Top 20 Most Popular And Beautiful Chinese Actresses (with Pics)

1. Gong Li (巩俐)

When Gong Li’s name is mentioned, some of the greatest roles in Chinese cinema spring to mind: Jiu’er (九儿), Ju Dou (菊豆), Songlian (颂莲), Qiu Ju (秋菊), Juxian (菊仙).

Having starred in three of the four Academy Award for Best International Feature Film-nominated Chinese-language films, Gong Li is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential actresses in China today. Let’s take a look back at this famous actress’s incredible life story.

Gong Li was born in Shenyang, Liaoning in 1965, and grew up in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province. She has been fond of singing and dancing since childhood and aspired to become a singer.

At the age of 19, she enrolled at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing to study acting and was soon spotted by Zhang Yimou (张艺谋), one of the greatest directors in Chinese film history.

Gong Li took her first step on the big screen in Zhang Yimou’s 1987 war romance film Red Sorghum (红高粱 Hóng Gāoliáng) starring as Jiu’er (九儿), a poor girl who was sent by her parents into a pre-arranged marriage with an old man who owned a sorghum wine distillery. The film, which won the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival, officially launched Gong Li’s 15-year cooperation with the internationally acclaimed director.

In 1990 Gong Li won her first Best Actress award at the Varna International Film Festival for her performance in Zhang Yimou’s Oscar-nominated film Ju Dou (菊豆 Jú Dòu), starring alongside Li Baotian (李保田).

The actress continued to collaborate with Zhang Yimou on a string of award-winning films such as Raise the Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂 Dà Hóng Dēnglóng Gāo Gāo Guà), The Story of Qiu Ju (秋菊打官司 Qiū Jú Dǎ Guānsi), To Live (活着 Huó Zhe), Shanghai Triad (摇啊摇, 摇到外婆桥 Yáo a Yáo, Yáo Dào Wàipó Qiáo) as well as playing the lead in several films directed by Chen Kaige (陈凯歌) – another leading figure in Chinese cinema, most notably, Farewell My Concubine (霸王别姬 Bà Wáng Bié Jī) for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.

Besides, Gong Li starred in several English-language blockbusters including Memoirs of a Geisha, Miami Vice, and Hannibal Rising, and thus established her name in Hollywood.  

Gong Li’s career has demonstrated the range of her talent, taking in comic roles such as Chow-Heung (秋香) in Steven Chow (周星驰)’s Flirting Scholar (唐伯虎点秋香 Táng Bóhǔ Diǎn Qiū Xiāng), dramatic roles such as in Painting Soul (画魂 Huà Hún), and antagonist roles such as in Mulan (花木兰 Huā Mùlán).  

Gong Li was chosen as head of the jury at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival and the 2002 Venice Film Festival. She is the first Asian to hold such position at both events. With more than 30 Best Actress awards to her name and having worked with the finest Chinese directors, Gong Li truly is the queen of the Chinese cinema scene.

Here are some of Gong Li’s best works. Take a look!

• Curse of the Golden Flower (满城尽是黄金甲 Mǎn Chéng Jìn Shì Huángjīn Jiǎ)

Gong Li worked with Zhang Yimou again for the historical epic Curse of the Golden Flower, which was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 movies of 2006. Gong Li starred as Empress Phoenix in the film and won the Best Actress at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards.

• Shanghai (谍海风云 Dié Hǎi Fēng Yún)

This World War II-era thriller revolves around the espionage struggle between the Japanese invaders, U.S special agents, and Shanghai gangsters the week before the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. Gong Li starred as An Na (安娜), a spy who is disguised as the wife of a triad boss.

• Leap (夺冠 Duó Guàn)

The 2020 biographical sports film is based on the stories of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team spread over more than 40 years. Gong Li portrays the iconic head coach Lang Ping (郎平).