Zhou Xun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zhou Xun
周迅
Zhou at the 29th Shanghai Television Festival in 2024
Born	Zhou Mika (周米卡) (1974-10-18) 18 October 1974 (age 50) Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
Alma mater	Zhejiang Art School (Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art)
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1991–present
Agent	Beijing Rosat (1999–2005) Huayi Brothers (2005–2010) Zhou Xun Studio (2010–present) Dongshen Future K·ARTISTS (2018–present)
Spouse(s)	Archie Kao ​ ​ (m. 2014; div. 2020)​
Zhou Xun
Chinese	周迅
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōu Xùn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Zau1 Seon3
Zhou Mika (birth name)
Chinese	周米卡
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōu Mǐkǎ

Zhou Xun (Chinese: 周迅, born on October 18, 1974) is a famous Chinese actress and singer. She became well-known for her roles in movies like Suzhou River (2000) and Perhaps Love (2005). She also starred in popular TV shows such as Palace of Desire (2000) and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018).

Zhou Xun is considered one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. This title is given to the most popular young actresses in the country. In 2009, she made history by becoming the first Chinese actor to win the "Grand Slam." This means she won Best Actress awards at the three biggest Chinese-language film awards: the Golden Horse Awards, the Hong Kong Film Awards, and the Golden Rooster Awards.

Early Life and Education

Zhou Xun grew up in a regular family in Quzhou, Zhejiang, China. Her father worked as a film projectionist, showing movies. Her mother was a salesperson in a department store.

Zhou went to Quzhou No.1 Middle School. After finishing school, she decided to study dramatic arts at the Zhejiang Art School. Her parents wanted her to choose a more traditional career path. Even as a teenager, she was chosen for a role in the film Strange Tales Amongst Old and Desolate Tombs.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and First Recognition (1995–2004)

Zhou Xun started her acting career in the comedy movie The Pampered Wife in 1995. She then appeared in films by famous director Chen Kaige, including Temptress Moon (1996) and The Emperor and the Assassin (1999).

In 2000, Zhou Xun became widely recognized in China. She played the young Princess Taiping in the historical TV drama Palace of Desire. For this role, she won awards for Most Popular Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the 18th China TV Golden Eagle Awards.

Her big breakthrough in movies came with Lou Ye's Suzhou River (2000). She won the Best Actress award at the 15th Festival du Film de Paris for her performance. That same year, she was named one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. She gained more international fame in the French-Chinese romance drama Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002).

Zhou Xun won her first major Chinese film award, the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress, for her role in Liu De-kai's film A Pinwheel Without Wind (2002). She also impressed critics with her performance in the Hong Kong film Hollywood Hong Kong (2001). Variety magazine praised her acting, saying she was "superb."

Award-Winning Performances (2005–2011)

In 2005, Zhou Xun starred in the musical film Perhaps Love. Her amazing acting in this movie, where she played a girl from the countryside who becomes a rich city woman, earned her many awards. She won Best Leading Actress at the Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Award.

She then appeared in the wuxia film The Banquet (2006). This role helped her win the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. This made her the first actress from mainland China to win both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards in back-to-back years.

In 2008, Zhou Xun starred in the romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death. She played a taxi driver looking for her missing boyfriend. Critics loved her performance, saying she was key to the film's success. She won several Best Actress awards for this role, including at the Asian Film Awards and Golden Rooster Film Festival. The same year, she was in the horror-adventure film Painted Skin. She also starred in the spy thriller The Message (2009).

In 2009, Zhou Xun was named the Star of the Year at CineAsia. CNN also listed her as one of Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time. In 2011, she starred in the wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.

New Ventures and TV Comeback (2012–2017)

In 2011, Zhou Xun tried directing for the first time with the short film Five Demon Traps. In 2012, she reunited with actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai in two films: The Great Magician and The Silent War. She was nominated for two Best Actress awards at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards for these roles.

Zhou Xun also made her Hollywood debut in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas (2012), playing several different characters. She also starred in Painted Skin: The Resurrection, a sequel to her 2008 film. This movie became the highest-grossing Chinese-language film at that time.

In 2014, Zhou Xun returned to television after 10 years in the series Red Sorghum. Her performance was highly praised, and she won Best Actress awards at the Asian Television Award and Shanghai Television Festival. In 2016, she took on the main role of the Step Empress in the historical drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, which aired in 2018.

Recent Work and Continued Success (2018–Present)

In 2018, Zhou Xun and actor Chen Kun started their own talent agency called Dongshen Future K·ARTISTS. She starred in the romance film Last Letter and was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards.

In 2019, she appeared in the crime thriller Remain Silent and the family drama The Eleventh Chapter. Her acting in The Eleventh Chapter earned her the Best Actress award at the 13th China Film Director's Guild Awards.

In 2020, Zhou Xun starred in the web drama Imperfect Love, a remake of a Japanese TV series. She won Best Actress in a Webdrama at the 26th Shanghai Television Festival for her role.

In 2021, she was in the fantasy film The Yinyang Master. She also played Tu Youyou, a Nobel Prize winner who developed a malaria treatment, in the TV series Medal of the Republic. Later that year, she starred in the family drama A Little Mood for Love, which was the highest-rated prime-time drama on Chinese satellite TV in 2021.

In 2023, Zhou Xun made a special appearance in the World War II spy thriller Hidden Blade. She also returned to TV in the legal drama series Imperfect Victim, playing a lawyer. This series was very popular. She also starred in the crime thriller Across the Furious Sea, which earned her another Best Actress award at the 2024 China Film Director's Guild Awards. In 2024, Zhou Xun was chosen to be a jury member for the main competition at the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Social Activities and Environmental Work

Zhou was named one of the 'Champions of the Earth' for her work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on the Earth Day, 2010, becoming the first entertainer in the world to receive this honour.

Zhou at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2007

Zhou Xun became the first United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador for China in 2008. Her main focus is to promote environmental protection. She helps run a campaign called 'Our Part', which shares tips for living in a more eco-friendly way.

On April 22, 2010, she received the Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She was the first entertainer in the world to get this special honor.

Fashion and Endorsements

Zhou Xun is also known for her strong sense of style and has worked with many famous brands. In 2006, she became a global spokesperson for Miu Miu. She has also been a brand ambassador for French luxury brands like Lancel and Chanel. Chanel's chief designer, Karl Lagerfeld, praised her fashion sense.

She has also worked with Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen. In the beauty world, Zhou Xun has been a spokesperson for American skincare brand Olay and Japanese luxury skincare brand Decorté. She has also promoted clothing brands like GAP and Chinese beauty brand Perfect Diary. More recently, she has worked with car brands like Wuling Motors and Polestar.

Zhou Xun has appeared on the covers of many top fashion magazines, including Vogue China, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle.

Personal Life

Zhou Xun has been granted permanent residency in Hong Kong since 2009. She was married to American actor Archie Kao from 2014 until their divorce was announced in December 2020.

Filmography

Film

Television Series

Short Film

Voice Roles

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards and Honors

Forbes China Celebrity 100

Honors

Images for kids

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  Zhou at the 29th Shanghai Television Festival in 2024

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  Zhou was named one of the 'Champions of the Earth' for her work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Earth Day, 2010.

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  Zhou at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Zhou Xun para niños