Glass talks to China’s megastar FAN BINGBING, actor, style idol and now beauty entrepreneur, about how it all began
Superlatives tend to follow Chinese actress Fan Bingbing around. Over the years she’s been listed as one of Time’s 100 most influential people (2017) and appeared in one of China’s highest grossing films, Cell Phone. Three years ago, Vanity Fair reckoned her almost 63 million followers on Weibo, China’s Twitter.
That’s not all. With a style that is never less than perfect, Fan has become something of a fashion icon, creating a sensation with her Dragon Robe dress by Laurence Hsu at Cannes Film Festival in 2010.
In 2013, Louis Vuitton followed this up by choosing Bingbing to wear their dress for the red carpet of The Great Gatsby premiere at Cannes, the first Asian actress to do so for the French fashion House.
Since then, she has become the face of a number of high-end brands, including De Beers diamonds. It is no surprise then she has been busy developing and promoting her own skincare brand, Fan Beauty Secret, which she launched in 2019.
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
Born in Yantai, Shandong Province, she studied at Shanghai Xie Jin Film and Television Art College and Shanghai Theatre Company. First hitting the screens in 1996 in the television series Powerful Woman, she would later receive praise for her supporting role as Jin Suo in My Fair Princess in 1999.
Her breakthrough came in 2003 with comedy drama Cell Phone, which received critical acclaim at the Hundred Flowers Awards. By 2006 she was becoming a regular fixture on the big screen. Following The Twins Effect II and A Chinese Tall Story, she received a Golden Bauhinia Awards nomination for her role in the war drama A Battle of Wits. The icing on the cake came when Forbes China presented Fan with its Star of the Year award in 2006. She was later nicknamed Fan Ye, meaning Lord Fan, by the media and press for her success and work ethic.
Following this, Fan has achieved international superstar status with an ever lengthening list of film and TV appearances, plus awards and nominations to match. They include the Chinese version of Iron Man 3 as Dr Wu’s assistant, Wu Jiaqi, in 2013, Hollywood’s X-Men: Days of Future Past as Blink (2014), and the 82-episode Chinese TV series The Empress of China (2014), playing the character of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history.
Earlier this year, Fan appeared in US spy thriller 355 alongside Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o. She recently told our sister publication Glass China, “Acting is not only about self-achievement, but also about connecting humanity’s past, present, and future.”
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
Was there a specific film growing up that sparked your interest in acting?
Actually, I’ve dreamed of being on stage since I was little. Then when I got the role in My Fair Princess, I realised that I wanted to be an actor, that I loved this profession, and that set me in the direction of the rest of my life.
Were you ever nervous going into this career?
There was more excitement than nervousness. I was motivated to show the world what I could do.
What were the initial difficulties in acting in Hollywood films for the first time?
Language was definitely the biggest obstacle, because communication is the key, whether it is with directors or the other actors. Film is a form of artistic expression, so there might be some cultural differences like cinematic technique or how [people] communicate on set, but in the end, we are all trying to convey our message to the audience in an artful way.
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
As one of the most famous women in China and Asia as a whole, is being constantly in the spotlight sometimes overwhelming?
Of course, there’s some pressure and where there’s love there’s also controversy. I’m so thankful for everyone’s continued attention. It’s because of everyone’s support that I continue doing what I’m doing and pursuing my goals.
What made you launch Fan Beauty Secret?
The original purpose of Fan Beauty Secret is to bring out the unique beauty in every woman. I’ve always loved fashion and beauty, so I wanted to put my own spin on it and convey the beauty and power of women in my own way.
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
What projects are you working on at the moment?
I just wrapped up shooting a film and, as always, I’m continuously working with my team to improve and promote our skincare brand, which I hope will bring more beauty into everyone’s lives.
With this being Glass’ 50th issue anniversary, what has been a golden, standout moment in your career?
Whether it’s bringing Chinese culture to the international stage through my performances or growing our beauty brand from the ground up, I just hope that through everything I’ve done I’ve created a positive impact, and that I can continue to do my best to bring more value to society.
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
by Imogen Clark & Alicia Tomkinson
Photographer: Jin Jiaji
Stylist: Alex Yu
Director: K.C
Make up and hair: Bu Kewen
Producer: Guan at BLUMON
Set Designer: Feifei Li
Photography Assistant: Swaying Yuhang
Styling Assistants: Nono and Zhengjie Xia
Look 1, 2 and 5: BOTTEGA VENETA
Look 3: ERMANNO SCERVINO
Look 4: SWAYING