Zhao Wei

Zhao Wei – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the journey of Zhao Wei (赵薇; born March 12, 1976) — Chinese actress, director, singer, and entrepreneur. From her breakout in My Fair Princess to her directorial successes, controversies, and enduring influence, plus her heartfelt quotations.

Introduction

Zhao Wei (also known as Vicky Zhao) is one of the most recognized names in Chinese entertainment over the past few decades. Her rise—from television star to film actress, then director, producer, and businesswoman—mirrors the changing landscape of Chinese cinema and celebrity culture. With a combination of talent, bold choices, and entrepreneurial ambition, Zhao Wei built a multi-faceted legacy. Along the way, she has inspired admiration and generated controversy. Her story reveals much about fame, risk, creativity, and resilience.

Early Life and Family

Zhao Wei was born on March 12, 1976 in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China.

Her father, Zhao Jiahai (赵家海), was an engineer; her mother, Wei Qiying (魏启颖), worked as a primary school teacher. Zhao Jian (赵健), who has also been involved in business ventures related to Zhao’s enterprises.

As a youth, Zhao received training in piano, dance, and Chinese ink wash painting, alongside her general schooling.

These early influences—arts training, a stable family background, and exposure to multiple disciplines—shaped her later versatility in entertainment and business.

Youth, Education, and Entry into Acting

Zhao’s first exposure to acting came quite early. In 1994, while still a student, she appeared in the film A Soul Haunted by Painting (画魂) in a minor uncredited role. This planted the seed of her ambition.

After graduating from her secondary school, Zhao moved to Shanghai and enrolled in the Xie Jin-Hengtong Star Academy, an acting school founded by filmmaker Xie Jin, as one of its early students. Penitentiary Angel in 1996) that expanded her experience.

In 1996, Zhao Wei achieved a major academic milestone: she was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy (BFA), earning the highest scores nationally for both her professional and cultural exam components. five “A”s and nine “A–”s out of 14 courses, and her thesis scored 90 out of 100.

Her academic success gave her a strong foundation—not just in performance, but in discipline, critical analysis, and industry understanding.

Career and Achievements

Zhao Wei’s career can be divided into several phases: breakthrough as a television star, transition into films, exploration in direction and production, business ventures, and a more recent period of controversy and quiet.

Breakthrough: My Fair Princess and Television Stardom

The turning point in Zhao’s career came in 1997–1998, when she was cast by novelist-producer Chiung Yao in the TV series My Fair Princess (还珠格格). She played Xiao Yanzi (“Little Swallow”), a spirited and rebellious princess.

The show became a sweeping phenomenon across mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

In 1999, she won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress, becoming the youngest ever recipient at that time. My Fair Princess launched her to fame, Zhao faced criticism from some quarters who viewed the character as too whimsical or undisciplined—but she became synonymous with youthful energy and charm.

Following My Fair Princess, she starred in Romance in the Rain (2001), another TV drama adapted from Chiung Yao’s work, which was both commercially successful and further cemented her television credentials.

Transition to Film Success

From the early 2000s onward, Zhao Wei gradually shifted focus to films, demonstrating range in both commercial and more artistic projects.

• In 2001, she appeared in Shaolin Soccer directed by Stephen Chow, playing the role of “A Mei,” a humble steamed bun seller turned martial artist. Though different from her earlier image, the role showed her willingness to take on diverse characters.

• She also starred in Chinese Odyssey 2002, So Close (2002), Green Tea, Jade Goddess of Mercy (2003) — roles that explored different genres and emotional nuances.

• In 2005, Zhao starred in A Time to Love and Moment in Peking, the latter being a return to television but with more mature gravitas. A Time to Love earned her multiple acting awards (Golden Goblet, Changchun, Huabiao, etc.).

• She took on ambitious historical/fantasy projects such as Red Cliff (2008–2009) where she played Sun Shangxiang, and Painted Skin (2008), which pushed special effects and fantasy storytelling in Chinese cinema.

• In 2009, she starred as Hua Mulan in Mulan, a role that combined physicality, heroism, and emotional depth, earning her multiple Best Actress awards (Hundred Flowers, Changchun, etc.).

These film roles showed her ability to transcend the “TV idol” label and adapt to a wide spectrum of storytelling.

Directing, Producing, and Business Ventures

Zhao Wei didn’t stay content just in front of the camera. She expanded into directing, producing, and investment.

• In 2012, Zhao Wei completed graduate studies in directing at Beijing Film Academy. Her thesis defense earned a 99/100, ranking first among the candidates.

• Her directorial debut, So Young (2013), was a major commercial and critical success. It broke box office records and became one of China’s highest-grossing films at the time. Golden Rooster Award for Best Directorial Debut, Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Director, and a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film from Mainland & Taiwan.

• Following that, she continued directing: in 2016, she announced No Other Love (没有别的爱).

• Beyond film, Zhao ventured into wine business. In 2011, she purchased the Château Monlot in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, for about €4 million.

• Zhao also invested heavily in the media and entertainment sector. In 2014, she and her then-husband acquired shares in Alibaba Pictures, making her the company’s second-largest shareholder.

Controversies, Blacklisting, and Partial Resurgence

Zhao Wei’s public life has also included significant controversies and a dramatic shift starting in 2021.

• In 2001, she appeared in a fashion photoshoot wearing a dress that contained imagery resembling the Japanese Rising Sun flag, which sparked public outrage in China due to historical sensitivities. Zhao publicly apologized after the incident.

• Over the years, her name was tied to various legal and financial disputes, including regulatory issues related to company acquisitions and alleged disclosure violations.

• In August 2021, Zhao Wei was blacklisted by Chinese authorities. Her works were removed from streaming services, mentions scrubbed, and her social media presence restricted. The reasons were not publicly stated, but it had a sweeping impact on her public and business standing.

• From 2024, some platforms began to partially restore content (for example, Douban restored images, some videos on Bilibili became unblurred), but many works remain inaccessible.

• In December 2024, Zhao posted a tribute to Chiung Yao (her mentor for My Fair Princess), marking one of her rare public social media returns.

• Also in December 2024, she announced that she had divorced Huang Youlong (her husband since 2008) sometime earlier.

Despite the blackout, Zhao Wei retains a compelling legacy. Some media reports have noted her recent reemergence in public photos (e.g. Xinjiang travel photos) but she has not made an official full return.

Legacy and Influence

Zhao Wei’s influence across film, television, and business is multifold:

• She is widely considered one of China’s “Four Dan Actresses” (四大花旦), a title given to the most bankable young actresses in mainland China.

• Her role in My Fair Princess launched a wave of idol culture in mainland China; the show’s impact is still referenced as a cultural milestone.

• As a female filmmaker whose directorial debut broke box office records, she inspired a new generation of Chinese women in film to pursue behind-the-camera roles.

• Her ventures into wine and entertainment investment reflect a model of celebrity diversification: leveraging fame into business, arts, and production.

• The controversies and blackout she experienced also serve as cautionary tales in the interplay between celebrity, regulation, and politics in China, making her a case study in modern Chinese media.

• Even under censorship, her name continues to be talked about among fans, cultural commentators, and in the context of media restoration debates.

Personality and Artistic Qualities

Zhao Wei has long been described as bold, independent, and versatile. Some of her characteristic traits:

• She often emphasizes self-reliance and not asking favors from others. From interviews and her quoted reflections:

  “我与人交友，不会碰到人家就要求他为我做事，我不想麻烦别人 … 每次碰到难题都是首先想到自己去解决”
  (“In friendships, I won’t demand that others do things for me; I don't want to trouble people. Whenever I face difficulty, my first thought is to solve it myself.”)

• On the importance of family and upbringing:

  “我认为一个健康的家庭对人的素质、气质及人生观影响最大。”
  (“I believe a healthy family has the greatest influence on one’s character, bearing, and outlook on life.”)

• She has also spoken candidly about her fears of loss, the tension between public image and private emotion, and the role of crisis in fueling artistic expression.

Artistically, Zhao Wei is known for:

• Emotional sincerity. Even in popular roles, she often brings vulnerability and realism rather than pure glamour.

• Adaptability. She has moved between lighthearted, romantic, historical, fantasy, and dramatic roles with relative ease.

• A capacity for risk. Her shift to directing, high-profile business deals, and expansions into new sectors reflect a readiness to step outside comfort zones.

Famous Quotes by Zhao Wei

Here are a few quotes attributed to Zhao Wei that reflect her values, personality, and reflections on life:

• “虽然我常常对女儿妥协，但她心里完全明白，在家里，我是唯一一个会管她的。”
  (“Although I often yield to my daughter, she fully understands that in our home, I am the only one who will discipline her.”)

• “我认为一个健康的家庭对人的素质、气质及人生观影响最大。”
  (“I believe a healthy family has the greatest influence on one’s character, bearing, and life outlook.”)

• “我与人交友，不会碰到人家就要求他为我做事 … 每次碰到难题都是首先想到自己去解决。”
  (“In friendships, I won’t demand others to act for me … when facing problems I always first try to solve them myself.”)

These lines capture her sense of responsibility, her emotional commitments, and her independent mindset.

Lessons from Zhao Wei’s Journey

From Zhao Wei’s life and multifaceted career, one can draw several valuable lessons:

1. Diversify your talents and roles.
   Zhao didn’t confine herself to acting; she expanded into directing, producing, business, and investment. Flexibility can open new pathways.

2. Build credibility through performance and discipline.
   Her strong academic record, rigorous preparation, and willingness to take on challenging roles lent her legitimacy in multiple fields.

3. Be willing to take risks.
   Whether stepping behind the camera or investing in wine or companies, Zhao often ventured outside her comfort zone.

4. Maintain integrity amid public scrutiny.
   Through controversies and censorship, her experience reminds us how fragile public reputation can be—and how important it is to align one’s actions and values.

5. Legacy depends on both creation and resilience.
   Even as she faced blacklisting, the body of work Zhao built continues to invite rediscovery, discussion, and influence.

Conclusion

Zhao Wei’s life story is compelling not just because of her successes, but because of her restless evolution—from a provincial upbringing to unprecedented fame, from actress to filmmaker and entrepreneur, and through public trials and silences. She embodies both the promise and perils of celebrity in modern China.

Her films, directorial work, business ventures, and personal reflections give us windows into ambition, creativity, identity, and the shifting terrain of Chinese popular culture. Though parts of her legacy remain hidden behind censorship, Zhao Wei’s influence and name endure.