Did you know that some of the best and most beautiful actresses in the world are actually half a world away?
If you decide to head east instead of west, you’ll find many popular and stunning Asian actresses that you need to know all about. Here are just a few of our favorites!
Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi is a Chinese actress who has had an amazing career. In fact, she’s had an amazing career twice over!
She made a worldwide splash back in 2000 when she played Yu Jiaolong in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her Chinese film hits include Hero and House of Flying Daggers. She also won over American audiences with her roles in Rush Hour 2 and Memoirs of a Geisha. Her recent filmography includes roles in films like The Cloverfield Paradox and Godzilla: King of Monsters.
Fans have discovered she can handle action, comedy, and drama. With her background in dance and gymnastics (she trained at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy), there may be nothing she can’t do.
Li Bingbing
Chinese superstar Li Bingbing is another actor whose talents just don’t stop. She has made a splash in international cinema while also developing her skills as one hell of a singer.
Early on, Bingbing was known for roles in Chinese films like Seventeen Years and Waiting Alone (both of which netted her major awards). She also made the jump to some unexpected Hollywood blockbusters such as Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Meg.
Aishwarya Rai
It can be tough to define what makes an actress “stunning.” With Indian actress and model Aishwarya Rai, it’s easy. That’s because media companies such as CBS often touted her as the most beautiful woman in the world!
Her acting career started back in 1997 with the movie Iruvar. Over the years, she made a splash in genres as diverse as sci-fi, drama, and romance. And not content to just be an awesome actress, she even became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s joint AIDS program!
Zhao Liying
At 31, Zhao Liying is one of the youngest actresses on this list. And that makes all of the accomplishments she has had at her young age that much more impressive.
Chinese actress Liying is primarily known as a TV star. She has had roles in series like Legend of Lu Zhen and The Story of Minglan. Oh, and did we mention that she racked up two dozen awards for her roles while landing on the Forbes list of 100 Chinese celebrities in 2017?
Jeeja Yanin
Our favorite actresses are the ones that can multi-task like nobody’s business. And that’s the perfect description for Jeeja Yanin.
This Thai actress is best known for playing the role of Zen in the 2008 hit martial arts film Chocolate. Once praised as “the female Tony Jaa” for her martial arts mastery, Jeeja has a 4th Dan black belt in the art of taekwondo! And becoming a mother in 2013 didn’t slow her down: she’s still starring in recent action flicks like the 2019 Triple Threat.
Zhang Jingchu
Zhang Jingchu is a Chinese actress who is a cut above most of her peers. How can you tell? Just look at the eight major awards she has won for her various film roles stretching back to 2005.
She beat back a thousand other applicants to star in the film Peacock. She instantly become an international success, and she has even starred in major Hollywood films such as Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation!
Zhao Wei
Zhao Wei is another Chinese superstar who excels at everything she tries. While she is mostly known as an actress, she has also been a successful director, singer, and even business tycoon!
In film, she is mostly known for movies such as Shaolin Soccer and Lost in Hong Kong. She also stunned on TV in series like Romance in the Rain and Tiger Mom. She also directed a movie (the 2013 So Young) that shattered box office records. Oh, and she also has 7 hit albums under her belt. No wonder she’s a billionaire!
Wang Likun
Chinese actress and dancer Wang Likun has been working professionally since 2004. In that time, she has starred in eight movies and dozens of TV shows. And one thing is clear: she knows how to pick a winning role!
Likun has won TV awards for the series Beijing Youth and film awards for the movies Somewhere Only We Know and A or B. She has shown no signs of slowing down and has managed to impress everyone on the global stage with her abilities.
Tiffany Tang
What’s so great about Chinese actress Tiffany Tang? In a word: everything! She continually stuns and amazes everyone because there seems to be no end to her talents.
For example, she is mostly known as an award-winning (she has two dozen major awards) actress of TV and film. She’s known best for roles in movies such as My Sunshine and Lady & Liar. However, she also released a hit album and several fire music videos. And her career is still picking up steam!
Ma Yanli
Ma Yanli has one of our favorite stories of success and perseverance. This Chinese model and actress began her career by capitalizing on her stunning appearance. And now, her energy is directed at helping the rest of us look amazing!
Yanli was first known as a rowing champion. Unhappy with professional sports, she then pursued a career as a model and found amazing success. After that, she became a fashion designer in a move that helped to cement her as a household name.