Summary
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]
Zhao Tao | |||||||
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 Zhao Tao in 2023 | |||||||
| Born | 28 January 1977 | ||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actress, producer | ||||||
| Years active | 1999–present | ||||||
| Spouse | |||||||
| Awards | David di Donatello Award – Best Actress 2012 Shun Li and the Poet | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 赵涛 | ||||||
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Biography edit
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.
Personal life edit
On 7 January 2012, Zhao married director Jia Zhangke.
Complete filmography edit
| 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 |
| 2024 | Caught by the Tides | 风流一代 | Qiao Qiao | Lead |
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Constant Muse: Jia Zhangke's leading lady Zhao Tao". China Film Journal. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
- ^ "5 September". La Biennale di venezia. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
External links edit
- Conversation with Zhao Tao and Jia Zhangke at Asia Society
- Zhao Tao at IMDb
- "Zhao Tao: Step on the Bright Road to Cannes" at archive.today (archived 2013-01-16)