Zhao Wei

(a.k.a. Vicky Chiu)

b. 12 March 1976, Wuhu

Actress

A graduate of the Performance Department at the Beijing Film Academy, Zhao Wei has become an idol among young audiences in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, as well as in mainland China. Her first three films, Le peinter (Huahun, Huang Shuqin, dir., 1994), A Young Girl’s Valley (Nü’er gu, Xie Jin, dir., 1995) and East Palace, West Palace (Donggong xigong, Zhang Yuan, dir., 1996), did not bring her much attention. However, she achieved tremendous success with, and henceforth became known as, ‘Little Swallow’ (Xiao yanzi), the character she played in the TV mini-series Princess Pearl (Huanzhu gege, 1997), adapted from a novel by Qiong Yao. Her performance won her a Golden Eagle award.

Her career has since diversified. She acts in films and TV serials, performs in concert, and records CDs. Her ‘cute’ image, established in Princess Pearl, was radically refashioned when she was invited by the Hong Kong comic star Stephen Chow (Chow Sing Chi/Zhou Xingchi) to play a scar-faced girl in a film combining martial arts and soccer, entitled Kungfu Soccer (Shaolin zuqiu)—Hong Kong’s highest-grossing film ever, which was released in the USA in 2003. This was followed by her first foray into Hollywood with So Close (Xiyang tianshi, originally entitled Virtual Twilight, 2002), a Columbia Pictures (Asia) production directed by Corey Yuan.

WANG YIMAN