Tong Yao
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Tong Yao (; born 11 August 1985), also known as Tanya Tong, is a Chinese actress, best known in film for portraying Chen Shu in '' A Big Deal'' (2011), May in '' Snowfall in Taipei'' (2012) and Annie Yang in '' To Love Somebody'' (2014), and has received critical acclaim for her television work, particularly as Meng Xizi in ''Militia Ge Erdan'' (2012), Zhou Xiaobei in ''Three Bosom Girls'' (2014), Song Renping in '' Like a Flowing River'' (2018) and Gu Jia in '' Nothing But Thirty'' (2020).


Early life and education

On August 11, 1985, Tong was born in
Kunming Kunming is the capital and largest city of the province of Yunnan in China. The political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province, Kunming is also the seat of the provincial government. During World War II, Kunming was a Ch ...
,
Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...
. In 1996, she attended the Chinese Song and Dance Art School in Beijing. She returned to Kunming in the following year, when she was accepted to Kunming Art School. She spent a year studying
Hulusi The ''hulusi'' (), also known as the cucurbit flute and the gourd flute, is a free reed wind instrument from China, Vietnam, and the Shan State, played also by the indigenous people of Assam. It is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes t ...
, which is a free reed wind instrument from China and the
Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...
. She entered the
Central Academy of Drama The Central Academy of Drama () is a national public drama school in Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education. The academy is part of the Double First-Class Construction. Information The sch ...
in 2002, majoring in acting.


Career

In 2002, Tong made her television debut in ''Tracks In The Snowy Forest'', playing a health worker in the Northeast Democratic United Army named Bai Ru. In 2006, Tong amassed a member of television credits namely ''My Sun'', ''Walking Duster'', and ''Life of Dragon and Tiger''. She had a minor role as Pan Ying in '' The Young Warriors'', a historical television series. Tong had a cameo appearance in ''Moonlight Lady'' (2007), a historical television series based on the real life on Song dynasty poet
Li Qingzhao Li Qingzhao (; 1084 – ca. 1155), art name Yi'an Jushi (), was a Chinese poet and essayist of the Song dynasty. She is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. Biography Early life Li Qingzhao was born in 1084 in Jinan, S ...
. That same year, she also appeared in ''Repeat an Error'' and ''I Want to Understand You''. In 2008, she co-starred with Lin Shen in the
romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...
film ''Afraid to Say Love You'', which is her film debut. In the following year, Tong appeared in the film ''Nine Dragon Jade'', in which she played You Erjie. Her 2010 work includes ''Simple Dish'', ''Lei Feng'', ''Military Honour'', ''Wind Up the First Pass'' and ''Qiao Longbiao''. That same year, she starred with Xu Shaoyang in the thriller horror film ''Snapper''. In 2011, Tong was cast in comedy film '' A Big Deal''. As lead actress, she co-starred Liu Wei and
Ni Ping Ni Ping (born 16 February 1989) is a mainland Chinese film actress and TV host. Since the early , Ni shot fame for hosting CCTV New Year's Gala The ''CMG New Year's Gala'', formerly known as the ''CCTV New Year's Gala'', also known as the ''S ...
in the romantic comedy film ''Wings'' (2012). And she starred as May, reuniting her with co-star
Chen Bolin Chen Bolin (; born 27 August 1983), also known as Wilson Chen, is a Taiwanese actor. He is known for the films '' Blue Gate Crossing'' (2002), '' Buddha Mountain'' (2010), ''The Continent'' (2014), and '' 20 Once Again'' (2015), as well as the ...
, who played her romantic interest, in '' Snowfall in Taipei'', a film adaptation based on the Japanese novel of the same name. That same year, she was cast in war drama ''Militia Ge Erdan'', playing the wife of
Huang Bo Huang Bo ( zh, c=黄渤, p=Huáng Bó; born August 26, 1974) is a Chinese actor, film director, singer and the current vice-chairman of China Film Association. He is the winner of multiple Chinese film awards, and ranked 34th on Forbes China ...
's character. In 2013, Tong played the female lead role in a business-themed romantic drama film '' Day of Redemption''. Tong played Annie Yang, the lead role in Francis Sung's directed film '' To Love Somebody''. She had a supporting role in ''
The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom ''The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom'' is a 2014 Chinese wuxia-fantasy film based on the novel '' Romance of the White-Haired Maiden'' written by Liang Yusheng. Directed by Jacob Cheung and co-produced by Bona Film Group and Huang Jianxin T ...
'', a fantasy
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 ...
film. She co-starred with
Zhang Xinyi Zhang Xinyi (, born 29 May 1981) is a Chinese actress and director. She ranked 95th on ''Forbes'' Forbes China Celebrity 100, China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 99th in 2014, and 80th in 2015. Biography Zhang was born in 1981 in Ziyang, Sichuan p ...
and
Jiang Xin Jiang Xin (; born 8 May 1983), also known by her English name Rulu Jiang, is a Chinese actress. Jiang ranked 56 on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 in 2017. Life and career Jiang Xin entered Zhengzhou City's Children Arts Group at the age of 7 ...
in the television series ''Three Bosom Girls''. In 2015, she played the love interest of Li Chen's character in the television series ''Boys to Men''. In 2016, three television work she headlined, ''Stepmother Xu Duoduo'', ''My Spicy Girlfriend'' and ''Customize Happiness'' premiered. In 2018, Tong starred as a key supporting role in the historical drama ''
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace ''Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace'' () is a 2018 Chinese television series based on the novel ''Inner Palace: The Legend of Ruyi'' by Liu Lianzi. Starring Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo, it chronicles the marital relationship between the Qianlong Emp ...
'', alongside
Wallace Huo Wallace Huo Chien-hwa (, born 26 December 1979) is a Taiwanese people, Taiwanese actor and singer. After gaining popularity for the Taiwanese idol drama ''At Dolphin Bay'' (2003), he shifted his career to mainland China and became known for his rol ...
and
Zhou Xun Zhou Xun ( zh, s=周迅, born 18 October 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. Zhou rose to prominence with the film '' Suzhou River'' (2000), followed by films such as '' Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress'' (2002), '' Perhaps Love'' (2005 ...
. She gained popularity for her portrayal of the role as Gao Xiyue. The same year, she starred in the period drama '' Like a Flowing River''. Her performance garnered her the Best Supporting Actress at the Magnolia Awards. In 2019, Tong was cast in the female-centric modern drama '' Nothing But Thirty''. In 2020, Tong began filming the spy drama ''The Rebel''.


Endorsements

In September 2020, Tong Yao became the Chinese ambassador for Estée Lauder. From April, 2021, she selected as a
Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani (; born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer and a billionaire. He first gained renown working for Cerruti 1881. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, which eventually expanded into music, sport, and luxury hotels. By 200 ...
Crossroads brand ambassador, and become brand ambassador for
Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani (; born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer and a billionaire. He first gained renown working for Cerruti 1881. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, which eventually expanded into music, sport, and luxury hotels. By 200 ...
in China since August 2022. On September 21, 2020, lingerie and lifestyle brand NEIWAI officially announced that Tong Yao would become its brand ambassador. On November 30, 2021, she was announced as a brand ambassador for American luxury jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. On February 21, 2021, she has been announced as the Giorgio Armani Beauty ambassador in China. In May 2024, Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller
Piaget SA Piaget SA () is a Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller. Founded in 1874 by Georges Piaget in the village of La Côte-aux-Fées, Piaget is currently a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont group. Piaget was founded as a manufacturer of watch movem ...
announced that Tong has officially joined the Piaget family and become Piaget's brand ambassador in China.


Personal life

On October 1, 2019, Tong Yao and Wang Ran, CEO of private investment bank CEC Capital, married in an ancient castle in
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
.


Filmography


Film


Television series


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tong, Yao 1985 births People from Kunming Actresses from Yunnan Central Academy of Drama alumni Living people Chinese film actresses Chinese television actresses 21st-century Chinese actresses