Gong Li
Biography
Gong Li is a Chinese-born Singaporean film actress born on December 31, 1965, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. She grew up in Jinan as the daughter of an economics professor and initially dreamed of a singing career. After failing to enter a music school in 1985, she was admitted to the Central Drama Academy in Beijing. Gong married Singaporean businessman Ooi Hoe Soeng in 1996 and became a Singaporean citizen in 2008. She is recognized for her exceptional talent and authentic performances, having established herself as a prominent figure in international cinema throughout her career.
Career overview
Gong Li first gained international prominence through her close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In 1987, while still a college student, she was discovered by Zhang and cast in the lead role of his directorial debut, Red Sorghum. The film achieved significant success, winning the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival, which marked the first time a Chinese film received that award. This partnership with Zhang is credited with helping bring Chinese cinema to audiences in Europe and the United States. Gong has appeared in three of the four Chinese-language films nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Beyond her work with Zhang Yimou, Gong is well known to Western audiences for her performance as a 1930s Japanese geisha in the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha. Her professional achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Berlinale Camera, the Cannes Festival Trophy, the Volpi Cup, and awards from the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle. Additionally, she has twice received the Golden Rooster and the Hundred Flowers Awards. With 43 known credits, Gong remains a highly acclaimed actress in the global film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
44 titles- Saturday Fiction (2021) as Yu Jin
- Mulan (2020) as Xian Niang
- Leap (2020) as Lang Ping
- Leap (2020) Executive Producer
- The Monkey King 2 (2016) as Lady White
- Coming Home (2014) as Feng Wanyu
- 最佳女主角 (2013)
- What Women Want (2011) as Li Yilong
- Shanghai (2010) as Anna Lan-Ting
- Hannibal Rising (2007) as Lady Murasaki
- Secrets Within: Inside Look at 'Curse of the Golden Flower' (2007) as Self
- Miami Vice (2006) as Isabella
- Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) as Empress Phoenix
- Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) as Hatsumomo
- 2046 (2004) as Black Spider
- Eros (2004) as Miss Hua
- The Hand (2004) as Miss Hua
- Zhou Yu's Train (2002) as Zhou Yu / Xiu
- Breaking the Silence (2000) as Sun Liying
- Volle Kanne (1999) as Self
- The Emperor and the Assassin (1998) as Lady Zhao
- Chinese Box (1997) as Vivian
- Temptress Moon (1996) as Pang Ruyi
- Shanghai Triad (1995) as Bijou / Xiao Jinbao
- To Live (1994) as Xu Jiazhen
- The Maidens of Heavenly Mountains (1994) as Mou Hang-wan
- The Great Conqueror's Concubine: Part I (1994) as Lu Zhi
- Big Fish in China (1994) as Self
- A Soul Haunted by Painting (1994) as Pan Yuliang
- The Great Conqueror’s Concubine: Part II (1994)
- Farewell My Concubine (1993) as Juxian
- Flirting Scholar (1993) as Chou Heung
- The Story of Qiu Ju (1992) as Qiu Ju
- Mary from Beijing (1992) as Mary
- Crossing the World With Ease (1992)
- Raise the Red Lantern (1991) as Songlian
- God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai (1991) as Yu San / Yu Mong
- The Banquet (1991) as Self
- Ju Dou (1990) as Ju Dou
- Celebrity Talk Show (1989) as 巩俐
- A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1989) as Dong Er / Zhu Lili
- The Empress Dowager (1989) as Guilian
- Codename Cougar (1989) as Ah Li
- Red Sorghum (1988) as Jiu'er
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Gong Li best known for?
Gong Li is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mulan (2020), The Monkey King 2 (2016), Shanghai (2010), Hannibal Rising (2007).
When and where was Gong Li born?
Gong Li was born on December 31, 1965 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
How many credits does Gong Li have?
Gong Li has accumulated over 44 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1988 to 2021.
What is Gong Li's background in cinema and television?
Gong Li is a Chinese-born Singaporean film actress born on December 31, 1965, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. She grew up in Jinan as the daughter of an economics professor and initially dreamed of a singing career. After failing to enter a music school in 1985, she was admitted to the Central Drama Academy in B...