WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Zhao Wei - Wen Zhu

      Zhao Wei is now widely regarded as the top female star in mainland China - and her success has begun reaching across the rest of Asia as well with her performance in the recent smash hit comedy from Hong Kong director and actor Steven Chiau, "Shaolin Soccer". Her big-eyed look of mischievous innocence has made her a much sought-after star.

      Just before going to Xinjiang in northwest China to shoot "Warriors of Heaven & Earth", Zhao Wei shot another film for Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, "So Close", for director Cory Yuen. After finishing "Warriors", she filmed "Chinese Odyssey" for director and writer Jeff Lau (also the writer of "So Close").

      Zhao Wei rose to fame in the 1998 Chinese TV series "Princess Pearl." A 1999 sequel to the series was equally popular and firmly established Zhao as one of the very top actresses in China. The series brought her China's top TV award, the Golden Eagle, for best actress, and also gave her the nickname by which she is known to her millions of fans, "Little Swallow", the name of the character she portrayed. On TV, Zhao Wei also appeared in the TV series "The Challenge of the Female Knight", "Deep Feelings, Gentle Rain", and "Adventures in Beijing", among others.

      In China, she has appeared in the films "Valley of Girls" and "A Fate Too Beautiful for Words." In 2003, she appeared opposite Jiang Wen in another film, director Zhang Yuan's Green Tea.

      Also an accomplished singer and musician, Zhao Wei has released several pop CDs, including "Spirit Across the Sky", "The Charm of Love", and "Last Parting."

      Zhao Wei was born in Wuhu, Anhui province, China. She attended the Beijing Film Academy, where she studied acting. Zhao Wei lives in Beijing.