• Home
  • Zhang Ziyi
  • Career
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Archive
  • Press Library
  • Website
ZhangZiyiINFOS
Your best online source for the Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi since 2007

Zhang Ziyi Infos

Everything about the talented Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi
Welcome to Zhang Ziyi Infos, your best source for the Chinese actress since 2007. Zhang Ziyi is a famous actress known for her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Grandmaster and so many other great films. Zhang Ziyi recently directed the short film Poem in the anthology film My Country, My Parents. Read her full biography here.
3 Views
2 Views
3 Views
3 Views
3 Views
3 Views
3 Views
2 Views
2 Views
2 Views
4 Views
4 Views
4 Views
5 Views
  • Home Article

NPR

'Grandmaster' Ziyi Zhang: 'I Can Do Better Than Just Kicking Ass'

August 22, 2013   |   Written by NPR Staff

Actress Ziyi Zhang is probably best known for her roles in the Oscar-winning films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha. Now she co-stars in a new film, The Grandmaster, where she plays a fierce martial artist who stops at nothing to protect her family’s legacy. But she says she can “do better than just kicking ass.” She can seriously act, too.

The Grandmaster opens in theaters Friday, and it’s inspired by the life of Ip Man, the legendary kung fu master and teacher of Bruce Lee. The film takes place after the fall of China’s last dynasty. It was a time of political chaos and war, but also the golden age of Chinese martial arts.

Zhang explains to Tell Me More guest host Celeste Headlee that the film is about the struggle to become a kung fu grandmaster, and the tension of forbidden love. The actress also talked about how women are portrayed in kung fu movies, and why she still won’t move to Hollywood.

Interview highlights

A strong woman’s “love at first fight”

“She’s a very strong lady. You know in the old days in China, females were not allowed to learn kung fu. But Gong Er’s father taught her secretly, and she became a grandmaster. Her father not only taught her physical skills, but more importantly, she learned how to be herself, know herself and do what she feels is right.

So for the character, when she first time met Ip Man, I think they fall in love immediately because they had a huge fight. But that fight —at the end— somehow it becomes very romantic. I call the scene ‘love at first fight.'”

How her dance background helped with the intense martial arts training for the film

“I learned folk dance when I was 11 years old. I went to Beijing Dance Academy. I think that experience helped me a lot. But for this movie, we had very intense training. It was like eight hours a day. I had three different masters to teach me different kung fu skills.”

Being part of director Wong Kar-wai’s vision

“Wong Kar-wai, you just cannot say ‘no’ to him. As soon as he called me, I say ‘yes.’ It’s like Steven Spielberg offer you a role, and you say ‘yes’ right away. So I knew it would take a long time to shoot, but what I didn’t know was it took three years.”

How women are portrayed in kung fu movies

“I think kung fu films now are very different from kung fu films before. The Grandmaster is clearly a multi-layered film. Women play an important role. I think society has changed too, so I experienced this. I think I’m really lucky.

“My character has a line. She says, ‘Let’s be clear. You didn’t return it to me. I took it back myself!’ So I think the message is really strong and all the women can relate to her.”

“I really identified with my character Gong Er. I think every single woman has a Gong Er in her. They just have to find it.

Why she still won’t move to Hollywood

“I think I’m still waiting for the right project because I’m often offered roles, but they all look similar. I think I can do better than just kicking ass. That’s why I really appreciate, you know, a few years ago I got this opportunity to do Memoirs of a Geisha. I think that’s the open window for us to show the world that we can really act, not only just you know, do action part.”

Source

Powered by MND Press Library

Projects

  • Murder of the Husband (2024)
    Zhan Zhoushi
    Pre-Production
    TV mini-series directed by Peter Chan. One woman's suffering gives rise to the revolution of women's social rights in China.
    News
    Photos
  • The Great War
    The Great War (2023)
    -
    Release: September 30
    Epic war movie directed by Chen Kaige about the participation of Chinese troops in the Korean War.
    Info
    News
    Photos
    Videos

Featured Albums

14th Macau Movie Festival
2022
14th Macau Movie Festival
Photoshoot Art’N Dior
2022
Photoshoot Art’N Dior
Clé de Peau Beauté
2018-2023
Clé de Peau Beauté

Random Videos

The video archive currently has 1003 videos.

2012 New Year’s Eve Show
2:52 min   |   949 views
Clé de Peau Beauté September 2021 (Chinese)
1:00 min   |   456 views

Latest Magazine Covers


Marie Claire
China | Sept.

Marie Claire
China | Sept.

Updates

  • The Great War Teaser Trailer
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Returns to Theaters
  • 14th Macau International Movie Festival
  • Avatar: The Way of Water Chinese Dubbing
  • Art ‘N Dior Shanghai Event
  • Clé de Peau Beauté Shanghai Promotional Event

Search

Special Partner

Website Informations

Maintened by: Miss Grain & Mr. Chang
Hosted by: Flaunt
© 2007-2021 Zhang Ziyi Infos / Theme by Sin21 / Hosted by / DMCA / Privacy Policy / Back to top / Homepage
This site is a fansite. We have no contact with Zhang Ziyi. We do not earn any money with Zhang Ziyi Infos. We are just fans who wanted to build a fan base. All the pictures belong to their respective owners. If you see your work on this website just e-mail us and we will remove the pictures immediately.