Masterclass: ZHANG Ziyi

A Leading Chinese Actress on the Global Stage

When speaking of ZHANG Ziyi, audiences often recall her iconic performances in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Grandmaster. Yet even before these landmark works, she had already brought depth and strength to her portrayals of Chinese women on screen. Early in her career, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to inhabit demanding roles. In Jasmine Women, she played three characters across three generations, capturing the evolving struggles and resilience of women within modern Chinese history. Through such performances, the international film community recognised a new generation of Chinese actresses capable of shaping history through character.

At a time when the global film industry remained largely male-dominated, ZHANG established her place through discipline, conviction and artistic authority. She went on to secure a prominent international standing, serving repeatedly as a juror at major film festivals — a reflection of her global recognition and influence.

In this upcoming masterclass, she will discuss how she approaches character-building to challenge expectations and expand the narrative space for Chinese actresses on the world stage.