1. Zhou Xun was born to a middle-class family in Quzhou, Zhejiang.
40 Facts About Zhou Xun
1. 2.
Zhou Xun's father, Zhou Tianning, was a local film projectionist, and her mother, Chen Yiqin, was a salesperson at a department store.
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Zhou Xun had her schooling in Quzhou No 1 Middle School.
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Zhou Xun was handpicked for a role in the film Strange Tales Amongst Old and Desolate Tombs during her teenage years in school.
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Zhou Xun debuted in the comedy movie The Pampered Wife.
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Zhou Xun next starred in Chen Kaige's films, Temptress Moon and The Emperor and the Assassin.
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Zhou Xun achieved breakthrough on the big screen with Lou Ye's Suzhou River, which won her the Best Actress award at the 15th Festival du Film de Paris.
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Zhou Xun further achieved international recognition when she starred in the Franco-Chinese romance drama film Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.
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Hollywood magazine Variety praise Zhou Xun saying "Zhou Xun is superb, moving with ease between her various personalities and always convincing in each".
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In 2005, Zhou Xun starred the leading role in the musical film Perhaps Love directed by Peter Chan.
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Zhou Xun next starred in Feng Xiaogang's wuxia film The Banquet, inspired from William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
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Zhou Xun plays the girlfriend of the crown prince, equivalent to Ophelia.
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Zhou Xun then starred in Cao Baoping's romantic thriller The Equation of Love and Death as a taxicab driver on the lookout for her missing boyfriend.
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Critics again praised Zhou Xun, crediting the film's success to Zhou Xun's performance as Li Mi.
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Zhou Xun went on to receive Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Awards, Shanghai Film Critics Awards, Golden Rooster Film Festival, and Chinese Film Media Awards.
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In 2009, Zhou Xun was named the Star of the Year at CineAsia exhibition and distribution convention in Hong Kong.
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Zhou Xun filmed the wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate directed by Tsui Hark.
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In 2011, Zhou Xun made her directorial debut with the short film Five Demon Traps, which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a demon killer.
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Zhou Xun made her Hollywood debut in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas, playing multiple roles in the film.
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Zhou Xun won the Best Actress awards at the Asian Television Award and Shanghai Television Festival.
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In 2016, Zhou Xun was set to play the leading role of the Step Empress in historical fiction drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, which was are the sequel to the drama Empresses in the Palace.
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In 2019, Zhou Xun starred in the crime thriller film Remain Silent and family drama film The Eleventh Chapter.
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Zhou Xun drew acclaim for both performances, the latter giving her Best Actress award at the 13th China Film Director's Guild Awards.
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In 2021, Zhou Xun starred in fantasy film The Yinyang Master.
25.
Zhou Xun was recommended for this role by Tu Youyou following Tu's daughter's compliments on Zhou Xun's acting.
26.
In 2024, Zhou Xun was announced as a member of the jury for Main Competition section of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival.
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Zhou Xun was named the first United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador for China in 2008 with a special focus of promoting environmental sustainability.
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Zhou Xun was the first entertainer in the world to receive this honour.
29.
In 2006, Zhou Xun had become a global spokesperson for Miu Miu's Fall Winter 2006 Collection Campaign, alongside Dong Jie and Rina Ota.
30.
Since 2011, Zhou Xun had been an ambassador for French luxury fashion house Chanel.
31.
In 2014, Zhou Xun was selected as brand ambassador for Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen.
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In September 2014, Zhou Xun became the global face for IWC Schaffhausen's 2014 Portofino Midsize Collection Campaign, alongside Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Christoph Waltz.
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In 2007, Zhou Xun was selected as brand spokesperson for American skincare brand Olay, alongside Maggie Cheung and Lin Chi-ling In 2011, Zhou Xun was selected as brand ambassador for American worldwide clothing brand GAP, alongside Philippe Cousteau Jr.
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In 2018, Zhou Xun was named as brand ambassador for Marubi Tokyo, a high-end skincare subsidiary brand of L Catterton.
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Since 2020, Zhou Xun was selected as brand ambassador for Decorte, a Japanese luxury skincare and cosmetics subsidiary brand of Kose.
36.
On 19 October 2020, Chinese domestic beauty brand Perfect Diary announced that Zhou Xun would be its first global spokesperson.
37.
Zhou Xun has been on the cover of many top fashion magazines including Vogue China and Vogue Taiwan, Chinese and Hong Kong Harper's Bazaar, Chinese and Hong Kong Elle, Chinese and Taiwanese Marie Claire, Chinese and Hong Kong Cosmopolitan, Chinese L'Officiel, Chinese Madame Figaro, Chinese Numero, Chinese T, Chinese V, Chinese GQ, Chinese Esquire, Chinese Elle Men, Chinese Harper's Bazaar Men.
38.
Zhou Xun followed him to Beijing, and their relationship lasted for five years.
39.
On 23 December 2020, Zhou Xun announced on her Sina Weibo account that they had divorced.
40.
Zhou Xun received Hong Kong permanent residency under the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme" in 2009.