:Xu Jinglei

{{infobox person

| name = Xu Jinglei

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|4|16}}

| birth_place = Beijing, China

| alma_mater = Beijing Film Academy

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actress
director}}

| years_active = 1994–present

| organization = Beijing Kaila Pictures Co., Ltd.

| awards = {{plainlist|

{{awards|award=San Sebastián International Film Festival|name=Silver Shell for Best Director (Letter from an Unknown Woman)}}
{{awards|award=Huabiao Awards|name=Outstanding New Actress (I Love You)}}
{{awards|award=Golden Rooster Awards|name=Best New Director (My Father and I)}}
{{ awards|award=Golden Rooster Awards|name=Best Supporting Actress (Far From Home)}}
{{awards|award=Hundred Flowers Awards|name=Best Actress (Spring Subway)}}

}}

| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes

| t = 徐靜蕾

| s = 徐静蕾

| p = Xú Jìnglěi

| j = Ceoi4 Zing6-leoi4

}}

| module2 =

}}

Xu Jinglei ({{lang-zh|s=徐静蕾}}, born April 16, 1974) is a Chinese actress and filmmaker.{{cite web|url=http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/celebrities/9/6830-1.htm|title=A Versatile 'Flower Vase'|date=September 16, 2008|work=Women of China}} Regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses in China, Xu rose to fame with television series A Sentimental Story (1997) and Cherish Our Love Forever (1998), followed by TV series Divine Retribution (2000) and films Spring Subway (2002), Confession of Pain (2006), The Warlords (2007), and Eternal Moment (2011).

After making her directorial debut with My Father and I (2003), Xu established herself as one of the most successful female directors in China with such films as Letter from an Unknown Woman (2004), for which she won the Best Director at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Go Lala Go! (2010), Dear Enemy (2011) and The Missing (2017).

Early life

On April 16, 1974, Xu was born in Chaoyang, Beijing, China. Her father Xu Zijian worked at the Beijing Light Bulb Factory before founding the Great Wall Neon Factory, while her mother Yu Shurong worked at the Beijing Chemical Factory. Xu has a younger brother Xu Xinyu.{{Cite news |last=Ji |first=Yan |date=December 1, 1999 |title=The Growth of Xu - walking into Xu Jinglei's home |url=https://eladies.sina.com.cn/amusement/news/acternews/1999-12-01/15114.shtml |work=Beijing Evening News}}

Xu studied in the calligraphy class in Beijing Children's Palace and learned the Tang poems by heart under the strict education of her father. She was recommended for admission to Beijing No. 80 High School because of her extraordinary calligraphy skills.{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾：我就朝阳一女的_徐子健 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/485198829_121128687 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=www.sohu.com}} She initially determined to study make-up in the Stage Art Department of The Central Academy of Drama, but was declined. She was instead admitted to the Performing Arts Department, Beijing Film Academy next year.{{cite web |date=February 14, 2005 |title=Love story with a twist inspires actress-director |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/14/content_416416.htm |work=China Daily}}

Career

=Acting =

In her freshman year of 1994, Xu made her acting debut in TV series My Deskmate.{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾艺术成就 |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqylss/2006-03/10/content_531128.htm |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=China Daily}} She gained wide popularity for her roles in TV series A Sentimental Story (1997), where she played a policewoman who falls for a gangster,{{cite web |date=March 16, 2010 |title=Chinese Director-Actress Xu Jinglei |url=http://english.cri.cn/6666/2010/03/16/1261s557007.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330045321/http://english.cri.cn/6666/2010/03/16/1261s557007.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |work=China Radio International}} and in Cherish Our Love Forever (1998), China's first idol drama. In 1999, she won the Chinese Filmmakers Association's Best Performance Award for her first major film role in Spicy Love Soup (1997). Xu solidified her success with a series of critically acclaimed films, winning the Huabiao Award for Outstanding New Actress for I Love You (2002), the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress for Spring Subway (2002), and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actress for Far From Home (2002). She then starred in blockbusters such as Confession of Pain (2006) and The Warlords (2007). She reunited with her Cherish Our Love Forever co-star Li Yapeng in Eternal Moment (2011), a film sequel to their breakout show.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2010-09/23/c_13525827.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925234802/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2010-09/23/c_13525827.htm|archive-date=September 25, 2010|title=Xu Jinglei, Li Yapeng in new romantic film|date=September 23, 2010|work=Xinhua News Agency}} She took an extended hiatus from acting since Dear Enemy (2011) and switched her career focus to filmmaking and talent management. She made a comeback with her performance in the science fiction thriller Battle of Memories (2017).{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-11/24/content_27479732.htm|title=Actress-director Xu Jinglei returns to big screen|date=November 24, 2016|work=China Daily}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2017-05/03/content_29186142.htm|title=Xu returns to acting role in sci-fi film|date=May 3, 2017|work=China Daily}}

=Directing =

Xu made her directorial debut with My Father and I (2003), which she also starred in. The film, China's first independent production,{{Cite web |title=独家组图：徐静蕾自导自演《我和爸爸》片场传真 |url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2002-04-04/78522.html |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=ent.sina.com.cn}} tackles the delicate relationship between a Chinese father and his daughter, winning her the Golden Rooster Award for Best New Director.{{cite web|url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/feature/Actress-expands-her-talent-with-directing/shdaily.shtml|title=Actress expands her talent with directing|date=December 31, 2016|work=Shanghai Daily}}{{cite web |date=March 6, 2005 |title=Story of a secret love |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/06/content_422183.htm |work=China Daily}} Her second directorial effort, Letter from an Unknown Woman (2004), was based on Stefan Zweig's novel of the same name, winning her the Silver Shell for Best Director at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain.{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/NM-e/108177.htm|title=Xu Jinglei Wins Best New Director in Spain|date=September 27, 2014|work=China.org.cn}} Xu then collaborated with Chinese writer Wang Shuo in Dreams Come True (2006), an experimental film shot in one setting.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/07/content_4804317.htm|title=Experimental director breaks out of mould with "Dreams"|date=July 7, 2006|work=Xinhua News Agency}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Unlike her previous two films, Dreams Come True was panned by critics.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/08/content_4807795.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813130932/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/08/content_4807795.htm|archive-date=August 13, 2006|title=Bore or score?|date=July 8, 2016|work=Xinhua News Agency}} In 2010, Xu directed and starred in Go Lala Go!, which was adapted from Li Ke's bestseller of the same name about a young woman's growth in the workplace.{{cite web|url=http://people.chinesecio.com/en/article/2010-04/12/content_122341.htm|title=Director Xu Jinglei Swaps Styles in Her New Movie|date=April 12, 2010|work=People's Daily}} In 2014, Xu ranked fifth on the Chinese directors value list, as "the first female director who has directed six films independently and has earned more than 100 million yuan at the domestic box office and won the international Film Festival awards."{{Cite news |last=Geng |first=Qingyuan |date=October 24, 2014 |title="Chinese Durector Value List" exposure: Xu Jinglei Became the First Female Director |work=China News |url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/yl/2014/10-24/6714076.shtml}} Xu continued to direct romantic features Dear Enemy (2011) and Somewhere Only We Know (2015), which were moderately successful at the box office.{{cite web|url=http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/news/20111223100525.html|title=Xu Jinglei: From art house to box office|date=December 23, 2011|work=China Radio International}}{{cite web|url=http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/celebrities/13/6532-1.htm|url-status=dead|title=Xu Jinglei Playing Four Roles in Dear Enemy|editor=Zhao Chenxi|date=December 23, 2011|work=Women of China|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526192459/http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/celebrities/13/6532-1.htm|archive-date=May 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/xu-jinglei-begins-production-on-somewhere|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140626053454/http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/xu-jinglei-begins-production-on-somewhere|archivedate=June 26, 2014|title=Xu Jinglei begins production on Somewhere|date=June 26, 2014|work=Film Business Asia|author-last1=Ma|author-first1=Kevin}} Deviating from her former productions was The Missing (2017), an action cop thriller proved to be a commercial flop. She also produced an alien-themed web-series My 200-Million-Year-Old Classmate (2018) based on the webfiction of the same name.{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Xiaoyi |date=April 25, 2017 |title=Xu Jinglei Supervises the Production of a Web Series: My 200-Million-Year-Old Classmate |url=https://www.chinanews.com.cn/m/yl/2017/04-24/8207549.shtml |work=China News}}

= Others =

Since 2003, Xu has been an acting teacher at Beijing Film Academy.{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾将执教鞭北京电影学院又多一位明星老师 |url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/s/m/2003-08-17/1427187092.html?from=wap |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=ent.sina.com.cn}}

Xu launched her blog in late 2005 to huge success. In 2006, she became the world’s most popular blogger, with the most incoming links of any blog in any language on the Internet, according to blog search engine Technorati.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jul/20/news.newmedia|title=Chinese actor writes world's top blog|date=July 20, 2007|work=The Guardian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1558269/Actress-becomes-worlds-favourite-blogger.html|title=Actress becomes world's favourite blogger|date=May 24, 2007|work=The Telegraph}}

In 2006, Xu founded Kaila Pictures Corporation, a production and management company.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/beijing/2011-12/21/content_16000415.htm|title=The tale behind the 'talented bella'|date=December 21, 2011|work=China Daily}} She also launched a website, a series of digital magazines, and an accessory line, but all were shut down in the early 2010s.{{cite web|url=http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/04/17/60@217330.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523031755/http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/04/17/60@217330.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2007|title= Xu Jinglei Launches Her E-magazine "Kai La"|date=April 17, 2007|work=China Radio International}}{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾kaila配饰淘宝店开张网友褒贬不一_时尚频道_凤凰网 |url=https://fashion.ifeng.com/luxury/accessories/detail_2010_11/12/3091573_0.shtml |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=fashion.ifeng.com}}

In 2007, Xu cooperated with Founder Electronics Cooperation to release her personal calligraphy computer characters in FounderType, called "Founder Jinglei Simplified", which was adopted by Starbucks China in its cafe shops.{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2015 |title=Xu Jinglei Demonstrates that Actors Who Don't Know Calligraphy are Not Good Directors |url=http://art.people.com.cn/n/2015/0917/c206244-27596633.html |website=People.cn}}

In 2008, Xu was awarded the honorary title of "China Environmental Ambassador" at an awarding ceremony cosponsored by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the United Nations Development Program on World Earth Day.{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-04/24/content_15010529.htm|title=Xu Jinglei awarded title of 'environmental ambassador'|date=April 22, 2008|work=China.org.cn}}

In November 2012, Xu participated in the fourth season of China's Got Talent and acted as the judge.{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2012 |title=China's Got Talent has reportedly invited Xu Jinglei to come back as an observer with an eight-figure price tag |work=Xinhuanet |url=https://ent.ifeng.com/tv/special/darenxiu/content-6/detail_2012_10/24/18523851_0.shtml}} In May 2018, Xu participated in the third season of the Crossover Singer, a singing competition show, aired on BTV1.{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2018 |title=2018 Crossover Singer New Update |url=http://ent.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0420/c1012-29939493.html |website=People.cn}}

Xu launched an education and film fund with 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) to support braille publications, education for the children of migrant workers, and filming.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-06/15/content_617413.htm|title=Xu launches film and education fund|date=June 15, 2006|work=China Daily}}

Personal life

From 1994 to 2004, Xu Jinglei was in a relationship with writer Wang Shuo, during which she reportedly took a three-year break to be with musician Sanbao.{{Cite web |title=传女星徐静蕾曾被三宝甩曾为其堕胎离开王朔 |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqylss/2007-03/24/content_835736.htm |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}

In July 2005, Xu was photographed in Beijing on a date with musician Zhang Yadong, shortly after actress Gao Yuanyuan made public of her 5-year relationship with Zhang.{{Cite web |title=张亚东高圆圆徐静蕾三角恋一人有一个梦想-搜狐娱乐频道 |url=https://yule.sohu.com/20050802/n226532245.shtml |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=yule.sohu.com}} In January, 2006, Gao declared that she had broken up with Zhang. The next month Xu was photographed in Beijing meeting both Zhang and actor Huang Jue on the same day. Xu then had a relationship with Huang until their breakup in 2010.{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾被曝已和黄觉分手恋上黄立行(图)-搜狐娱乐 |url=https://yule.sohu.com/20100226/n270438322.shtml |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=yule.sohu.com}}

Since their collaboration in Go Lala Go! in 2010, Xu has been in a relationship with Taiwanese-American singer-actor Stanley Huang. Since 2017, they have been living in the US.{{Cite web |title='90s Taiwanese Boyband L.A Boyz Shares Rare Reunion Selfie Taken At A Recent Basketball Match |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/asian/la-boyz-reunion-selfie-777266 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=8days |language=en}}

Filmography

=Film=

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1996	Tough Guy	忽然丈夫
rowspan=3\|1997	My Love to Tell You	我的爱对你说
Life Express	一夜富贵
Spicy Love Soup	愛情麻辣燙	Lin Yuqing
1998	The Storm Riders	風雲	Feng Wu
rowspan=3\|2002	Dazzling	花眼	Xiao Hao
Spring Subway	開往春天的地鐵	Xiao Hui
Far From Home	我的美丽乡愁	Xue'er
rowspan=3\|2003	I Love You	我爱你	Du Xiaojie
Heroic Duo	雙雄	Zhuo Min
My Father and I	我和爸爸	Xiao Yu	also director and screenwriter
rowspan=2\|2004	Brothers	兄弟	Xue'er
Last Love, First Love	最后的爱,最初的爱	Fang Min
2005	Letter from an Unknown Woman	一个陌生女人的来信	Young girl	also director and screenwriter
rowspan=2\|2006	Dreams May Come	梦想照进现实	Actor	also director and screenwriter
Confession of Pain	伤城	Zhou Shuzhen
2007	The Warlords	投名状	Lian Sheng
2009	Shinjuku Incident	新宿事件	Yuko Eguchi
2010	Go Lala Go!	杜拉拉升职记	Du Lala	also director and screenwriter
rowspan=2\|2011	Eternal Moment	将爱情进行到底	Wen Hui
Dear Enemy	亲密敌人	Ai Mi	also director
2013	Better and Better	越來越好之村晚	Liu Shufen
2014	One Step Away	触不可及	Ying Zi
2015	Somewhere Only We Know	有一个地方只有我们知道	Chen Lanxin	also director
rowspan=2\|2017	The Missing	綁架者		also director
Battle of Memories	记忆大师	Zhang Daichen
rowspan=2\|2018	The Trough	低压槽	HuiMeizi
Good Luck Dad	让我怎么相信你		also Title Design

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Xu's Filmography as a director

Time

|Film title

2003

|My Father and I

2005

|Letter from an Unknown Woman

2006

|Dreams May Come

2010

|Go Lala Go!

2011

|Dear Enemy

2015

|Somewhere Only We Know

2017

|The Missing

=Television series=

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=1\|1994	My Old Classmate	同桌的你
1996	Beijing Love Story	北京爱情故事	Dan Hong
1997	A Sentimental Story	一場風花雪月的事	Lu Yueyue
rowspan=2\|1998	Long Tang	龙堂	Ding Min
Cherish Our Love Forever	将爱情进行到底	Wen Hui
rowspan=3\|1999	Thunderstorm Rider	霹雳菩萨	Ah De
Here Comes Fortune	财神到	Xiao Yu
Love Letter	情书	Xia Lin
rowspan=3\|2000	New Romance Generation	新言情时代	Yi Fei	television film
Divine Retribution	世纪之战	Yuen Siu-mui / Siu-kuk
Family of Lu Ao	旅"奥"一家人
rowspan=2\| 2001	Accumulating All My Love	堆积情感	Yu Jingjing
Let Love Make the Decision	让爱作主	Lou Jiayi
2002	Sky Lovers	天空下的缘分	Du Mai
2005	Doukou Nianhua	豆蔻年华	Lin Lan
2018	200 Million Years Old Classmate	同学两亿岁		also executive producer

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |San Sebastián International Film Festival

Time

|Award's title

|Awarded work

|Status

2004

|Silver Shell Award for Best Director of the 52nd San Sebastián International Film Festival{{Cite web |title=徐静蕾西班牙拾"贝" 第52届西班牙圣塞巴斯蒂安国际电影节上，徐静蕾获得最佳导演"银贝壳奖"_NIKE新浪竞技风暴_新浪网 |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/s/2004-09-27/0509376815s.shtml |access-date=October 28, 2022 |website=sports.sina.com.cn}}

|Letter from an Unknown Woman

|Awarded

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Huabiao Awards

Time

|Award's title

|Awarded work

|Award

2003

|Best Newcomer of the 9th China Film Huabiao Awards{{Cite web |title=历届华表奖新人浮沉录：曾经新丁今何在？_影音娱乐_新浪网 |url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2011-08-22/11263393181.shtml |access-date=October 28, 2022 |website=ent.sina.com.cn}}

|I Love You

|Awarded

2003

|Outstanding Actress Award of the 9th China Film Huabiao Awards

|Far From Home

|Nominated