Shu Qi is a Taiwanese actress and model who went from acting in low-budget Category III films in Hong Kong to become one of the most versatile and well-known Asian actresses in the world. Born in Taipei, she moved to Hong Kong at the age of 17 to pursue a movie career. She started by modeling for various magazines and was eventually spotted by film producers Manfred Wong and Derek Yee, who selected her to star in several Category III films. As she rose to prominence, she elevated herself to more mainstream acting roles with films like Portland Street Blues (1998) and Gorgeous (1999). Over the next 5 years, she acted in numerous films, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable celebrities in South-East Asia.
In 2002, she made her Hollywood debut with the -starrer, The Transporter and had appeared in a few more Hollywood films after this in cameo appearances. In the later 2000s and 2010s, Shu Qi continued to star in South-East Asian films and music albums, earning several accolades and honors along the way. Her success and stardom have attracted many brands and she has promoted and been associated as an ambassador for several products and organizations. She has also been featured on the cover of numerous international magazines and has modeled for the outfits, accessories, and jewelry of some renowned international fashion houses and designer labels.
Sun Sign
Aries
Residence
Mid-Levels West, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Nationality
Manager
She is represented by Baiyu Stars, Beijing, China.
Genre
Pop, Folk, Stage & Screen, World Music
Instruments
Vocals
Labels
- TOP Music
- China Winds
Boyfriend / Spouse
Shu Qi has dated –
- Leon Lai (1998-2005) – Shu Qi was involved in a serious relationship with her City Of Glass (1998) co-star Leon Lai. Although Leon did not bother about it that much, but his fans often expressed their disapproval of Shu Qi due to her past as an adult film actress. She was often bullied and heckled by Leon’s fans so much that she was scared of going out on the streets. Even Leon’s father tried to talk him out of the relationship. She eventually split with Leon in 2005.
- Wang Leehom (2006-2011) – After her split with Leon, Shu Qi entered into another long relationship, with Taiwanese pop icon Wang Leehom. Although the couple kept a tight lid on the affair, they were occasionally seen together in public, including once when they were spotted shopping for matching lovers’ rings in Japan. However, once again, Shu Qi’s past as an adult film actress came back to haunt her when Lee’s mother started to disapprove of their relationship. Lee eventually gave into his family’s pressure and the pair parted ways in 2011.
- Stephen Fung (2012-Present) – Shu Qi had first met actor and film director Stephen Fung on the sets of the 1998 film Bishonen, where they were co-stars. They stayed close friends since then but only started dating in 2012 and got married 4 years later, in 2016. They kept their wedding ceremony very secret and it was held in Prague, Czech Republic, where Stephen was directing her in the film The Adventurers.
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Gleaming, dimpled smile
- Long, straight hair
- Slender frame
Brand Endorsements
Shu Qi has served as the brand ambassador for –
- Flower by Kenzo’s fragrance line (2006 to 2009)
- Shiatzy Chen Fashion House
- Frederique Constant (Asia)
- Emporio Armani (Asia), for its Fall/Winter 2010 collection
- Bulgari
- Red Earth Cosmetics
- L’Oreal (China)
- Prada
- Lanvin
- San Miguel Beer
Shu Qi has appeared in the TV commercials for brands such as –
- Head & Shoulders
- Lux
- SK-II Cosmetics
- YinLu Drink
- Coca-Cola Green Tea Drink
Religion
Buddhism
Best Known For
Her acting work in films such as Portland Street Blues (1998), Gorgeous (1999), The Foliage (2003), Three Times (2005), If You are the One (2008), and The Assassin (2015)
As a Singer
As a singer, Shu Qi’s first credits were for the 1996 film S*x and Zen II, where she performed 3 songs – Sacrifice, New Lover, and Release. She also vocalized the theme of the film.
First Film
Shu Qi made her theatrical film debut as Sha Sha in the 1995 film Unexpected Challenges.
First TV Show
Shu Qi made her TV show debut as Gui Ping on Up Where We Belong in 1999.
Personal Trainer
Shu Qi has often stated that she is a lazy soul and hates exercising and the effort involved therein. However, to maintain her figure and shape for her acting demands, she still exercises thrice a week.
Shu Qi Favorite Things
- Footwear Brand – Jimmy Choo
- Actors – Tony Leung Chiu-wai,
- Book – Memoirs of A Geisha (1997) by Arthur Golden
- Movie Genres – Animation, Comedy
- Food – Snacks from street stalls
Source – APArchive.com, 8days.sg,
Shu Qi Facts
- She has consistently been ranked among the highest-paid celebrities in Taiwan and China. She was ranked 18th in 2013 on Forbes China’s “Celebrity 100” list, 23rd in 2014, 32nd in 2015, 48th in 2017, and 90th in 2019.
- For her portrayal of Meng Qiao in the 1996 film Viva Erotica, Shu Qi received the “Best Supporting Actress” and “Best New Performer” awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards (1997). She also won “Best Supporting Actress” at the 1997 Golden Bauhinia Awards.
- For her portrayal of Dao Baqi in the 1998 film Portland Street Blues, she won the “Best Supporting Actress” award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. She also won “Best Supporting Actress” at the Golden Horse Awards (regarded as the East Asian Oscar).
- Shu Qi was in consideration to play Yu Jiaolong in Ang Lee’s iconic 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, her manager convinced her into dropping out to shoot a soda pop commercial. The role went to , who gained international recognition after the film’s release. Shu Qi fired her manager, as a consequence.
- Shu Qi won the “Best Actress award” at the 13th Shanghai Film Critics Awards for her performance as Ye Xingyu in the 2003 film The Foliage.
- She won the “Best Actress” award at the Golden Horse Awards in 2005 for her work as Xiu Mei in the film Three Times. The film also competed at the Cannes Film Festival.
- In 2006, she posed for Singaporean photographer Leslie Kee as part of his charity photo-book titled Super Stars. The collection contained photographs of more than 300 Asian celebrities and was meant to raise funds for the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
- In June 2008, Shu Qi performed the narration for an audio Hong Kong City guide which was jointly produced by the luxury goods company Louis Vuitton and the audio guides company Soundwalk.
- Shu Qi was part of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2008, the Cannes Film Festival in 2009, and the Beijing International Film Festival in 2018.
- In 2009, Shu Qi partnered with Frederique Constant (for whom she was serving as a brand ambassador) and Paint-a-Smile Foundation to repaint the walls of the cardiology department at the Beijing Children’s Hospital.
- In 2015, she won the “Best Actress Award” at the Asian Film Festival for the film The Assassin (2015). The film was also an official selection for the main competition at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
- Shu Qi is a talented singer as well and has often performed songs for the original soundtracks of her films such as Frustrated for Portland Street Blues (1998), Tian Tang Kou for Blood Brothers (2007), Habanera from Carmen for Legend of the Fist (2010), and Love In A Life Time for Journey to the West (2013).
- She has admitted to having issues with her bad temper. She revealed that she had chucked her phone at a crew member on the set of the 2002 film So Close and even had a heated argument with the cinematographer of the 2007 film Blood Brothers, who had asked for a re-shoot of a difficult scene because of a camera’s poor resolution.
- Shu Qi has revealed in an interview that she is very moody, prefers staying at home, and hates doing repetitive things like shopping and movie promotions. In the same interview, she admitted that she is not highly ambitious and never actively pursued a career in Hollywood due to the language barrier.
- Follow her on and .
Featured Image by Georges Biard / / CC BY-SA 3.0
Facts of Lin Li-hui
- Gender Female
- full nameLin Li-hui
- nicknamesChi Hsu, Qi Hsu, Shu Qi, Chi Shu, Kei Shu, Qui Shu, Kei Su
- birthplaceXindian District, Taipei County (now New Taipei City), Taiwan
- Date of Birth April 16, 1976
- Age 48 years 4 months
- Horoscope Aries
- Lucky Number 7
- Lucky Stone Diamond
- Lucky Color Red
- Best Match for Marriage Leo
- nationalityAmerican
- religionBuddhism
- net worth$22 million
- professionActress, Model, Singer
- weight58 kg or 128 lbs
- height5 ft 6 in or 167.5 cm
- hair colorDark Brown
- eye colorDark Brown
- body type / buildSlim
- high schoolWu Fong Junior High School
- favorite booksMemoirs of A Geisha (1997) by Arthur Golden
- favorite foodSnacks from street stalls