Vicki Zhao

Zhao Wei (born 12 March 1976) is a Chinese actress and pop singer. Audiences sometimes refer to her by her English name, Vicki Zhao (sometimes spelled Vicky Zhao). She has been awarded the Hundred Flowers Award, Shanghai Film Critics Award, Huabiao Award, Golden Eagle TV Award as well as Shanghai Film Festival Golden Globe, amongst others. After being chosen to work as an extra on a filming set, Zhao developed a love for acting. While studying at Beijing Film Academy, Zhao participated in various film projects. Zhao's breakout role as a leading actress was in Princess Pearl, a Chinese television series. In 1999, after Princess Pearl was broadcast, Zhao also began a singing career with her first album, Swallow. She is considered one of the Four Young Dan actresses in China (四小花旦), along with Xu Jinglei, Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun. Zhao rose to international stardom in films such as Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (2001), So Close (2002) and the epic Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2004). In John Woo's historical epic Red Cliff (2009), she played warrior princess Sun Shangxiang. For her achievements in film, television, and music, Japanese media dubbed her China's No.1 actress, and UK's The Independent described her as China's box office darling.