Zhang Zhiyong (Chinese: 张志勇; born 1978) is a Chinese actor known for his frequent collaborations with director Geng Jun. He won Best Leading Actor in the 61st Golden Horse Awards for his role in Geng's Bel Ami (2024).
Zhang Zhiyong | |
|---|---|
张志勇 | |
| Born | Zhang Zhiyong 1978 (age 45–46) Hegang, Heilongjiang, China |
| Alma mater | Qufu Normal University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Early life and education
editZhang was born in 1978 in Hegang, Heilongjiang, China.[1] He grew up in a mining district and was childhood friends with his neighbor and future film director Geng Jun.[1] At the age of 10, Zhang discovered a detonator while playing with Geng and their friends in the mines, and he attempted to open it with a knife out of curiosity, which resulted in an accidental explosion that injured his eyes and fingers, leaving permanent damage.[2] Geng noted that these injuries made Zhang reluctant to face the camera while acting in films, and he only regained his confidence after receiving encouragement from Geng.[3][4] Zhang later attended Qufu Normal University.[1]
Career
editZhang began acting at the age of 22 and became a recurring cast member in Geng Jun's films since Geng started his career in 2002.[1] He acted as an amateur while holding a full-time job.[5] In 2013, he starred as Brother Yong in Geng's short film The Hammer and Sickle Are Sleeping,[6] which won Best Live Action Short Film in the 51st Golden Horse Awards.[5] Geng utilized Zhang's disabilities by designing his character as an armed robber who uses a walking stick as a weapon.[7] He then appeared as Lao Gao, the village chief, in Tong Wang's 2015 film Time to Die.[6] In 2016, Zhang played Zhang Zhiyong, a crooked soap salesman, in Geng Jun's feature film Free and Easy.[8][9] Boyd van Hoeij of The Hollywood Reporter remarked on his status as a "non-professional actor like everyone else".[8] Zhang also starred in Xing Jian's 2019 historical drama Winter After Winter,[10] and appeared as Ma Qianli, a indebted property developer, in Geng Jun's 2022 feature Manchurian Tiger.[11][12]
In 2024, Zhang took on the male lead role in the drama film Bel Ami also directed by Geng Jun, where he portrayed a homosexual middle-aged man (also named Zhang Zhiyong) with a stable career and family who seeks to come out and pursue sexual freedom.[13] Zhang won Best Leading Actor in the 61st Golden Horse Awards for this role,[14][15] becoming the first Chinese actor to win a Golden Horse Award since China boycotted the ceremony in 2019.[16] The Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee commented that Zhang's performance and decision to use his real name in the film allowed him to embody the character's honesty and sincerity, describing it as "bringing the character to life with authenticity and sincerity".[17] He also made a cameo appearance in the 2024 Taiwanese historical drama film The Embers.[5]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Hammer and Sickle Are Sleeping | Brother Yong (勇哥) | [6] |
| 2015 | Time to Die | Lao Gao (老高) | [6] |
| 2016 | Free and Easy | Zhang Zhiyong (张志勇) | [8] |
| 2019 | Winter After Winter | Bing Ga (冰尜) | [10] |
| 2022 | Manchurian Tiger | Ma Qianli (马千里) | [11] |
| 2024 | Bel Ami | Zhang Zhiyong (张志勇) | [17] |
| The Embers | Interrogator | Cameo[5] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61st Golden Horse Awards | Best Leading Actor | Bel Ami | Won | [14] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "金馬61最佳男主角張志勇是誰？導演耿軍御用演員，小時候被雷管炸成重傷". Marie Claire (in Chinese). 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ 王心妤 (23 November 2024). "中國男星張志勇奪金馬影帝 擁抱殘缺找到專屬演出特色". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 陳慧貞 (23 November 2024). "金馬61／張志勇「漂亮朋友」封影帝 導演：他是殘疾". World Journal (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 田暐瑋 (23 November 2024). "金馬獎／新科影帝張志勇是殘疾人士 「10歲手眼遭炸傷」：曾不敢被拍". ETtoday (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "《漂亮朋友》耿軍：用愛情反抗，療癒歷史的創痕". Initium Media (in Chinese). 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d 陳慧貞 (23 November 2024). "金馬61／張志勇「漂亮朋友」封影帝 導演：他是殘疾". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 蔣宜婷 (5 May 2017). "荒廢小城裡的黑色喜劇──專訪中國獨立導演耿軍". The Reporter (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b c van Hoeij, Boyd (27 January 2017). "'Free and Easy': Film Review Sundance 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (31 January 2017). "Sundance Film Review: 'Free and Easy'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b Ide, Wendy (30 January 2019). "'Winter After Winter': Rotterdam Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b 倪夢璟; 夏微 (17 June 2021). "《東北虎》入圍金爵獎 馬麗轉型 冀嘗試不同角色". Wen Wei Po (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 王祖鵬; 藍妮蒨; 許爾雅 (23 November 2024). "【2024金馬獎】《漂亮朋友》張志勇奪最佳男主角，幽默呈現深櫃中年男同志糾結". The News Lens (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 宋亭誼 (23 November 2024). "金馬61／首入圍就拿獎！陸演員張志勇「缺席奪影帝」導演曝他是殘疾人士". SET News (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Golden Horse Awards: China's Zhang Zhiyong grabs best actor for gay and lesbian satire". Focus Taiwan. 23 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (23 November 2024). "Lou Ye's 'An Unfinished Film' Wins Top Honors at Golden Horse Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ 蕭方綺 (23 November 2024). "金馬61》張志勇打敗張震奪金馬影帝！中國官方打壓後「首位中國演員獲獎」". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b 許世穎 (18 November 2024). "《金馬61影帝后爭霸》 張震搶桂冠 喜翔老戲骨 張艾嘉拚紀錄 吳君如再爭后". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2024.