Profile | ‘Lust, Caution’ China actress Tang Wei takes UK study break, makes award-winning comeback in South Korea

At 44 years old, Chinese actress Tang Wei has already experienced the peaks and valleys of being a famous actress in mainland China.

Now, she is basking in the glory of her big comeback.

Born to a family of artists in Hangzhou, the capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang province, her acting career began in 2000 when she was accepted into the prestigious Central Academy of Drama.

Seven years later, she became internationally famous overnight when she starred in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, an erotic spy thriller in which she co-starred alongside Tony Leung Chiu-wai, one of the most iconic actors to come out of Hong Kong.

It was Tang’s debut film, and she won multiple prestigious awards, including the Best New Performer title at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards.

But that movie ended up being a poisoned chalice, as both she and the film were banned in mainland China because of its steamy love scenes.

Tang faced it with elegant determination, saying: “Actresses ‘live’ on stage, and I look forward to new acting opportunities.”