Zhao Tao photo

Zhao Tao

Acting
1977-01-28
Taiyuan - Shanxi - China
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Zhao Tao (Chinese: 赵涛, born 28 January 1977) is a famous Chinese actress, work in China and Europe, she has over 10 films to her credit since starting her career in 1999, muse of director Jia Zhangke. Zhao first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Jia Zhangke and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe, especially Italy. As Shun Li in Io sono Li, her best starring role to date, she became the first Asian actress to win a prize at David di Donatello. Zhao's native language is Jinese, but she is multilingual, having learned to speak Italian, Mandarin and Szechuanese.

Biography

She was born January 28, 1977, in Taiyuan, Shanxi, which is also the hometown of the heroine in Still Life. As a child, she studied classical Chinese dance. In 1996, she enrolled in the folk dance department at Beijing Dance Academy. After graduation, she became a dance teacher in Taiyuan Normal College, where she was spotted by Jia during casting for Platform. Since then they work frequently together.

In 2011 she starred in the Italian movie Shun Li and the Poet by Andrea Segre, the movie was screened in the Venice Days section of the 68th Venice International Film Festival.

Zhao won the David di Donatello Award, the Italian Oscar, for Best Actress for her bilingual role.
Known For 23 titles
A Touch of Sin (2013) subtitle poster
A Touch of Sin
2013 Movie
as Xiao Yu
Subtitles
Living (2009) subtitle poster
Living
2009 TV
as Hong Yu
Subtitles
Mountains May Depart (2015) subtitle poster
Mountains May Depart
2015 Movie
as Shen Tao
Subtitles
Still Life (2006) subtitle poster
Still Life
2006 Movie
as Shen-Hong Guo
Subtitles
Ash Is Purest White (2018) subtitle poster
Ash Is Purest White
2018 Movie
as Zhao Qiao
Subtitles
Caught by the Tides (2025) subtitle poster
Caught by the Tides
2025 Movie
as Qiao Qiao
Subtitles
Unknown Pleasures (2002) subtitle poster
Unknown Pleasures
2002 Movie
as Qiao Qiao
Subtitles
3.11 A Sense of Home Films (2011) subtitle poster
3.11 A Sense of Home Films
2011 Movie
as (segment "Alone Together")
Subtitles
24 City (2008) subtitle poster
24 City
2008 Movie
as Su Na
Subtitles
Platform (2001) subtitle poster
Platform
2001 Movie
as Yin Ruijuan
Subtitles
Ten Thousand Waves (2010) subtitle poster
Ten Thousand Waves
2010 Movie
as Blue Goddess
Subtitles
The World (2004) subtitle poster
The World
2004 Movie
as Tao
Subtitles
I Wish I Knew (2010) subtitle poster
I Wish I Knew
2010 Movie
as Self
Subtitles
Shun Li and the Poet (2011) subtitle poster
Shun Li and the Poet
2011 Movie
as Shun Li
Subtitles
Cry Me a River (2008) subtitle poster
Cry Me a River
2008 Movie
Subtitles
Walking on the Wild Side (2006) subtitle poster
Walking on the Wild Side
2006 Movie
Subtitles
Where Has Time Gone? (2017) subtitle poster
Where Has Time Gone?
2017 Movie
Subtitles
Our Ten Years (2007) subtitle poster
Our Ten Years
2007 Movie
Subtitles
Remembrance (2008) subtitle poster
Remembrance
2008 Movie
Subtitles
Revive (2017) subtitle poster
Revive
2017 Movie
Subtitles
Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang (2016) subtitle poster
Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang
2016 Movie
as Self
Subtitles
Black Breakfast (2008) subtitle poster
Black Breakfast
2008 Movie
Subtitles
Smog Journeys (2015) subtitle poster
Smog Journeys
2015 Movie
Subtitles