Bai Ling facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bai Ling
Bai in 2016
Born	(1966-10-10) October 10, 1966 (age 58) Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1981–present
Parent(s)	Bai Yuxiang, Chen Binbin
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	白靈
Simplified Chinese	白灵
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Bái Líng IPA [pǎi̯ lǐŋ]

Bai Ling (born October 10, 1966) is a Chinese American actress who has appeared in movies in both China and the United States. She is known for her roles in films like The Crow (1994), Red Corner (1997), Wild Wild West (1999), and Anna and the King (1999).

She has also won major awards for her acting. For her role in the movie Dumplings (2004), she won Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.

Early Life and Beginnings

Bai Ling was born in Chengdu, China. Her father, Bai Yuxiang, was a musician for the army, and her mother, Chen Binbin, was a dancer, actress, and teacher at Sichuan University. Bai has an older sister and a younger brother.

Bai described herself as a shy child who loved to perform. During a period in China called the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), she learned to act by taking part in school plays. After middle school, she was sent to do labor work near her hometown.

In 1978, she joined the People's Liberation Army as an "artist soldier" in Tibet. She entertained the troops in a musical theater and also worked for a short time as an army nurse. In 1981, Bai joined the People's Art Theater of Chengdu and became a professional actress. Her talent in a stage play got her noticed by a movie director, which led to her first film role in On the Beach in 1985.

In 1991, Bai moved to New York City to study at New York University. She later became a U.S. citizen in 1999.

Acting Career

Bai at a party in July 2007

Bai started her career in China, appearing in several movies. She became well-known for her role in the film The Shining Arc, where she played a girl with a psychological disorder. This is considered one of her best roles in Chinese cinema.

Success in Hollywood

After moving to the United States, Bai's first big American movie was The Crow (1994). She played Myca, the half-sister of the main villain.

In 1997, she starred opposite Richard Gere in the movie Red Corner. Her performance was highly praised. The New York Times said she gave the film "not only grace, but also substantial gravity." For this role, she won awards from the National Board of Review and the San Diego Film Critics Society. After this film, which was critical of some things in China, she became a U.S. citizen.

In 1998, People magazine named her one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World." For her role as Tuptim in Anna and the King (1999), she shaved her long hair.

Later Roles and Awards

Bai filmed scenes for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) as Senator Bana Breemu, but her part was cut from the final movie. Director George Lucas said the cut was made more than a year before the film's release. Her scenes were later included on the DVD.

In 2004, she returned to Chinese movies with the horror film Dumplings. Her role as the mysterious chef Aunt Mei earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. The same year, she was praised for her work in the independent film The Beautiful Country.

She has also appeared on television shows like Entourage and Lost. In 2013, she won the Best Actress award at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood for the movie The Gauntlet.

Personal Life

In a 2009 interview, Bai playfully said that she is from the Moon, where her grandmother lives. "I'm not really in reality. I'm in my own universe and my mind is a million miles somewhere else," she explained.

Filmography

Bai Ling - German Comic Con 2019

Television Appearances

Discography

Singles

• "Rehab" (2011)
• "U Touch Me, I Don't Know U" (2011)
• "I Love U My Valentine" (2012)
• "Tuesday Night 8pm" (2012)

Music videos

• "Rehab" (2011)
• "U Touch Me, I Don't Know U" (2011)
• "I Love U My Valentine" (2012)
• "Tuesday Night 8pm" (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Bai Ling para niños