Gao Yuanyuan
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Gao Yuanyuan ( zh, s= 高圆圆, p=Gāo yuányuán, born 5 October 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. She gained attention in 2000 for appearing in a commercial for Qingzui (Clear Mouth) lozenges, earning her the nickname "Clear-Mouth Girl." She achieved mainstream popularity for her role as
Zhou Zhiruo Zhou Zhiruo () is one of the two female lead characters in the wuxia novel ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' by Jin Yong. Jin Yong describes Zhou Zhiruo's physical appearance as "beautiful, pure and free of worldly traits".Quote: 清麗秀 ...
in the
wuxia ( , literally "martial arts and chivalry") is a genre of Chinese literature, Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fantasy literature, its popularity ha ...
series ''
The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'', also translated as ''The Sword and the Knife'', is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, Jin Yong (Louis Cha) and the third part of the ''Condor Trilogy'', preceded by ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' and ''The Re ...
'' (2003). Her other notable works include the films '' Shanghai Dreams'' (2005), ''
City of Life and Death ''City of Life and Death'' is a 2009 Chinese drama film written and directed by Lu Chuan, marking his third feature film. The film deals with the Battle of Nanjing and the following massacre committed by the Japanese army during the Second Sino- ...
'' (2009), ''
Don't Go Breaking My Heart "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by English musician Elton John and English singer Kiki Dee, released by The Rocket Record Company on 25 June 1976. It was written by John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms "Ann Orson" and "Carte B ...
'' (2011), '' Caught in the Web'' (2012), '' But Always'' (2014), as well as the television series ''We Get Married'' (2013). She ranked 64th on ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 40th in 2014, 76th in 2015, and 86th in 2017.


Career

Gao Yuanyuan was born in Beijing and graduated from China Institute of Industrial Relations. Gao entered the entertainment industry in 1996. Gao, unlike other mainland Chinese actresses, did not graduate from any drama academic institutions. Rather, she started acting in a television commercial for Meadow Gold ice-cream after being spotted on the street at Beijing's Wangfujing shopping district. Gao made her debut in the 1997 film '' Spicy Love Soup''. Thereafter, she starred in '' Beijing Bicycle'' (2001), which won the Silver Bear at the
Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
and romance film '' Spring Subway'' (2002). She rose to fame in 2003 for her role as
Zhou Zhiruo Zhou Zhiruo () is one of the two female lead characters in the wuxia novel ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' by Jin Yong. Jin Yong describes Zhou Zhiruo's physical appearance as "beautiful, pure and free of worldly traits".Quote: 清麗秀 ...
in the television adaptation of Louis Cha's ''
The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'', also translated as ''The Sword and the Knife'', is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, Jin Yong (Louis Cha) and the third part of the ''Condor Trilogy'', preceded by ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' and ''The Re ...
''. Gao made inroads into the international market with the film '' Shanghai Dreams'' (2005), directed by
Wang Xiaoshuai Wang Xiaoshuai (; born May 22, 1966) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is commonly grouped under the loose association of filmmakers known as the "Sixth Generation" of the Cinema of China. Like others in this gen ...
, which won the Prix de Jury prize at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
. She was then picked by
Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born Chan Kong-sang; 7 April 1954), known professionally as Jackie Chan,; is a Hong Kong actor and filmmaker, known for his slapstick, acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically perf ...
to star in the action comedy movie ''
Rob-B-Hood ''Rob-B-Hood'' (, also known as ''Robin-B-Hood'', literally: Baby Project) is a 2006 Hong Kong action comedy drama film written, produced and directed by Benny Chan, feature an ensemble cast include Jackie Chan, Louis Koo, Yuen Biao, Michael ...
'' (2006). Chan has characterized Gao as having the "freshest look and chaste spirit no Hong Kong actress could approach". Gao next starred in the romance film '' Love in the City'' (2007) opposite
Shawn Yue Shawn Yue Man-lok (born 13 November 1981) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. A former model, he has starred in many films, such as ''Jiang Hu (2004 film), Jiang Hu'', ''Infernal Affairs II'', the ''Love in the Buff'' film series, ''Mad World (film) ...
, where she plays a deaf-mute kindergarten teacher. Her performance won her the Newcomer Award at the 11th
Golden Phoenix Awards Golden Phoenix Awards () is a bi-annual accolade given by the China Film Performance Art Academy to recognize outstanding performances in film. In 1987, the first annual awards ceremony held in Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romaniza ...
. Gao was then cast in ''
City of Life and Death ''City of Life and Death'' is a 2009 Chinese drama film written and directed by Lu Chuan, marking his third feature film. The film deals with the Battle of Nanjing and the following massacre committed by the Japanese army during the Second Sino- ...
'' (2009), directed by
Lu Chuan Lu Chuan (born 8 February 1971) is a Chinese filmmaker. One of China's Sixth Generation directors, he is known for his films '' Kekexili: Mountain Patrol'' (2004), '' City of Life and Death'' (2009)'', and The Last Supper'' (2012). Early life ...
and based on the events of the
Nanjing Massacre The Nanjing Massacre, or the Rape of Nanjing (formerly Chinese postal romanization, romanized as ''Nanking'') was the mass murder of Chinese civilians, noncombatants, and surrendered prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army in Nanji ...
. Departing from her "girl-next-door" image, Gao played a middle-aged teacher who helped Nanjing people survive the horrors of the Japanese atrocities in 1937. Gao called the role a "turning point" in her career, stating that she had never started taking acting seriously until she worked on the film. ''City of Life and Death'' won the top prize at the 2009 San Sebastian Film Festival. In 2010, Gao starred alongside Korean actor Jung Woo-sung in the romantic film '' A Season of Good Rain'' directed by
Hur Jin-ho Hur Jin-ho (; born August 8, 1963) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Career Hur graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in philosophy and went on to study filmmaking at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. His first steps as ...
, as well as the omnibus romance drama film '' Driverless''. The following year, she starred in
Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-fung (born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his H ...
's romantic comedy ''
Don't Go Breaking My Heart "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by English musician Elton John and English singer Kiki Dee, released by The Rocket Record Company on 25 June 1976. It was written by John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms "Ann Orson" and "Carte B ...
'' alongside Daniel Wu. In 2012, Gao starred in Chen Kaige's '' Caught in the Web'' where she plays a young woman who commits suicide after she becomes embroiled in a social media controversy. The film was especially popular among young viewers, drawing more than six million viewers and praise from critics. Gao returned to television in 2013 with the television series ''We Get Married'', playing a "leftover" ('' Sheng nü'') unmarried woman who gets entangled with a man who has a phobia of marriage. The series was a commercial hit, and was the highest rated drama of 2013. For her performance, Gao won the Best Actress Award at the 18th Beijing Chunyan Awards. Gao reprised her role in the
film adaptation A film adaptation transfers the details or story of an existing source text, such as a novel, into a feature film. This transfer can involve adapting most details of the source text closely, including characters or plot points, or the original sou ...
of the drama. Gao then starred alongside
Nicholas Tse Nicholas Tse Ting-fung (born 29 August 1980) is a Hong Kong actor, singer, songwriter, martial artist, entrepreneur and TV chef.EEGmusic.EEGmusic." ''Nicolas Tse profile.'' Retrieved on 22 April 2008. Tse debuted as a singer in 1996 before shif ...
in the romantic film '' But Always'' (2014). She won the Best Foreign Actress Award at the 52nd Grand Bell Awards. In 2017, Gao ranked 86th on ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' China Celebrity 100 list. After a two-year hiatus, Gao confirmed her return to the screen with Juno Mak's gangster epic '' Sons of the Neon Night''.


Other activities

Gao was a torch-bearer in the Nanjing leg of the torch relay for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2012, Gao became the first Chinese brand ambassador for French luxury house Longchamp. Gao was appointed as California's tourism ambassador to China in 2013. She was picked as she "embodies the California brand and spirit and will share her authentic passion for California with the Chinese public, inspiring their California dreams". In 2020, Gao became the brand ambassador for
Michael Kors Michael David Kors (born Karl Anderson Jr. August 9, 1959) is an American fashion designer. He is the chief creative officer of his brand, Michael Kors, which sells men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, watches, jewelry, footwear, and f ...
. Since 2021, Gao became the brand spokesperson for French high-end jeweller Chaumet.


Personal life

Gao married
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
ese actor Mark Chao in 2014, after collaborating in the film '' Caught in the Web''. They had a daughter, Rhea Chao, in June 2019, one month after announcing that Gao was pregnant. Gao has been a
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
since 2009."Vegetables and fruits turned into fashion"
. china.org.cn. Retrieved 16 January 2023.


Filmography


Film


Television series


Theater


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gao, Yuanyuan 1975 births 20th-century Chinese actresses 21st-century Chinese actresses Actresses from Beijing Chinese film actresses Chinese television actresses Living people