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Zhao Tao

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Zhao Tao
cropped headshot of Zhao Tao at Tokyo International Film Festival 2023
Zhao Tao in 2023
Born (1977-01-28) 28 January 1977 (age 47)
Occupation(s)Actress, producer
Years active1999–present
Spouse
(m. 2012)
AwardsDavid di Donatello Award – Best Actress
2012 Shun Li and the Poet

Chinese name
Simplified Chinese赵涛
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhào Tāo

Zhao Tao (born 28 January 1977) is a Chinese actress. She works in China and occasionally Europe, and has appeared in 10 films and several shorts since starting her career in 1999. She is best known for her collaborations with her husband, director Jia Zhangke, including Platform (2000) and Still Life (2006). With Shun Li and the Poet (2011), she became the first Asian actress to win a prize at David di Donatello. She received two Golden Horse Award nominations for Mountains May Depart (2015) and Ash Is Purest White (2018). In 2020, The New York Times ranked her #8 on its list of the 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century.[1]

Biography

Zhao was born 28 January 1977 in Taiyuan, Shanxi, which is also the hometown of the heroine in Still Life. As a child, she studied classical Chinese dance. In 1996, she enrolled in the folk dance department at Beijing Dance Academy. After graduation, she became a dance teacher in Taiyuan Normal College, where she was spotted by Jia during casting for Platform.[2] Since then, they have worked together frequently.

In 2011, she starred in the Italian film Shun Li and the Poet by Andrea Segre, which screened in the Venice Days section of the 68th Venice International Film Festival.[3] Zhao won the David di Donatello Award, the Italian Oscar, for Best Actress for her bilingual role.

Zhao Tao at 2016 Cannes Film Festival

Personal life

On 7 January 2012, Zhao married director Jia Zhangke.

Complete filmography

Year English Title Chinese Title Role Notes
2000 Platform 站台 Yin Ruijuan Ensemble
2002 Unknown Pleasures 任逍遥 Qiao Qiao Lead
2004 The World 世界 Tao Lead
2006 Still Life 三峡好人 Shen Hong Lead
2007 Our Ten Years 我们的十年 Lead
2008 24 City 二十四城记 Su Na Ensemble
2008 Dada's Dance 达达 Ensemble
2008 Cry Me a River 河上的愛情 Zhou Qi Lead
2009 Remembrance 念石 - Lead
2010 Ten Thousand Waves - Blue Goddess Ensemble
2011 Shun Li and the Poet 我是丽 Shun Li Lead
2013 A Touch of Sin 天注定 Xiao Yu Ensemble
2015 Mountains May Depart 山河故人 Shen Tao Nominated - 52nd Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress
2018 Ash Is Purest White 江湖兒女 Zhao Qiao Nominated - 55th Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress
Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress
Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress

References

  1. ^ Dargis, Manohla; Scott, A.O. (25 November 2020). "The 25 greatest actors of the 21st century (so far)". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Constant Muse: Jia Zhangke's leading lady Zhao Tao". China Film Journal. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  3. ^ "5 September". La Biennale di venezia. Retrieved 4 September 2011.