Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🎨

Xu Jinglei

arts Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Xu Jinglei is a prominent Chinese actress and filmmaker. She is recognized as one of the Four Dan Actresses in China. This title highlights her significant status in the nation's film industry. Born on April 16, 1974, in Chaoyang, Beijing, she has built a diverse career. She has transitioned from a popular television star to a highly successful director. Her work spans acting, directing, producing, and even calligraphy design.

Xu's journey began with a disciplined education in the arts. Her father, Xu Zijian, provided a strict upbringing focused on traditional skills. She studied calligraphy at the Beijing Children's Palace. She also memorized Tang poems, which are classical Chinese poems. Her exceptional calligraphy skills led to her admission to Beijing No. 80 High School. Although she originally wanted to study makeup, she attended the Beijing Film Academy instead. There, she joined the Performing Arts Department to pursue acting.

Her acting career reached new heights through television and cinema. She made her debut in the 1994 series My Deskmate. In 1997, she starred in A Sentimental Story as a policewoman. This role helped her gain widespread popularity. In 1998, she appeared in Cherish Our Love Forever, which was China's first idol drama. Xu has received numerous prestigious honors for her performances. She won the Huabiao Award for Outstanding New Actress in 2002. She also earned a Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress that same year.

In 2003, Xu expanded her craft by becoming a film director. Her directorial debut was My Father and I. This film was China's first independent production. It explored the relationship between a father and daughter. For this work, she won the Golden Rooster Award for Best New Director. Her second film, Letter from an Unknown Woman, was based on a novel by Stefan Zweig. This project earned her the Silver Shell for Best Director at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain.

Xu has achieved remarkable commercial and critical success as a director. In 2014, she was ranked fifth on a list of Chinese directors' value. She was noted as the first female director to achieve specific milestones. She directed six films independently and earned over 100 million yuan at the domestic box office. She also won several international film festival awards. Her filmography includes various genres, such as the romantic feature Go Lala Go! and the action thriller The Missing.

Beyond the film set, Xu is an influential figure in many fields. She has served as an acting teacher at the Beijing Film Academy since 2003. In 2006, she was named the world's most popular blogger by Technorati. She also founded Kaila Pictures Corporation to manage production and talent. Her artistic skills extended to digital technology through calligraphy. She created "Founder Jinglei Simplified" computer characters. These characters were even adopted by Starbucks China for use in its cafes.

Xu also uses her platform to support important social causes. In 2008, she was named a China Environmental Ambassador. This title was awarded on World Earth Day by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the United Nations Development Program. She also established an education and film fund. This fund started with 200,000 yuan, which is approximately US$25,000. The money supports braille publications and education for children of migrant workers. Her career demonstrates a deep connection between art, technology, and social responsibility.

563 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.