- Born
- Height5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Recognized for her unbridled freedom and creativity, Bai Ling has become one of the world's most diverse and captivating actresses. Born in the city of Cheng Du in southern China, she began her career at age 14. She enlisted in the Chinese People's Liberation Army, where she spent three years in a performance troupe, entertaining soldiers stationed in Tibet.
She first gained the attention of audiences and critics alike when she won the coveted lead role opposite Richard Gere in Jon Avnet's Red Corner (1997). She received numerous accolades including the prestigious Breakthrough Performance Award from the National Board of Review. She also garnered the Discovery Star awarded by the Hollywood Women's Press Club for their Golden Apple Awards.
While developing her remarkable facility with the English language, she has worked with such prestigious filmmakers as Oliver Stone in Nixon (1995), George Lucas in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), Barry Sonnenfeld in Wild Wild West (1999), Spike Lee in She Hate Me (2004), Andy Tennant in Anna and the King (1999), Ang Lee in The Wedding Banquet (1993), Alex Proyas in The Crow (1994), and Luc Besson in "Taxi 3" (2003), in which she spoke French. She also starred in Terrence Malick's Broadway production of "Sansho the Bailiff". She dazzled audiences with her portrayal of the sexy, mysterious Achara in the hit TV series Lost (2004), and intrigued viewers with her seductive yet exhilarating role in HBO's Entourage (2004).
Bai Ling was awarded the Asian Oscar for her brilliant performances in her first Hong Kong film, Three... Extremes (2004), which earned her an additional three major awards in the Far East. She received the Spirit Diversity Award from The Hollywood Motion Picture Association. Her film Southland Tales (2006), directed by Richard Kelly was in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ling starred in and executive-produced Shanghai Baby (2007). She has worked with Taylor Hackford in Love Ranch (2010), co-starring with Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, and had a leading role in the Jason Statham action-comedy Crank: High Voltage (2009) with Jason Statham.
- IMDb mini biography by: Thomas L. (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous)
- ParentsChen BinbinBai Yuxiang
- RelativesBai Chen(Sibling)Bai Jie(Sibling)
- Bai Ling served three years in the People Liberation's Army in China entertaining troops in Tibet. She had a bout of depression which sent her to a mental hospital. She then became a Chinese movie star. Most of this occurred before she was age 18.
- Claimed that her role on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) was cut during editing because of her posing for the June 2005 issue of U.S. Playboy magazine. She was the first woman from the People's Republic of China on its cover. George Lucas strongly denied that this was the reason she was cut.
- She turned in one of her most acclaimed performances in her first Hong Kong movie Three... Extremes (2004) ("Three Extremes: Dumplings"). Her character is a creepy 60-year-old ageless beauty, and she helps women by performing illegal abortions, but also uses the unwanted fetuses to be made into dumplings, which is her secret for ageless beauty.
- Cut off most of her waist-length hair and shaved her head for her role in Anna and the King (1999).
- She attended the Lee Strasberg Institute and New York University's film department (1991).
- [on her role in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)] A lot of my friends asked, "What's it like working with Jude Law? He's so handsome!" I said, "Well, I'm lucky; I got to kick his butt".
- If I am thinking, I am an idiot, if I am not thinking, I am a Genius!
- Only when you are moved, then you can move your audience.
- [on working with the late Brandon Lee on The Crow] He said 'My father is a big movie star.' I said 'Okay, what’s his name?' He said 'Bruce Lee.' I said 'I never heard of him.' He said 'You never heard of him? You probably are one of the only two people in the world who never heard of my father.' I said 'Really? Bruce Lee, I really don’t know.' So I felt bad, because he was disappointed. Then I called my friend in New York - actually I was in North Carolina - and I said 'There’s this actor working with me who said his father is a big star, Bruce Lee. Do you know?’ He said 'Bai Ling! Yes!' I said 'What’s his name?' He said 'Li Xiao Long' - his name in Chinese. I knew little English, how do I know his English name, right? I didn’t know.
- I'm a person that doesn't have that many goals or plans. I feel like I'm the wind and I blow through life; it's whatever comes to me. I very much respect nature. Whatever happens to me, I'm happy and I embrace it.
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