Name: Gong Li

Birth Name: Gong Li

Birthdate: Dec. 31, 1965

Birthplace: Shenyang, China

Gracing numerous groundbreaking films by Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar Wai, Gong Li is revered as the Julia Roberts of China. In 1997, she made her English-language debut opposite Jeremy Irons in Wayne Wang's Chinese Box. She played the notoriously nasty Hatsumomo in 2005's Memoirs of a Geisha. Her once-limited Hollywood filmography is ballooning as the Western world awaits Miami Vice (she seduces Colin Farrell) and Young Hannibal (she raises little Lecter).


1. In 1987, she began dating director Zhang Yimou and collaborated on his various films, but their personal relationship ended in 1995.
2. Her performance as Juxian in 1993's Farewell My Concubine is ranked No. 89 on Premiere's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
3. As a Democrat, she was appointed a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
4. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have a song named after her.
5. She admires Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman.


On why she took up acting: "I didn't know how to do anything else — really!"
— Entertainment Weekly, Dec. 16, 2005

Husband: Ooi Wei Ming, tobacco company executive; married Feb. 15, 1996

FILMS

Hannibal Rising - (2007) - Actor
Miami Vice - (2006) - Actor
Three Times - (2006) - Actor
Curse of the Golden Flower - (2006) - Actor
Memoirs of a Geisha - (2005) - Actor
2046 - (2005) - Actor
Eros - (2005) - Actor
Zhou Yu's Train - (2004) - Actor
The Emperor and the Assassin - (1999) - Actor
Chinese Box - (1997) - Actor
Temptress Moon - (1996) - Actor
Shanghai Triad - (1995) - Actor
A Soul Haunted By Painting - (1995) - Actor
To Live - (1994) - Actor
The Great Conqueror's Concubine Pt. B - (1994) - Actor
Semi-Gods and Semi-Devils - (1994) - Actor
The Great Conqueror's Concubine - (1994) - Actor
Farewell My Concubine - (1993) - Actor
The Story of Qiu Ju - (1992) - Actor
Mary From Beijing - (1992) - Actor
Ju Dou - (1991) - Actor
Raise the Red Lantern - (1991) - Actor
The Banquet - (1991) - Cameo
God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai - (1991) - Actor
The Empress Dowager - (1989) - Actor
Red Sorghum - (1987) - Actor