Vincent Zhao

Vincent Zhao
Chinese name 趙文卓 (traditional)
Chinese name 赵文卓 (simplified)
Pinyin Zhào Wénzhuó (Mandarin)
Jyutping Ziu6 Man4 Coek3 (Cantonese)
Birth name Zhao Zhuo (趙卓)
Born (1972-04-10) 10 April 1972
Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Other name(s) Vincent Chiu
Chiu Man-cheuk
Chao Wen-jar
Occupation Actor, martial artist
Years active 1993–present
Spouse(s) Zhang Danlu (2006–present)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhao.

Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo (born 10 April 1972), sometimes credited as Vincent Chiu or Chiu Man-cheuk, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Zhao is best known for playing the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film and television series.

Early life

Zhao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, as the youngest of three sons.[1] His father was a martial arts practitioner, and his mother was a professional sprinter, who broke the record for being the fastest female sprinter of Harbin.[2] Under the instruction of his father, Zhao attended martial arts lessons at the age of eight but he never completely devoted himself to his lessons as he was more interested in singing. In the early 1980s, Zhao was sent to a martial arts academy in Harbin and began to train vigorously, where he started to love the sport.[1] He soon became the youngest member of the Harbin wushu team, which was established in 1985. Trained in various wushu techniques, Zhao mastered t'ai chi ch'uan, especially the Chen and Yang styles.[3]

Zhao maintained high academic standards, and in 1990, he was accepted by Beijing Sport University to study martial arts.[4] Throughout his university career, he joined many national championships, winning first place titles and gold medals for the National Junior Championship, the National All-Around Championship, and also the National Martial Arts Championship. He was also qualified to be in China's national martial arts team, and his classmates gave him the nickname, "Kungfu King".[5]

Career

Fong Sai-yuk

In 1992, Hong Kong film producer Corey Yuen went to Beijing Sport University to find a martial artist to play the role of the antagonist for his 1993 film Fong Sai-yuk. Yuen found Zhao through the latter's instructor and was immediately impressed with Zhao. Initially, Zhao was uninterested, but Yuen insisted on offering him the role because he had "the skill and looks."[6] After further encouragement from peers and mentors, Zhao accepted the offer and shooting began in the same year.[6] Zhao was often teased for looking too nice and young for the role of the villain, the Governor of Kau-man,[7] but under the instruction of Yuen and other directors, he learned the easiest way to "look evil". He said,

"The director told me: Chiu Man-cheuk, when you look at people, don't look at them like how you usually do. You must look at them from the corner of your eyes with your profile facing them. That way, you will look evil."[8]

During filming, Zhao also enrolled in acting classes for three months.[9] Fong Sai-yuk was released in March 1993 and became a box office hit in Hong Kong, grossing HK$30,666,842.

Once Upon a Time in China

After only a month into the filming of Fong Sai-yuk, contract problems between Tsui Hark and Jet Li caused Li to back out from the fourth installment of the Once Upon a Time in China saga. Tsui met Zhao on the set of Fong Sai-yuk and was impressed with Zhao's performance that he quickly recruited Zhao to replace Li in playing the role of Wong Fei-hung. Tsui also encouraged Zhao to sign a three-year contract to be a full-time actor, but Zhao rejected the offer, stating that he felt that his education was more important. Zhao continued to devote himself to filming during school vacations for Green Snake (1993) and Once Upon a Time in China IV (1994). During filming for Green Snake, Zhao was hung high up in the air during a stunt with two steel wires supporting him but during an incident one of the steel wires broke and Zhao stated that if the other wire were to also break that he could have lost his life as well. Zhao was ultimately very frightened especially after filming this scene. During the filming of one of the Wong Fei Hung movies, he seriously injured his ankle to the point where it hadn't healed until the year 2012. He stated that some of the bones in his ankle still hasn't healed yet and that before this injury he was okay with doing the majority of his stunts even jumping from third or second story high buildings. The injury has also affected his flexibility as well.

Although Once Upon a Time in China IV grossed less in the box office than the first three installments, it was significant enough to continue the franchise with a fifth installment, Once Upon a Time in China V (1995). While shooting a scene, Zhao slipped during a fighting sequence and injured his head. He was rushed to the hospital and got stitches. He recovered quickly and shooting continued after several weeks.[10] Once Upon a Time in China V was Zhao's last role as Wong Fei-hung in the films, as Jet Li returned for the sixth and last installment, Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997).

Zhao continued playing Wong Fei-hung in the television drama Wong Fei Hung Series, also produced by Tsui Hark. The series was aired on ATV in Hong Kong for two years and received high ratings (although Wong Fei Hung Series: The Final Victory only had moderate ratings).

1997–1999

In 1997, Zhao signed a management contract with China Star, a Hong Kong talent agency, after which he began to work on more films, such as The Blacksheep Affair (1998), Body Weapon (1999) and Fist Power (1999–2000). Many considered him as "the next Jet Li".[11]

2000–2010

Zhao's contract with China Star ended in 1999, and he decided to turn his focus to the mainland Chinese market in hope of making more money (probably due to economic differences), working on television series and films such as The Sino-Dutch War 1661, Wind and Cloud and Seven Swordsmen. In 2006, Zhao returned to Hong Kong and began working on The Master of Tai Chi, produced by TVB.

During an interview concerning his career and the transition from movie actor to television actor. He said tactfully "at the beginning of the transition, my heart felt like it was in a uncomfortable state."

Reviews for Zhao's performance in television series were mixed, and many criticized him for giving up big productions and the silver screen. Zhao explained:

"I never took professional acting classes. The only thing I could do back then were sports and martial arts. In order to train myself, I must accept more television series to touch up my acting."[12]

While working on The Master of Tai Chi, Zhao was given a script for a new martial arts film and he accepted the lead role. Zhao signed with Hollywood agency CAA in 2006 with help from Jackie Chan.[13] He was originally selected to play the lead villain in Rush Hour 3, but the role was eventually given to Hiroyuki Sanada. After spending one year and a half in America, Zhao returned to Beijing and went into an obvious physical breakdown. In September 2008 he returned to Beijing to prepare for his next film, True Legend. True Legend opened up to mixed reviews and was a failure at the box office. In April 2010 Zhao joined Sacrifice's star-studded cast and was only given a minor role.[14]

2011–present

Zhao starred alongside Yang Mi, Louis Fan, Xu Jiao and Dennis To in the 2012 martial arts fantasy film Wu Dang that was directed by Patrick Leung, written by Chan Khan, and action choreographed by Corey Yuen.[15]

On 19 January 2012, in a press conference held in Beijing, it was announced that Zhao would be starring with Donnie Yen in the film Special Identity. However, on 29 February, Zhao was kicked off the set after having conflicts with Yen.[16][17]

For the first time, Zhao is acting in an Indian film, Kabali, as antagonist for Indian super star Rajini Kanth.[18]

Personal life

Zhao graduated from Beijing Sport University in 1994 and decided to remain there as a martial arts instructor. However, due to his busy filming schedule, he only taught classes for three months before resigning.

During his time at Beijing Academy, Zhao signed on for two months of dancing classes and won the National College Dance Championship Competition.[19]

He was once linked with Anita Mui in early 1995 but the pair broke apart in 1996.[20]

Zhao married his girlfriend Zhang Danlu whom he met in 2002 on June 2006, and their daughter, was born in September 2007. In November 2007, Zhao brought his family back to Beijing. At the airport, when interviewed, Zhao said his daughter is named "Rosita", Chinese name "Zhao Ziyang" (赵紫阳).[21] His daughter shares the same name as the late politician Zhao Ziyang, whose name has been a taboo subject in China since 1989. On 15 July 2011, Zhao's wife gave birth in Hong Kong to their second son, who is named "Zilong" after the courtesy name of Zhao Yun, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period.[22][23]

Zhao also has a son from a previous relationship with a Shanghai college student studying in Canada and a reported pianist at that time. His son, named "Zhao Yuanda" (赵元达), English name "Joseph", was born in August 2002. The reason for their break up is unknown. In 2004 Zhao Yuanda and his mother moved back to Beijing, where she opened a yoga center in the luxury apartments of Beijing Suburbs.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Fong Sai-yuk Governor of Nine Gates United States release title The Legend
1993 Once Upon a Time in China IV Wong Fei-hung
1993 Green Snake Monk Fat-hoi
1994 Once Upon a Time in China V Wong Fei-hung
1995 The Chinese Feast Lung Kwun-bo
1995 The Blade On Man / Ting-on
1996 Mahjong Dragon Pak Kwai-sau
1998 The Blacksheep Affair Yim Dong United States release title Another Meltdown
1999 Body Weapon Wu Chi-kwan
2000 Fist Power Brian Cheuk
2001 The Sino-Dutch War 1661 Zheng Chenggong Nominated - Golden Rooster Awards for Best Actor
2002 The Wesley's Mysterious File
2005 Dragon Get Angry Rong Haishan television film based on the television series Fist of Hero (1999)
2005 In the Blue Wushu coach also action choreographer
2010 True Legend Su Qi'er limited release in the United States by Indomina distribution film company on 13 May 2011
2010 Sacrifice Zhao Shuo / Zhao Zhuangzi
2012 Wu Dang Tang Yunlong
2014 The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom Jin Duyi
2014 The Boundary

Television

Year Title Role
1996 Wong Fei Hung Series Wong Fei-hung
1998 Hua Mulan Li Liang
1999 Fist of Hero Rong Haishan
2001 Hero of the Times Fang Shiyu
2001 New May Flower Zhao Shijun
2001 Huo Yuanjia Huo Yuanjia
2001 Jingwu Yingxiong Chen Zhen Huo Yuanjia
2002 Drunken Hero Mi Wentian
2002 Wind and Cloud Nie Feng
2002 Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge Chen Jialuo
2003 Lady Wu: The First Empress Li Junxian
2004 Miracle Healers Liu Xuan
2004 Wind and Cloud 2 Nie Feng
2005 Lost City in Snow Heaven Lei Ou
2005 Four Rarities of the Royal Palace Kangxi Emperor
2006 Seven Swordsmen Chu Zhaonan
2008 The Master of Tai Chi Mo Ma
2011 Invincible Knights-Errant Zhan Zhao

[24] [25]

References

  1. 1 2 "Vincent Zhao: Never give up". SMNet (in Chinese). 2008-07-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Thinking back when first entered the entertainment industry, Vincent Zhao honestly says, "Never thought of it."". Sina (in Chinese). 2001-08-30. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  3. ↑ "Counting each entertainment sportsman". Sina (in Chinese). 2004-09-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  4. ↑ "Sportsman in the entertainment industry". HSDCW (in Chinese). 2008-08-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  5. ↑ "Zhang Danlu and Vincent Zhao "separate"". Sina (in Chinese). 2006-01-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  6. 1 2 "Kung-fu kings". Sina (in Chinese). 2007-12-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  7. ↑ "Vincent Zhao, the rising tides". Sina (in Chinese). 2006-03-29. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  8. ↑
    From TVB's "By My Guest", 2008-03-15
  9. ↑ "Vincent Zhao interview". Jayne Stars. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  10. ↑ "Vincent Zhao injuries" (in Chinese). p. 1. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  11. ↑ "Sportsmen stars". People. 2008-08-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  12. ↑ "Vincent Zhao: happy to be nominated". Sina. 2001-10-23. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  13. ↑ "Vincent Zhao signs into America's CAA". CRI Online. 2006-10-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  14. ↑ "Vincent Zhao is "Beggar Su"". 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  15. ↑ (Chinese) 功夫片《大武当》将拍 杨幂携手赵文卓樊少皇
  16. ↑ (Chinese) 功夫片《特殊身份》启动 甄子丹首度交锋赵文卓
  17. ↑ (Chinese) 内地导演檀冰揭甄赵之争内幕 甄子丹霸权压人
  18. ↑ (Chinese)
  19. ↑ "Girlfriend Zhang Danlu believes in Vincent Zhao". Sina. 2004-03-28. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  20. ↑ "Jacky Chan and Elaine Ng's love". 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  21. ↑ "赵文卓携妻子女儿低调回京 爱女取名Rosita | Zhao Wenzhuo quietly brings family back to Beijing. His daughter is named Rosita.". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  22. ↑ "Vincent Zhao fathers a second son". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  23. ↑ (Chinese) 赵文卓喜得爱子难掩欣喜 为其取名为“赵子龙”
  24. ↑ "Vincent Zhao". imdb.com. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  25. ↑ "Vincent Zhao". chinesemov.com. Retrieved 2010-04-19.

External links

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