Jiang Wen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jiang Wen
姜文
Jiang at the Deauville Asian Film Festival in France in 2008
Born	Jiang Xiaojun (1963-01-05) 5 January 1963 (age 62) Tangshan, Hebei, China
Alma mater	Central Academy of Drama
Occupation	Actor, screenwriter, film director
Years active	1986–present
Spouse(s)	Sandrine Chenivesse ​ (m. 1997⁠–⁠2005)​ Zhou Yun ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	3
Parent(s)	Jiang Hongqi (father) Gao Yang (mother)
Relatives	Jiang Wu (brother)
Awards	Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Supporting Actor 1997 The Soong Sisters Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards – Best Director 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Best Screenplay 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Golden Horse Awards – Best Director 1996 In the Heat of the Sun Best Adapted Screenplay 1996 In the Heat of the Sun 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Best Film Editing 2007 The Sun Also Rises Hundred Flowers Awards – Best Actor 1986 Hibiscus Town 1989 A Woman for two
Chinese name
Chinese	姜文
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiāng Wén
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	姜小軍
Simplified Chinese	姜小军
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiāng Xiǎojūn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping geung1 man4

Jiang Wen (born on January 5, 1963) is a famous Chinese actor, writer, and director. He is known for his amazing work in movies and TV shows. As a director, he is part of a group called the "Sixth Generation" of filmmakers who became popular in the 1990s.

Jiang Wen is also well-known around the world as an actor. He starred with Gong Li in the movie Red Sorghum (1986). More recently, you might have seen him as Baze Malbus in the Star Wars movie Rogue One (2016). He is the older brother of another actor, Jiang Wu.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in China

Jiang Wen was born in Tangshan, China, into a family where his parents worked in the military. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Beijing, the capital city.

School Days and Acting Training

In 1973, Jiang Wen went to Beijing No. 72 Middle School. Later, in 1980, he joined China's top acting school, the Central Academy of Drama. He worked hard and graduated from there in 1984.

Jiang Wen's Career in Film

Becoming an Actor

After finishing acting school, Jiang Wen started working as an actor at the China Youth Art Institute. In the same year, he began acting in plays with the China Youth Theater and also started his film career.

Early Film Roles

Jiang Wen's first movie role was playing Puyi in The Last Empress. He then starred in Hibiscus Town, directed by Xie Jin. His role in this movie, as an intellectual revolutionary, won him the Best Actor Award at the Hundred Flowers Awards. He also worked with his Hibiscus Town co-star again in the movie Chun Tao.

Jiang Wen was also cast in Zhang Yimou's first movie, Red Sorghum. He appeared in a French-Chinese movie called Tears of the Bridal Sedan and his first commercial film, The Trial.

Popular TV Series and Later Films

Jiang Wen became very popular for his role in the 1992 TV series A Native of Beijing in New York. This show made him one of the most famous Chinese actors of his time.

He also starred in many other films like Black Snow (1990), Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch (1991), and The Emperor's Shadow (1996). He won an award for his role in The Soong Sisters (1997). Besides Red Sorghum, he worked with director Zhang Yimou again in the 1997 film Keep Cool.

In the early 2000s, Jiang Wen acted in several movies, including The Missing Gun, Green Tea, and Warriors of Heaven and Earth. He also played important historical figures like Hong Taiji in the TV series Da Qing Fengyun (2006) and Cao Cao in the movie The Lost Bladesman.

Star Wars Role

In 2016, Jiang Wen joined the Star Wars universe in the movie Rogue One. He played the character Baze Malbus, a brave fighter from the moon of Jedha who helps in the fight against the evil Galactic Empire.

Writing and Directing Films

Jiang Wen started writing and directing his own movies in 1994. His first film as a director was In the Heat of the Sun. This movie, set during the Cultural Revolution, won many awards, including six Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan. The young lead actor, Xia Yu, even won the Best Actor prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Controversial and Award-Winning Works

In 2000, Jiang Wen co-wrote and directed Devils on the Doorstep. This film won the Grand Prix at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. However, it caused some disagreement in China because some felt it showed Chinese history in a way that was not approved.

Jiang Wen returned to directing in 2007 with The Sun Also Rises. This movie had a unique style and received good reviews from critics. He also directed a part of the romance movie New York, I Love You.

Box Office Success

Jiang Wen's fifth movie, Let the Bullets Fly, was a huge success. This action-comedy film broke box office records in China, becoming the fastest Chinese-language movie to earn over 100 million RMB. It also received high praise from critics.

In 2014, he directed Gone with the Bullets, and in 2018, Hidden Man. These two films, along with Let the Bullets Fly, are part of his "Beiyang trilogy" of gangster films. Hidden Man was even chosen to represent China at the 91st Academy Awards.

Personal Life

His Family

Jiang Wen's father, Jiang Hongqi, was a veteran of the Korean War. His mother, Gao Yang, was a piano teacher. Jiang Wen is the oldest child in his family. He has a younger brother, Jiang Wu, who is also an actor, and a younger sister, Jiang Huan.

Jiang Wen is very close to his family. He often arranges for his parents to visit him when he is working on a movie set. He values their opinions and even asks for their advice on his artistic choices. For example, their positive comments on a novel helped him decide to star in A Native of Beijing in New York. Also, their thoughts on Xia Yu helped him choose Xia Yu for the lead role in In the Heat of the Sun.

His Relationships

Jiang Wen met his first partner, Liu Xiaoqing, while working on his first movie, Hibiscus Town. They separated in 1994.

In 1995, Jiang Wen met Sandrine Chenivesse, a French scholar. They got married in Paris in 1997 and had a daughter together. Their marriage was private for a while but became known when they appeared at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. They divorced in 2005, mainly because of the long distances between them.

In 2001, while filming Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Jiang Wen met actress Zhou Yun. They married in 2005 and have two sons together.

Filmography

Movies

Television Series

Awards and Recognition

Jiang Wen has won many awards for his acting, writing, and directing. Here are some of his notable achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Jiang Wen para niños