Wei Zhao

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Birthday:

12 March 1976, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China

Birth Name:

Zhao Wei

Height:

166 cm

Wei Zhao was born in Wuhu, Anhui province. She is the second child of her family. Because she is the only girl, Zhao's father named her Wei, literally "Rose". Her father was a senior engineer, her mother was a music teacher.After filming A Soul Haunted By Painting (1994) as a figurant, Wei Zhao was inspired by Li Gong's performance and deter-minded to be an actor. In 1994, as the first year student, Zhao moved to Shanghai and entered the Star Academy, held by Chinese master Jin Xie. The same year, Zhao filmed the Behind the Wall of Shame (1995), directed by Xie. After filming several television series and advertisements, including as a leading role in Sisters in Beijing (1995), she gain a little fame in the north China. In the entrance examination, Wei Zhao obtained the highest score when she was matriculated into the acting institute of the Beijing Film Academy in 1996. When Qiong Yao casting actors in 1997, she watched Zhao's television show and impressed by her.During 1998-1999, two seasons of My Fair Princess, adapted from Qiong Yao's novel, obtained explosive success and broke the record until today. Zhao won Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for playing Xiao Yan Zi (Little Swallow), which considered the most phenomenon TV character of the decade. Then zhao's several series were very popular in east and southeast Asia, such as Romance in the Rain (2001), another Qiong Yao production. Zhao also became the box-office daring in mainland China and Hong Kong, for The Duel (2000), Shaolin Soccer (2001), Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002), So Close (2002).A picture, shoot in New York, totally destoryed Zhao's hopefully career. In Dec. 3, 2001, a mainland China website upload a photo, Zhao wears a dress looks like Japanese military flag, which labeled Heatherette NYC designed by Richie Rich, published on Fashion Magazine sep issue. Most of Chinese shocked and thought their "China sweetie" betrayed the nation. After several times apology on TV Live, radio, newspaper and Internet, public have forgive her eventually. For box office failure of Green Tea (2003), My Dream Girl (2003), Goddess of Mercy (2003), several china newspapers named her as box-office poison.In 2005, for critical acclaimed A Time to Love, Zhao won three Best Actress awards, including Shanghai Film Festival Golden Goblet Award. Drama series Moment in Peking (2005) was the most viewers tv show of the year, the highest rating episode nearly 13%. Then The Postmodern Life of My Aunt (2006), The Longest Night in Shanghai (2007) obtained positive reviews.In 2006, Zhao back to Beijing Film Academy, study directing, and got master's degree (MFA).Since 2008, the sustained success of movies, including Red Cliff I & II (2008-2009), Painted Skin (2008), 14 Blades (2010), Painted Skin: The Resurruction (2012), Love (2012), Hollywood Adventure (2015), Lost in Hong Kong (2015), marked Zhao as A-list box-office star in China. Alougth Mulan (2009) got mixed reviews in China, critics praised Zhao, she won Hundred Flowers Award, Changchun Film Festival Golden Deer Award and Shanghai Film Critics Award for Best Actress.Wei Zhao's directorial debut So Young (2013) got favorable reviews, listed in many critics Top Ten of the Year, and box-office broke 110 million dollars in mainland China. Zhao won Golden Rooster Award for Best Directorial Debut, as the youngest winner of Hundred Flowers Award for Best Director, and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Chinese Language Film from Two Coasts.For Peter Chan's Dearest (2014), Zhao, highly praised by critics and audience, was regarded as best performance of the Year. She won numerous awards and nominations, including Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress.Vicki Zhao is the english name of Wei Zhao's music career. From 1999 to 2001, her 4 albums sold more than 3,700,000 records in Asia. During 2004-2008, Zhao's last four studio albums received welcomed reviews. And she won dozens of music awards.Besides her career, Wei Zhao always engage in charity. Since 2004, Zhao held a scholarship in her hometown for local students. Since 2014, she held V-Love Foudation for Leukemia in Childhood. Show less «

"It's more important that I'm liked because of my work, I don't care if people think I'm sexy or if they like or don't like me in person. Li...Show more »

"It's more important that I'm liked because of my work, I don't care if people think I'm sexy or if they like or don't like me in person. Like right now when I'm talking to you on a personal level, I'm not worried about what kind of impression I leave on you." (when asked to weigh herself on the sexy stakes.) Show less «

As an actress, it is vital for one to believe dreams are reality, because each film is a dream.

"I like the bald alien look best, what about you?" - on her ugly image in Shaolin Soccer.

"I'd gotten so used to it, doing TV shows, that I'd started to ignore it. But on Shaolin Soccer it was like the camera was a new boyfriend. ...Show more »

"I'd gotten so used to it, doing TV shows, that I'd started to ignore it. But on Shaolin Soccer it was like the camera was a new boyfriend. I felt shy around it. I really wanted to show it my emotions, but I wasn't sure if I was expressing my feelings correctly or not. It was like falling in love. And I still feel like I'm in that phase: falling in love with the camera. I still can't treat it like a husband who's been around for 10 years. If I start to feel that way. Then I'll become a director!" - on interacting with the camera during filming. Show less «

"Perhaps my most outstanding personal trait is my lack of outstanding personal traits. The characters I play have much more personality than...Show more »

"Perhaps my most outstanding personal trait is my lack of outstanding personal traits. The characters I play have much more personality than I do. So maybe it's easier for me to slip into the various characters. Also, the parts I play are all very different. So in that sense my absence of persona is an advantage. But maybe one day I'll develop a strong personality and it'll give me a whole new kind of career." - taking a stab at defining herself. Show less «

"Life is made up of a large tragedy and many tiny moments of joy. What I can do is slowly accumulate these tiny moments of joy, and use them...Show more »

"Life is made up of a large tragedy and many tiny moments of joy. What I can do is slowly accumulate these tiny moments of joy, and use them to face tragedy." - on the pressures placed on her being in the entertainment industry. Show less «

"I feel that artistic directors are very serious about their work, they have more experience, and their expectations will be very high. Abou...Show more »

"I feel that artistic directors are very serious about their work, they have more experience, and their expectations will be very high. About receiving an award, I don't dare to have extravagant hopes. I am an actress that has never received an award before, he is a director that often receives awards, and my only hope is that I won't affect him." - on working with artistic director Huo Jian in Qing Ren Jie (2005). Show less «

Life is made up of a large tragedy and many tiny moments of joy.

I want to be a good actress. And I'm sure that I'm a good actress.

I really feel that optimism and openness are sweets that God gives to you. Even though one day you will finish eating them, but at least you...Show more »

I really feel that optimism and openness are sweets that God gives to you. Even though one day you will finish eating them, but at least you'll know what sweet tastes like. Show less «

Everyday is a new start of a journey. Hence, there is no reason why you are not full of confidence and hope.

I have learned to look at things with an open heart. It doesn't mean that I've seen through; just that there's no need to raise a big ruckus...Show more »

I have learned to look at things with an open heart. It doesn't mean that I've seen through; just that there's no need to raise a big ruckus over some issues. Life is like that; events will happen continuously to make life meaningful. Like in movies, endings with some tinge of regret are more fulfilling to the heart than happily-ever-afters. Hence, there's no need to make myself angry over untrue or rude reports. I'd rather use the energy to do more meaningful things... Show less «

I felt good after completing the entrance exam. Actually, if I set my heart to studying, I can get pretty good marks... Like the literature ...Show more »

I felt good after completing the entrance exam. Actually, if I set my heart to studying, I can get pretty good marks... Like the literature exam, where my result was higher than 70% of the entire student population in China. Pretty impressive, huh? Show less «

Sometimes, there would be strangers who try to get friendly with me. My male classmates would then double up as bodyguards and protect me fr...Show more »

Sometimes, there would be strangers who try to get friendly with me. My male classmates would then double up as bodyguards and protect me from such people. Other than that, I go through classes like any other people. Maybe it's also because my class is a Masters class, and majority of the classmates are pretty well-known people... Show less «

Frankly, I've never liked to chase for fame or success. Now, I find myself liking to keep a low profile even more, so yes, I do indeed feel ...Show more »

Frankly, I've never liked to chase for fame or success. Now, I find myself liking to keep a low profile even more, so yes, I do indeed feel that I'm not really suitable for the vibrant and flamboyant entertainment...However, I do want to prove that even someone who keeps a low profile, can still be famous! Show less «

Actually, I'm never used to the entertainment industry; I'm just acting like a veteran in this circle. With the exception of acting, I've ne...Show more »

Actually, I'm never used to the entertainment industry; I'm just acting like a veteran in this circle. With the exception of acting, I've never felt at ease, be it taking photos or attending parties and events. I only felt back to earth, when I am standing in front of the camera with the crew nearby, and the director shouts 'Action'... Show less «

Acting is what I must learn and focus on. Other activities that come with acting are just optional modules, so I'd rather skip them all! I l...Show more »

Acting is what I must learn and focus on. Other activities that come with acting are just optional modules, so I'd rather skip them all! I love acting, and acting is my occupation. Show less «

I believe that one's potential is endless. I'd rather give up good acting offers for the opportunity to learn.

I'm not a very complicated person, if I like it then I like it, if I don't like it then I don't, I feel gratified for this point of mine.

In real life, I'm definitely not a feminist woman. usually, I'm somewhat straightforward, it's because I don't really have the nerve to be o...Show more »

In real life, I'm definitely not a feminist woman. usually, I'm somewhat straightforward, it's because I don't really have the nerve to be overly emotional. I'm a person who is very afraid of being sappy. But I'm very sappy toward my family, "Dad I love you, mom I love you!" Both my brother and I would say so when it comes to mind. Mom and dad has already grown accustomed to both my brother and me suddenly giving them a hug. Although sappy, the way we speak is very straightforward! When we say it in a straightforward fashion, it's rather humorous, and quite funny. Show less «

I'm heavily influenced by my family. The degree that the entertainment circle's impatient and impetuous is the degree that my family is at p...Show more »

I'm heavily influenced by my family. The degree that the entertainment circle's impatient and impetuous is the degree that my family is at peace. I don't need to deliberately show how special I am, my life is already unusual as it is. My family, especially my brother, have always encouraged me to experience the joys of ordinary life. No matter how others idolize you, in the end, you have to face life by yourself, that's the reality. Show less «

I have absolutely no idea who fabricated this negative news, neither do I know what kind of mentality these people had when they decided to ...Show more »

I have absolutely no idea who fabricated this negative news, neither do I know what kind of mentality these people had when they decided to fabricate these things. Nonetheless, I have come to accept these things. Praise and blame always come hand in hand. You have to choose to cherish everything that you own. You have to be happy with what you own, and not stress over anything else. Show less «