Gong Li, born on December 31, 1965, in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, is a renowned Chinese actress celebrated for her versatility and naturalistic performances. She grew up in Jinan, Shandong, and developed a passion for singing and dancing from a young age. Gong Li attended the prestigious Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, where she was discovered by director Zhang Yimou.

Her debut in Zhang's "Red Sorghum" in 1987 marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration that brought her international acclaim. Their professional and personal relationship was widely publicized, and together they created critically acclaimed films such as "Ju Dou" (1990) and "Raise the Red Lantern" (1991).

Her career spans over three decades, during which she has starred in numerous notable films. Her role in "The Story of Qiu Ju" (1992) earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. She continued to impress with her performance in "Farewell My Concubine" (1993), which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Gong Li's portrayal of a Japanese geisha in "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005) introduced her to a broader Western audience and won her the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Other significant films in her career include "To Live" (1994), "The Emperor and the Assassin" (1998), "Curse of the Golden Flower" (2006), and "Saturday Fiction" (2019).

In her personal life, Gong Li has experienced both joy and challenges. She married Singaporean tobacco tycoon Ooi Hoe Soeng in 1996, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2010. In 2019, she married French composer Jean-Michel Jarre.

Her lifestyle reflects her status as an international star. She is known for her elegance and poise, often gracing the red carpet at major film festivals. Her contributions to cinema have been recognized with numerous awards, including three Hundred Flowers Awards, two Golden Rooster Awards, and a Hong Kong Film Award.

She has also received honorary awards at the Berlin and Cannes film festivals and was appointed as a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2010.