, Golden Bauhinia Awards and Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award. She next starred in Feng Xiaogang's wuxia film The Banquet (2006), inspired from William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Zhou plays the girlfriend of the crown prince, equivalent to Ophelia. This role later earned her Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, which made her the first mainland Chinese actress to win both Best Actress (2006) & Best Supporting Actress (2007) at the Hong Kong Film Awards in two consecutive years. In 2007, she starred in Susie Au's film Ming Ming, which was highly praised at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival. Zhou played dual roles – twins with absolutely different characteristics and personalities. She then starred in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death (2008) as a taxicab driver on the lookout for her missing boyfriend. Critics again praised Zhou, crediting the film's success to Zhou's performance as Li Mi. Zhou went on to receive Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Awards, Shanghai Film Critics Awards, Golden Rooster Film Festival, and Chinese Film Media Awards. The same year she appeared in Gordon Chan's horror-adventure film Painted Skin, a remake of a classic supernatural thriller of the same title. The film later earned her Best Actress nominations at the Hundred Flowers Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award and the Hong Kong Film Awards. Next came spy thriller The Message (2009), about Japanese invaders in China who try to ferret out a spy among their Chinese collaborators. The film later earned her third Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress nomination and Special Jury Award at the 2011 Golden Phoenix Awards. In 2009, Zhou was named the Star of the Year at CineAsia exhibition and distribution convention in Hong Kong. Asia-Pacific Producers Network (APN) also honored her as the Asian Star of the Year for her exemplary box office achievements. In an interview with CNN, Zhou was named Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time. She filmed the wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) directed by Tsui Hark. The film earned her Best Actress nominations at the Hundred Flowers Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award and the Hong Kong Film Awards.

2012–present: Directorial and Hollywood debut, television comeback

In 2011, Zhou made her directorial debut with the short film Five Demon Traps, which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a demon killer. In 2012, she then had a reunion with Tony Leung Chiu-wai in two consecutive films, The Great Magician and The Silent War. For her admirable performances in these two films, Zhou received two Best Actress nominations at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards, becoming the first Mainland Chinese performer to be nominated for two Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress in the same year. Zhou made her Hollywood debut in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas (2012), playing multiple roles in the film. The same year she filmed Painted Skin: The Resurrection directed by Wuershan, which was a sequel to the original film in 2008. The film grossed over the 700 million yuan ($109.8 million) landmark, becoming the highest-grossing Chinese-language movie of all time then. In 2014, Zhou returned to television after 10 years in Red Sorghum, based on Nobel prize laureate Mo Yan's 1986/1987 novel of the same name. Zhou's performance in the series was highly praised by the author himself for her immaculate grasp of the character's inner turmoil. Zhou won the Best Actress awards at the Asian Television Award and Shanghai Television Festival. In 2016, Zhou was set to play the leading role of the Step Empress in historical fiction drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, which was are the sequel to the drama Empresses in the Palace. The series later went on national broadcast in 2018. In 2017, she made her return to the big screen in Ann Hui's war film Our Time Will Come alongside Eddie Peng and Wallace Huo. The film opened and competed for the Golden Goblet Award at the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival and later earned her seventh Best Actress nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2018, she starred in the romance film Last Letter directed by Shunji Iwai, and was nominated for the Best Actress award at the Golden Horse Awards. The same year, Zhou was set to star in the wuxia film The Weary Poet. In 2019, Zhou starred in the crime thriller film Remain Silent and family drama film The Eleventh Chapter. She drew acclaim for both performances, the latter giving her Best Actress award at the 13th China Film Director's Guild Awards. In 2020, she starred in webdrama Imperfect Love, which was a remake of the award-winning 2010 Japanese TV series Mother. For her praised performance in this series, she received the Best Actress in a Webdrama award at the 26th Shanghai Television Festival. In 2021, Zhou starred in fantasy film The Yinyang Master. In the same year, she returned to the small screen with a reunion with director Zheng Xiaolong after 7 years since Red Sorghum in one of eight-part anthology biographical drama Medal of the Republic. In the series, she portrayed Chinese pharmaceutical chemist and malariologist Tu Youyou, a Nobel Prize winner, focusing on her efforts to develop artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin in the 1970s, used to treat malaria. Zhou was recommended for this role by Tu Youyou following Tu's daughter's compliments on Zhou's acting. For her highly acclaimed portrayal, she later received two Best Actress nominations at the 31st Golden Eagle Awards and 33rd Flying Apsaras Awards. Later this year, she played the female lead in the family drama A Little Mood for Love, which was also the second collaboration between Zhou and director Wang Jun after the historical drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. According to the National Radio and Television Administration, the series was the highest rated prime-time drama in Chinese satellite television channel in 2021. In 2022, Zhou and director Li Shaohong reunited for the drama film Hero, their first joint project in 13 years. In the same year she played the leading role in Zhang Dalei's short film All Tomorrow's Parties, which then competed for "Berlinale Short Films Competition" section at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. In 2023, she made a special appearance as Ms. Chen, member of the Communist Party and wife of Tony Leung Chiu-wai's character, in Cheng Er's World War II espionage thriller film Hidden Blade. Additionally, she returned to television in legal drama series Imperfect Victim (2023), which she portrayed as a lawyer defending a victim of sexual assault. The series received positive feedback and topped the rating during its broadcast time on Dragon TV and other platforms. Later, Across the Furious Sea, in which she starred the main role, began filming in 2019 and was licensed for theatrical release in November 2023. This crime thriller drama film marked the reunion of Zhou and director Cao Baoping after more than a decade since the award-winning film The Equation of Love and Death (2008). The later film earned her Best Actress award at the 2024 China Film Director's Guild Awards. Meanwhile, the former series earned her Best Actress awards at 2024 Television Directors Conference and 29th Shanghai Television Festival. In 2024, Zhou was announced as a member of the jury for Main Competition section of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Social activities

Zhou Xun was named the first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador for China in 2008 with a special focus of promoting environmental sustainability. Zhou jointly runs a campaign 'Our Part', which promotes 'tips for green living'. On 22 April 2010, she became the Laureate of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Champions of the Earth (Inspiration & Action). She was the first entertainer in the world to receive this honour.

Fashion

In 2006, Zhou had become a global spokesperson for Miu Miu's Fall Winter 2006 Collection Campaign, alongside Dong Jie and Rina Ōta. In 2008, she was selected as brand ambassador for French luxury leather goods brand Lancel. In 2009, she became the Greater Chinese face for Lancel's Spring/Summer 2009 collection campaign. Since 2011, Zhou had been an ambassador for French luxury fashion house Chanel. Chanel chief designer Karl Lagerfeld noted Zhou Xun for her strong fashion sense, describing the actress as "a synthesis of young Coco Chanel and Ballet Troupe Zizi Jeanmaire." In 2020, Zhou became the Greater Chinese face of Chanel's "J12 Turns 20" advertising campaign, promoting the J12 Watch on its 20th anniversary, featuring alongside Lily-Rose Depp, Vanessa Paradis, Ali MacGraw, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Liu Wen and William Chan. In April 2023, Zhou became the global face for Chanel's J12 Watch Campaign - "It's All About Seconds", alongside Penélope Cruz, Margot Robbie, Ali MacGraw and Kim Go-eun. In 2014, Zhou was selected as brand ambassador for Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen. In September 2014, Zhou became the global face for IWC Schaffhausen's 2014 Portofino Midsize Collection Campaign, alongside Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Christoph Waltz. In 2007, Zhou was selected as brand spokesperson for American skincare brand Olay, alongside Maggie Cheung and Lin Chi-ling In 2011, Zhou was selected as brand ambassador for American worldwide clothing brand GAP, alongside Philippe Cousteau Jr. In 2018, Zhou was named as brand ambassador for Marubi Tokyo, a high-end skincare subsidiary brand of L Catterton. Since 2020, Zhou was selected as brand ambassador for Decorté, a Japanese luxury skincare and cosmetics subsidiary brand of Kosé. On October 19, 2020, Chinese domestic beauty brand Perfect Diary announced that Zhou would be its first global spokesperson. In September 2021, SAIC-GM-Wuling announced Zhou as the Wuling Motors' global spokesperson. In April 2024, Zhou was selected as brand spokesperson for Swedish electric performance car brand Polestar alongside her labelmate Chen Kun. Zhou has been on the cover of many top fashion magazines including Vogue China and Vogue Taiwan, Chinese and Hong Kong Harper's Bazaar, Chinese and Hong Kong Elle, Chinese and Taiwanese Marie Claire, Chinese and Hong Kong Cosmopolitan, Chinese L'Officiel, Chinese Madame Figaro, Chinese Numéro, Chinese T, Chinese V, Chinese GQ, Chinese Esquire, Chinese Elle Men, Chinese Harper's Bazaar Men.

Personal life

Relationships

1993-1998: Zhou began dating singer Dou Peng, cousin of Dou Wei, after meeting Dou Peng during a performance in Hangzhou. She followed him to Beijing, and their relationship lasted for five years. 1998-1999: Zhou started a relationship with Jia Hongsheng while filming Suzhou River. Their relationship ended when Jia saw singer Pu Shu in a coat he had given to Zhou on television. 2000: Zhou had a brief romance with actor Song Ning (now known as Song Ningfeng) during the filming of A Pinwheel Without Wind. 2002-2003: Zhou dated Li Yapeng after co-starring with him in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. 2003-2008: Zhou began a five-year relationship with Taiwanese stylist Li Daqi, who was introduced to her by singer Rene Liu. 2009-2010: Zhou was romantically involved with Beijing businessman Wang Shuo. 2014-2020: Zhou married American actor Archie Kao on 16 July 2014 on stage after a charity event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. On 23 December 2020, Zhou announced on her Sina Weibo account that they had divorced.

Others

Zhou received Hong Kong permanent residency under the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme" in 2009.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Short films

Voiced films

As producer

As director

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards and nominations

Forbes China Celebrity 100

Honors