Jiang Wen

Jiang Wen was born in January 1963 in Tangshan, Hebei Province. His early life involved multiple relocations, having lived in Guizhou and Hunan. In 1973, his family moved to Beijing to settle there, and he subsequently transferred to Beijing No. 72 Middle School. During his middle school years, Jiang Wen met Ying Da, and the two became close friends due to their friendship. After graduating from high school, Ying Da was admitted to Peking University, while Jiang Wen was accepted to the Central Academy of Drama's Department of Acting, enrolling in 1980.

Jiang Wen graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1984, and was then assigned to perform in dramas at the China Youth Art Theatre. He starred in productions such as "Family Matters" and "The Caucasian Chalk Circle." In 1985, he appeared in the film "The Last Emperor," playing the role of Puyi. He gained public attention for his portrayal of Qin Shutian in "Furong Town." In 1986, under director Xia Jin’s guidance, he portrayed Qin Shutian again in the film "Furong Town."

In the summer of 1987, Jiang Wen joined the cast of the film "Red Sorghum," directed by Zhang Yimou, playing the character Yu Zhan’ao. At the same time, he also starred in the Sino-French co-production "The Tears on the Bridal Sedan," playing the role of the father. In 1989, he starred in director Xie Fei’s "The Year of the Child," playing Li Huiquan, a young man returning to society after serving time for re-education through labor. In 1990, he appeared in Tian Zhuangzhuang’s film "The Great Taitan," playing the eunuch Li Lianying from the late Qing Dynasty.

In 1993, Jiang Wen starred in the TV series "Beijing People in New York," which depicted the struggles of Beijingers in New York. Before that, he co-starred with Wan Ziliang in the film "Heroes in a Narrow Road." From August 1993 to January 1994, he directed his first film, "In the Heat of the Sun," which reflects the growth of teenagers during the Cultural Revolution. In 1996, he played the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the film "Qin Song," and collaborated with Ge You in "Speak Only Good Words."

Between 1998 and 1999, Jiang Wen directed and starred in the film "Devils on the Doorstep," which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999. From 2001 to 2005, he appeared in several films, including "Searching for Guns," "Hero," "Green Tea," "Lust, Caution," and "The Grand Mansion Gate." In 2005, he directed "The Sun Also Rises," featuring a circular narrative structure.

In 2009, Jiang Wen directed and starred in "Let the Bullets Fly," which received widespread acclaim. In 2011, he starred in the film "Guan Yu," playing Cao Cao. In recent years, he has also appeared in several other films, such as "Gone with the Bullets," "Hidden Man," and "Turandot: The Curse of Love." In 2018, his self-directed film "Hidden Man" was released, and he won the First Hainan Island International Film Festival Screenplay Award.

In terms of family life, Jiang Wen’s father, Jiang Hongqi, participated in the Korean War (the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea), and his mother, Gao Yang, was a music teacher. Jiang Wen is the eldest son; his siblings include his younger brother Jiang Wu and sister Jiang Huan. He had a daughter with his former wife Sandrine Chennais, but they divorced in 2005. Later that year, he married Zhou Yun, with whom he has two sons.

Jiang Wen has made notable contributions to the entertainment industry and social公益 activities, participating in numerous charitable and social initiatives. He has received multiple awards and honors from the film industry and society. In 2024, he served as the chairman of the International Jury for the "Tiantan Award" at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. In 2025, he was a guest at the closing ceremony and awards presentation of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival.