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An erotic espionage drama film where Tang's role Wang Jiazhi is a complex character who seduces to assassinate a traitor leader, and her relationship with him is complicated and contradictory.

In this regard, Wang Jiazhi is a very difficult character to perform, not to mention for an emerging actress. This reflected Tang Wei's acting talent and her dedication.

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1. Start of Tang’s career: the emerging talented and serious actress

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1. Start of Tang’s career: the emerging talented and serious actress

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2. Lust, Caution and ban: overnight fame by stripping – a star without shame

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2. Lust, Caution and ban: overnight fame by stripping – a star without shame

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mainly constructed by external forces, including government censorship and media coverage

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3. Reconstruction of Tang's star image: the victim and scapegoat

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3. Reconstruction of Tang's star image: the victim and scapegoat

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Stephanie Hemelryk, D. (2010). Tang Wei: Sex, the city and the scapegoat in lust, caution. Theory, culture & society, 27(4), 46-68.

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Stephanie Hemelryk, D. (2010). Tang Wei: Sex, the city and the scapegoat in lust, caution. Theory, culture & society, 27(4), 46-68.

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This academic source discussed the banning incident on Tang Wei. She was singled out for criticism and subjected to travel and employment restrictions following the film's premiere.

It argues that the fact that Tang was made into a scapegoat for the patriarchal political class's misogyny in the face of female dissent and sexuality.

This helped the reconstruction of Tang's star image, from a stripping star to a victim and scapegoat.

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5. Return to the screen: a transnational and talented star with varied roles

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5. Return to the screen: a transnational and talented star with varied roles

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Tang’s subdued behaviour during her two-year ban and varied roles could be regarded as a strategy to legitimize and reshape her stardom. As a result, her star image successfully transformed into an inspirational and versatile actress, known for her good behaviour and unpretentious character. She was overcoming the discrimination in terms of gender, downplaying the public’s previous negative impression of her sexual scenes.

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Crossing Hennessy (2010): a typical modern Hong Kong romantic comedy

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Crossing Hennessy (2010): a typical modern Hong Kong romantic comedy

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Crossing Hennessy is a romantic comedy, which is unlikely to receive the kind of controversy that Lust Caution generated. Therefore, this role marked Tang's comeback to mainstream cinema.

Tang used her voice, gestures, motions, and facial expressions to depict Oi Lin's internal battle. She subtly conveys Lin's emotional conflicts in a few crucial instances. This could indicate Tang's talented acting skills.

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Finding Mr. Right (2013): romantic comedy

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Finding Mr. Right (2013): romantic comedy

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Her character is city girl Jiajia who travels to Seattle to give birth to a son who will help her win over her rich.

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Late Autumn (2010): varied performing role -- a prisoner

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Late Autumn (2010): varied performing role -- a prisoner

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A Korea-US coproduction film

Tang Wei played Anna, a prisoner granted a 72-hour release for visiting family in Seattle. While on the run, she meets and befriends a South Korean guy.

This attempt brought Tang a brand new type of character and strengthened her star image of varied roles.

However, it is still a romance film, which is a genre that Tang frequently involved in.

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While Tang’s star image has gone through several changes, she has consistently exhibited an elegant and natural charisma, thus adding a layer of authenticity to her image.

This is evidenced by her roles which frequently emphasized these features, on-screen interviews, high fashion endorsements as well as the private personal life.

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"Lust, Caution" duo nominated for pre-Oscar Awards

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"Lust, Caution" duo nominated for pre-Oscar Awards

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"Lust, Caution stars Tony Leung and Tang Wei are among the pre-Oscar Independent Spirit Awards nominees announced on Tuesday."

Tang's nomination was alongside famous actor Tony Leung.

This indicates Tang's potential as a great actress and her prominence in the entertainment industry.

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Cast member Tang Wei poses at the premiere of "Lust, Caution" at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California Oct. 3, 2007. The movie opens in Los Angeles on Oct. 5.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

BEIJING, Nov. 28 -- "Lust, Caution" stars Tony Leung and Tang Wei are among the pre-Oscar Independent Spirit Awards nominees announced on Tuesday.

The Chinese-language spy thriller has earned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung a chance to vie for best male lead at the 23rd Independent Spirit Awards. His rivals are Pedro Castaneda ("August Evening"), Don Cheadle ("Talk to Me"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("The Savages"), and Frank Langella ("Starting Out in the Evening").

Chinese mainland acting newcomer Tang Wei will compete for the best female lead with seasoned stars Angelina Jolie ("A Mighty Heart"), Sienna Miller ("Interview"), Parker Posey ("Broken English"), and Ellen Page ("Juno").

"Lust, Caution" and its Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, however, are not in the running for best film and best director. The film itself only earned a nod for best cinematography.

The annual Spirit Awards show, usually held one day before the Academy Awards, will be presented on February 23, 2008.

Friendly to independent and non-commercial films, the Spirit Awards are gaining recognition by the mainstream film industry, as the list of winners increasingly mirrors that of the ensuing Academy Awards.

Former Spirit Awards honorees, such as "Lost in Translation" and "Brokeback Mountain," another Ang Lee film, were honored the following day with Oscars.

Nominations for the 80th Academy Awards will be announced on Jan. 22, 2008.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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"Lust, Caution" duo nominated for pre-Oscar Awards_English_Xinhua

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Cast member Tang Wei poses at the premiere of "Lust, Caution" at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California Oct. 3, 2007. The movie opens in Los Angeles on Oct. 5.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) BEIJING, Nov. 28 -- "Lust, Caution" stars Tony Leung and Tang Wei are among the pre-Oscar Independent Spirit Awards nominees announced on Tuesday.

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Elegant

Intelligent

Pure and innocent

Naive

Level-headed

Sophisticated

Have the ability to seduce men

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Tang Wei: "Studying in the UK opened another door in my life"

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Tang Wei attended drama courses in the UK during the two-year ban

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Tang Wei attended drama courses in the UK during the two-year ban

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After being restricted from the media by the Chinese government, she did not give up her star career but used this period to quietly cultivate herself, attending drama courses in the UK, thus reshaping her image as a low-key, studious star who was dedicated to self-improvement.

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英国低龄留学圈 文章 123 总阅读 11万

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汤唯：“英国留学打开了我生命中的另一扇门”_大学_奖学金_雷丁

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据了解，汤唯就读的雷丁大学是英国一流的研究型大学，前身是牛津大学基督教会学院创立的分院，后在1962年得到皇家宪章授权，成为一所独立大学。 虽说学制短是英国留学的优势，一年的学费和生活费用比起其他国…

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“Tang Wei is a good actress, but young people look at her and think, if I strip, I’ll get famous. So this attitude does not have a good influence on the young”.

This is the statement from SARFT that confirmed the ban on Tang, indicating the challenge that she had to face.

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A few days ago in several online forums, an urgent phone notice issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television surfaced which addresses the censoring of coverage of Tang Wei, a Chinese actress starring in Ang Lee's latest film Lust, Caution. This memo, translated by CDT, provides a closer look at the incident, which has gotten a lot of international coverage:
"All television programs, including news, features, entertainment, advertising and live broadcasts, must not cover Tang Wei or stir up issues related to her from now on.
As for the ad that Tang Wei did for Pond's cosmetics of Unilever Company, all television stations must not broadcast it unless they have already signed an advertising contract with the company.

Those who have signed a contract should try to retract it.

These television stations should try to finish broadcasting the ad as soon as possible. They must not rebroadcast it, or extend the contract. No other advertisements that feature Tang Wei may be aired.

They must implement this phone notice immediately after they receive it, and report back to the Administration by March 10.

This notice must not be made public or be speculated on.

This notice should not be announced at public meetings, but be disseminated and implemented through individual phone calls, in case it is speculated on improperly.

March 6, 2008 15:20"

When asked by a reporter from Taiwan, Mr. Zhang Haitao (张海涛), a deputy director of SARFT, said during the CPPCC meeting: "This policy (banning Tang Wei) is directed toward an event rather than a person," according to official media outlet Rednet.cn.

Here is an interview of Tang Wei in 2007, via the youtube:

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N00UQ1GXbA8]

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SARFT's Urgent Phone Memo on the Banning of Actress Tang Wei

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A few days ago in several online forums, an urgent phone notice issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television surfaced which addresses the censoring of coverage of Tang Wei, a Chinese actress starring in Ang Lee's latest film Lust, Caution. This memo, translated by CDT, provides a closer look at the incident, [...]

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Jin Xing for Tang Wei: Why not ban Tony Leung?

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金星为汤唯鸣不平  把梁朝伟都封杀 151012 超清

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Confronted with such differentiation, there has been a wave of support for Tang on social platforms, with netizens criticising the ban as “a form of bullying”. The narrative of Tang as a "scapegoat" also raised attention, highlighting the gender bias in this issue. These public voices reinforced Tang's image as a victim.

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THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF BANNING TANG WEI

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"If there were indeed serious problems with "Lust, Caution" that made it inappropriate for public release, then it was the censors' mistake to pass the censorship in the first place. And to block Tang Wei now is a mistake on top of that."

In this article, the author argues that this ban is the censors' responsibility. This support for Tang helped to reshape her image.

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2008年03月23日 08:42 来源：南方都市报 发表评论

电影《色·戒》主角汤唯，成为朝日新闻社出版发行的1月14日日周刊《AERA》的封面人物。据悉，日文版《色·戒》将于2月份开始在日本上映。《AERA》是日本著名的新闻周刊，读者层次也非常高。 中新社发 段跃中 摄

多年不看电影，到现在也没有看过沸沸扬扬、争议不断的《色，戒》，因此对此片好坏本人没有发言权。但是，该片女主角汤唯被封杀、广告被撤之后反映出的政府行政的逻辑和思维，却引起了我的关注和思考，因为后果是非常可怕的。

现在，问题的焦点其实不在《色，戒》的内容政治是否正确、是否有过于黄色的内容、是否应该封杀，而在于这部影片是经过政府有关部门审查通过的，也就是说，其政治和"情色"标准达到了审查标准。如果没有发现影片生产者在送审过程中有作弊行为，如送审的是一个版本，实际放映的是另一版本，那么，包括厂商、导演、演员等影片的生产者就无任何过错，无人应受任何惩罚。

平心而论，审查者也并非无所不知的圣人，在审查过程中也的确可能出错，不该通过的通过了，可能事后才发现已通过审查的影片有种种问题不宜继续上映。这时，正确的做法是通过合法的程序查封该片。但唯一应当承担责任、受到某种惩处的是审查者，审查者应负失察之责，而不应当是送审者，更不应当封杀有关演员与此片无关的其他作品。

各种管理、审查、制订种种行业标准是政府行政相当主要的内容。只要送审者将自己的产品依程序送审，其中没有作弊行为，产品获得检查、审查者通过后，如果出现问题，此时应当承担责任的是审查者而不应是送审者。审查是种权力，同时也是责任。按照现代政治文明，有多大的权力，就应承担多大责任；不能只要权力，不要责任。先前通过《色，戒》，而现在又封杀演员汤唯，是典型的只要权力而不承担责任的做法，这种行政逻辑和思维，后患无穷。

审查通过之后的责任，仍由送审者承担，这种行政方式将使人无所适从，后果非常可怕。试想，如果一个工人按厂方标准完成了零件的生产，并通过了厂方的合格检验，但事后由于种种原因厂方突然提高质量标准，以前的零件成为废品，这时厂方却要工人承担责任、惩罚工人，并且要克扣工人工资奖金，有这种道理吗？工人能安心吗？如果食品工厂按照国家安全标准生产食品并通过查验上市，但因标准制定过低而影响了顾客健康，应承担责任的无疑应是标准制订、检查者，而不应是厂方......

我们其实是生活在各种各样的"标准""规定"之中，检查者公开种种标准、规定，既是让被审查者能按标准、规定生产产品、指导自己的行为，也是审查者依法行政、依法管理的内在要求。如果我们的产品、行为符合政府公开的标准、规定，并获得了政府的审查、同意，但我们依然无法预料政府的最后决定，并且还要我们来承担政府审查、批准失误的责任，我们能有稳定感、安全感吗？政府能获得我们的信任吗？这是诚信政府应有的行为吗？社会的稳定来源于公民对政府和自己行为双方的合理预期，如果打破这种预期，公民就有无法可依、无所适从之感，必然影响社会的稳定和谐。之所以现在强调依法治国、依法行政，就是认识到不"依法"就无稳定，更谈不上繁荣发展。

如果说《色，戒》确有严重问题不宜公映，那么当初通过审查就是审查者的错误。而现在封杀汤唯，则是错上加错。封杀汤唯事小，政府公信力受损事大、不依法行政事大！

(作者：雷颐 知名学者)

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封杀汤唯的可怕后果：审查者只要权力却不担责

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中新网新闻中心是中新网最重要的频道之一，24小时滚动报道国内、国际及社会新闻。每日编发新闻数以万计。

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Tang's volunteer experiences during the ban

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Tang's volunteer experiences during the ban

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Tang worked as a volunteer for the national tour of The Peach Blossom Land, a popular stage drama.

Tang took around the donation box to help out victims of the Sichuan earthquake, in plain clothes and without any makeup. Many people did not recognize her. She also volunteered to help clean the rehearsal room and stage.

Tang's acts of kindness demonstrate that she is a selfless star who is willing to contribute and give back to the community. This helps to reconstruct her positive image during the ban.

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In Crossing Hennessy, Tang Wei plays a mainland girl living in Hong Kong with her relatives, who dresses simply and has no great expectation of life. [ China Daily]

After a hiatus of three years from acting in films, Tang Wei is appearing in the comedy Crossing Hennessy.

Tang Wei has returned to the silver screen in her first role since she played a student-turned spy in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution.

This time, however, she is in a more light-hearted role, playing the "girl next door" in Crossing Hennessy, a romantic comedy that premieres on Friday.

"I liked the script from the very beginning," Tang says in an e-mail interview. "It is a comedy Oi-lin (her role) is comic in some ways, too, but at the same time, she experiences hardships and frustrations. She is a girl who does not have a smooth life."

Few, if any, actresses embody such tragicomic elements as Tang, whose career path has been far from smooth.

Three years ago she was chosen by Ang Lee from thousands of aspiring candidates to play Wang Jiazhi, the lead role in Lust, Caution, an adaptation of the novella by the writer Eileen Chang.

The film's subject matter - the complicated relationship between a young spy and a traitor - and the graphic nude scenes brought Tang fame but also controversy.

Then she vanished from the big screen for three years, supposedly because of political sensitivities, though it would seem all she had done was appear in a movie that was passed by censors.

In her new role as Oi-lin, a mainland girl living in Hong Kong with her relatives, Tang appears dressed in plain clothes and with a simple hairstyle. She likes reading novels, during breaks working in her uncle's sanitary ware store.

"She is an ordinary girl, who has no great expectations of life," Tang says. "But she is down to earth, working hard to build a life. She loves reading and lives in her own little world. In busy Hong Kong, she is kind of an outsider."

The seemingly mild-mannered girl has a stubborn streak, however, and insists on waiting for her boyfriend to be released from prison and hires a lawyer to help him out.

Although her uncle is against the relationship she sticks with her man, until she later discovers the two are not suited to each other. Then she leaves him, without hesitation.

"Oi-lin and Tang have something in common," says Yuan Hong, a producer of dramas and long-time friend of Tang. "Tang is a lovely, considerate girl who has her own beliefs and adheres to them. She knows clearly what the right thing to do is."

Tang has been busy over the past three years. She attended theater courses in London, learned ancient Chinese at home and perfected her Cantonese and English.

"I enjoy acting on the stage, in English, it is awesome!" she says. "At the summer courses and workshops in London, I learned Shakespearean tragicomedy, tragedies from Jacobean times and the Alexander Technique, which helps me relax."

She also worked as a volunteer in Beijing and Hangzhou for the national tour of The Peach Blossom Land, a popular stage drama.

Her friend Yuan is the show's producer. He recalls Tang took around the donation box to help out victims of the Sichuan earthquake, in Beijing, in plain clothes and without any makeup. Many people did not recognize her. She also volunteered to help clean the rehearsal room and stage, he says.

In Yuan's eyes, Tang is the same girl he met at the Central Academy of Drama campus 10 years ago. Tang later performed in a drama Yuan produced and they became good friends.

"In the breaks in-between rehearsals, she was always the one who helped clean, collect props or clear up the stage. She is famous now, but she still does these things," Yuan says.

"Blossom has been staged more than 200 times and over all these years it is Tang Wei who cleaned the floor best. She always tries her best. I believe with her earnestness and hard work she would do great in any career, not only acting."

In Hennessy Tang speaks Cantonese and appears with a Hong Kong cast that includes Jacky Cheung and Danny Lee.

To hone her Cantonese for the film she took language courses before the film started and insisted her Hong Kong colleagues talked to her in the dialect.

"I like bargaining in markets the most," she says. "Also I went to sanitary ware shops to learn the real jargon."

Her next film is Late Autumn, in which she plays a parolee. She and South Korean actor Hyeon Bin will be involved in a heartbreaking love story directed by Kim Tae-yong. Set in Seattle, the film is all in English.

"She is eager to learn," Yuan says. "People say she has a flair for language, but she is only hard-working. Studying ancient Chinese was not for any specific purpose, just because she thinks she should improve it."

Tang's recent favorite film is Ponyo, an animation by Japan's Hayao Miyazaki. It centers on a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

"It is simple but full of emotions," she says.

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In Crossing Hennessy, Tang Wei plays a mainland girl living in Hong Kong with her relatives, who dresses simply and has no great expectation of life. [ China Daily] After a hiatus of three years from acting in films, Tang Wei is appearing in the comedy Crossing Hennessy.

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Tang's charity activities during the ban (2007)

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Tang's charity activities during the ban (2007)

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"Lust, Caution" starlet Tang Wei tells the stories behind a qipao she wore in the award-winning film on Monday, December 10, 2007 in Beijing.

Tang Wei has donated the qipao to the charity auction, showing her goodwill.

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Entertainers joined hands to raise money for a poverty relief foundation in Beijing on Monday night.

"Lust, Caution" starlet Tang Wei tells the stories behind a qipao she wore in the award-winning film on Monday, December 10, 2007 in Beijing. Tang Wei has donated the qipao to the charity auction.

The event, organized by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and the movie channel of China Central Television (CCTV), raised 29.71 million yuan (US$4.01 million) through donations and an auction of artworks and some props used in blockbuster films.

"Lust, Caution" actress Tang Wei, who won the Best New Performer Award at the 44th Taiwan Golden Horse Awards, donated one of her character's signature qipao (cheongsam). Actor Ren Quan won the costume, presented by Tang Wei, with a bid of 50,000 yuan. He joked he was too manly to wear the qipao, but just wanted to contribute to the cause.

A prop sword from Peter Chan's martial arts epic, "The Warlords," was bought by action star Wu Yue for 41,500 yuan.

All proceeds will be donated to a foundation jointly spearheaded by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and CCTV's movie channel.

Since the movie channel has strong ties to the film industry, in only a few months the new foundation has had several film stars show up to donate or promote the foundation.

Taiwan singer Jeff Chang performs for a charity auction held in Beijing on Monday night, December 10, 2007.

Taiwan singer/actor Alec Su performs for a charity auction held in Beijing on Monday night, December 10, 2007.

(CRI December 11, 2007)

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Film stars donate props for charity -- china.org.cn

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Entertainers joined hands to raise money for a poverty relief foundation in Beijing on Monday night. "Lust, Caution" starlet Tang Wei tells the stories behind a qipao she wore in the award-winning film on Monday, December 10, 2007 in Beijing. Tang Wei has donated the qipao to the charity auction.

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Tang Wei on the talk show Yang Lan One on On

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Tang Wei on the talk show Yang Lan One on On

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In this talk show program, Tang mentioned how she has gone through the two-year ban, with the dedication to self-improvement to construct an inspiring image.

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【杨澜访谈录】汤唯 冯绍峰

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【杨澜访谈录】汤唯 冯绍峰_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

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冯绍峰 汤唯：那时还没遇到赵丽颖 为了她将自己灌醉 称对方在身体上对自己挺狠的 这部戏拍完真刺激【杨澜访谈录】.mp4, 视频播放量 3798、弹幕量 14、点赞数 39、投硬币枚数 9、收藏人数 66、转发人数 10, 视频作者 想做富婆的阿Lin, 作者简介 佛山土著，相关视频：【文藝女青年--湯唯】香港故事 粵語版，【汤唯】SK-II 广告合集 《熱情，成就一切可能》，汤唯：改变命运藏在生活中的每个细节里，俞敏洪对话杨澜，"秋风吹起时，我又想起了你" --「晚秋｜汤唯」，汤唯萧邦活动粤语采访，汤唯最具代表的一部作品之一《晚秋》，【星味食堂】周柏豪專訪第一部份 - 入行前工作及經過，"汤唯：你走的每一步都算数。"，功必扬早安问候语音【非正式会谈8】

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Tang Wei came back: ready to take on different roles

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Tang Wei came back: ready to take on different roles

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This article reported Tang's official comeback after the ban in China, highlighting her transformation to take on different roles.

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Crossing Hennessy, the first film starring Chinese actress Tang Wei since she was reportedly blacklisted by officials in China following her graphic sex scenes in Lust Caution, has been selected as the opening night film for the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 21.

Crossing Hennessy, a romantic comedy, is unlikely to receive the kind of controversy that Lust Caution generated. Tangs co-star is actor-singer Jacky Cheung, one of Hong Kongs most-popular entertainers. As the movie went into production last year, Tang seemed ready to take on different roles.

Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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A Comeback for 'Lust, Caution' Actress Tang Wei

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Crossing Hennessy, the first film starring Chinese actress Tang Wei since she was reportedly blacklisted by officials in China following her graphic sex scenes in Lust Caution, has been selected as the opening night film for the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 21.

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Tang Wei - Lust Caution Interview (2014)

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Tang Wei - Lust Caution Interview (2014)

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In this interview, Tang mentioned she had many rehearsals before the formal casting, reflecting her serious attitude towards acting.

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Tang Wei - Lust Caution Interview (English)

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2011 Baeksang Arts Awards & Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Actress 

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2011 Baeksang Arts Awards & Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Actress 

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Tang gained several awards through Late Autumn, illustrating her reinforced image as a transnational talented actress.

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Ha Jung-woo (left) and Tang Wei

Actor Ha Jung-woo, who starred in the ultra-violent film "The Yellow Sea," received the award for best leading actor at this year's Korean Association of Film Critics Awards on Sunday, while Chinese actress Tang Wei took the honors for best leading actress for her film "Late Autumn," co-starring Hyun Bin.

The best film award went to "The Front Line."

Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com

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Ha Jung-woo, Tang Wei Hailed by Film Critics

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Actor Ha Jung-woo, who starred in the ultra-violent film "The Yellow Sea," recei..

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This award red carpet event showed Tang's elegant and classy public appearance.

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[STARsurvey] Tang Wei, 2022 Blue Dragon Film Awards Red Carpet(November 25th, 2022)

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Through Decision to Leave, Tang received the 2022 Blue Dragon Awards and critical acclaim. This proves her talent as an actress once again.

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＂송서래를 만난 것이 정말 행운입니다＂＜헤어질 결심＞ 탕웨이, 여우주연상 수상 [제43회 청룡영화상 시상식] | KBS 221125 방송

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Tang Wei: The only non-Korean to win the Baeksang Awards for Best Actress

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Tang Wei: The only non-Korean to win the Baeksang Awards for Best Actress

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Late Autumn

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Tang Wei famously lost a contract to endorse Ponds skin cream when China's State Administration for Radio Film and Television banned her for her role in Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution."

The ban prevented Chinese media from reporting on her, cut her out of awards shows and even outlawed advertisements featuring the young actress. But what she lost in China she gained elsewhere - especially in South Korea.

Not only was "Lust, Caution" a rare Chinese-language hit in the country, which boasts a domestic industry that has very little room for movies of any other origin, it - especially her performance - was a critical success.

Was that sympathy? Not a bit, says Lee Joo-ick, who produced Tang-starrer "Late Autumn" and became a mentor to Tang. "Acting counts for more in South Korea than celebrity or notoriety," he says.

Her performance in 'Late Autumn,' in which she played an inmate who strikes up a relationship with a man while on 72-hour release, stoked the flames of her fandom. It also made her the first non-Korean to win the Paeksang Arts Award for an actress.

"While it is true that her huge success in South Korea comes in from only two films, she has always done things right," says Lee. "She has worked with the press, been humble and friendly, and even allowed herself to be spotted drinking makgeolli (a kind of Korean rice wine)."

And she is no ugly duckling. Lee argues that Tang has a classic Asian charm and beauty that appeals in South Korea more than her Chinese contemporaries. She has also avoided the surgically enhanced beauty that has made so many of South Korea's celebrities look so similar and interchangeable.

That authenticity has helped commercial endorsements to flow in: Samsung Smart TV; upmarket Japanese cosmetics brand SK-II; Korean sportswear brand Kolon. In Greater China, she is the face of Rado watches.

Lee isn't worried Tang will lose her appeal in South Korea, after marrying Kim Tae-yong, director of "Late Autumn."

"People understand that she is of an age to get married. And she is not like teenage K-pop stars or TV drama stars who have 'little sister' reputations to uphold," he says.

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Tang Wei: Korean Auds Give Chinese Star A Rare Embrace

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Her performance in 'Late Autumn' made her the first non-Korean to win the Paeksang Arts Award for an actress.

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Tang's fame in both China and Korea: a transnational actress

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Tang's fame in both China and Korea: a transnational actress

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This article represents Tang as a transnational star that enjoys a high reputation.

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When director Ang Lee first cast an unknown actress as the lead in his Chinese spy drama "Lust, Caution," there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Tang Wei, a directing graduate from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, was not only unheard of, she was hardly the femme fatale the role called for.

"We were really quite surprised. She wasn't really outwardly sexy or coquettish and the role required her to be, because she had to seduce ( Tony Leung)," recalls Matthew Tang, a producer who used to work at Edko Films (which produced "Lust, Caution") and now has his own production company, Movie Addict Prods.

"It takes people some time to warm to her, and vice versa, but she has an inner quality that seeps out as you get to know her and encourages a rapport," Tang adds, remembering her as rather introverted, "although not unfriendly," preferring to keep to herself between scenes.

Her muted, controlled performance as Wang Jiazhi that gave way to bursts of explosive passion showed her range as an actress. But, perhaps unfairly to her, more was made of her sex scenes with Leung than her acting. Those caused the Chinese government to blacklist her indefinitely, effectively extinguishing her rising star.

By all accounts, she's cut from a slightly different cloth than many of her compatriots in the business, who see socializing with the right people as a way up the career ladder.

She's found success again, however. South Korean production "Late Autumn," directed by Kim Tae-yong (who, incidentally, became her husband in July), found favor with audiences in both South Korea and China.

"She was already popular in South Korea because of 'Lust, Caution.' But her looks and personality made Koreans like her more during the promotion for the film," says producer Oh Jung-wan of Bom Film Prods. in South Korea. "Her performance also made people realize she was not just a star, but a real actress as well,"

People who have worked with Tang have often attributed her audience rapport not just to her looks but also to her versatility with languages. "Late Autumn" required the actress to speak mainly in English, a language she polished in London while sitting out her exile by the Chinese government.

"She meets all the requirements of classic beauty, of course: she is tall, elegant and very oriental." says director Ann Hui, who worked with Tang on the biographical drama " Golden Era," Hong Kong's official submission in the foreign-language film category at the 2014 Academy Awards.

Matthew Tang, who also worked with the thesp on her Chinese-language hit " Finding Mr. Right " (2013), also credits the actress for being able to immerse herself in different cultures. "With Cantonese, she uses the right nuances, the right slang and it is almost impossible to tell she isn't really from Hong Kong." he adds.

Although the actress says she still needs to work on her Korean, she was a runaway hit when she became the first foreign star to host the Busan Intl. Film Festival two years ago (2012).

With her marriage to Kim, there are certainly expectations that she will be making more appearances in South Korean productions.

Bom's Oh adds: "She will now be even more highly accepted as a Korean star because of her marriage."

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Tang Wei: Crossover Star Enchants Two Nations

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Perhaps unfairly, more was made of her sex scenes than her acting. Those caused the Chinese government to blacklist her indefinitely.

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Tang's Instagram content: enjoy farmer life

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Tang's Instagram content: enjoy farmer life

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The private personal life that connected with the nature further reinforced her natural star image.

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5.2. An actress who's consistently in romantic films.

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5.2. An actress who's consistently in romantic films.

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Although Tang tried various different roles after her official comeback, what is notable is that she is consistently involved in romantic films.

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Lust, Caution Review, The Guardian (2008)

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Lust, Caution Review, The Guardian (2008)

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"Fiercely intelligent and hauntingly beautiful, she gives a passionate, courageous performance that deserves a shelf-full of awards".

Even in her debut, Tang received critical acclaim from this review, which cemented how her star image was considered that of a talented actress.

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The title gets it the wrong way around. What we have here is first a lot of caution, then an explosion of lust. Ang Lee has followed his magnificent version of E Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain with another love story - more explicit in many ways, though more complex and oblique - and it's a movie that showcases Lee's flair for period detail and genre stylisation.

For his sheer muscular verve and ambition, Lee deserves a standing ovation. Orson Welles was described once as picking up a play with the confidence of a marksman picking up a rifle, and that is exactly how I felt Lee handles this source material: a short story by Eileen Chang. He has given Tony Leung a chance to shine with one of the most charismatic and memorable performances of his career, and in the twentysomething newcomer Tang Wei, he has made a tremendous discovery. Fiercely intelligent and hauntingly beautiful, she gives a passionate, courageous performance that deserves a shelf-full of awards; it's already made her an Asian movie-star to rival Zhang Ziyi.

Lust, Caution is an erotic espionage drama, a little like Hitchcock's Notorious in its plot, set in Japanese-occupied China in the second world war. Tang Wei plays Wong Chia Chi, an unassuming young college student who in 1939 finds herself left behind in Hong Kong when her father flees to England. But Wong is to find her calling when she is invited to join a theatre troupe performing patriotic plays, the purpose of which is to raise cash for the homeland's defence. Her performances are electrifying, and the collection tins are chinking, but their leader Kuang (Wang Leehom) is impatient with mere play-acting. He wants to use their talents for more direct action: namely, an elaborate sting that will ensnare the hated collaborationist police chief Yee, played by Tony Leung. Wong will seduce him by pretending to be a bored married woman in search of adventure, and once Yee's guard is down, he will be assassinated.

The plan ends in bloody catastrophe, and Yee gets away, reappearing in Shanghai in 1942, where Wong also fetches up and the official resistance contact her with a message: they were impressed with her amateur attempt and the plan is back on. She must begin the seduction anew, but this time both hunter and hunted are older and more careworn; idealism has become clouded with fear and exhaustion, and does each suspect what the other is up to? There is a whiff of sulphur in the air along with the whiff of sex. The conditions are in place for a love affair of intense eroticism, obsession and betrayal.

The sex scenes have a glorious impact, all the more so for the long, burning fuse that precedes their detonation. Wong's sexual pre-history is made up of earlier, tragicomic scenes in which the poor innocent volunteers to be deflowered by a member of her resistance group, so that her virginal state will not give the game away. The spectacle of the young man doing his bit by doggedly thrusting away on top of Wong's tense, miserable body is horribly funny and un-erotic, a mirror image to the deadly serious sizzle of her later, passionate bedroom athletics with Yee. And whatever the ambiguity of her feelings for him, they assume a poignancy and even tragedy when we learn that Wong's emotions could have been engaged elsewhere, far earlier in the story.

Arguably, the sex scenes do not have the subtlety and nuance of Wong and Yee's flirtatious dinner in Hong Kong and the tension of their automobile ride home together, wondering whether or not Wong would be inviting Yee in for coffee. The ferocious, destructive passion, however, confers a retrospective intensity on these moments, and a piquancy too: a sense that in those days their dangerous game had, if hardly innocence exactly, then a more manageable kind of pleasure.

There is tremendous sweep and potency here; the streetscapes in Shanghai are spectacular and it's a wonderfully satisfying experience, though it has to be said that the film does not offer the same unmediated insight into the minds and hearts of its lovers that Brokeback Mountain did. Fundamentally, we all felt that we knew, really knew, what it felt like for the two cowboys to be in love; here the question is a little more difficult. Of course, it is a different sort of film, and this alienation and emotional occlusion is a central part of what Lust, Caution is about. It is another resounding success for Ang Lee, whose film-making has such mass and substance. His movies are like huge, exciting new buildings for us to gather round and wonder at.

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Peter Bradshaw: Ang Lee plays to his many strengths with this stylish, passionate espionage drama set in Japanese-occupied China

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This is a press release written in both English and Chinese, urging all Chinese people worldwide to boycott the film.

In this letter, Tang had been condemned for being "worse than a prostitute". This reflected the negative perceptions of some audiences and was an example of how her star image was portrayed during this period.

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In this interview, Tang wore a simple dress and with little makeup, presenting a natural charm.

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Tang's dedication for preparing the role Wang Jiazhi

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Tang's dedication for preparing the role Wang Jiazhi

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Tang studied and trained hard for eight months to portray Wang Jiazhi, demonstrating her dedication and serious attitude to performing.

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Tang Wei didn't know what it was that she was auditioning for, or who was involved with the production. She had no idea that 10,000 actresses, including many A-listers, were competing for the role.

Tang Wei and Tony Leung Chiu Wai in the film
Lust, Caution (Se, jie)

In the little-known actress' first audition for the project, she read lines from a fake script. For the second audition, the director showed up.

It was Ang Lee.

Surprisingly, Lee poured a cup of tea for her, as if he had noticed her tension. They then talked about Tang's family, her school and her stage experience. After graduating from the Central Academy of Drama, China's best institute for theater arts, Tang has spent most of her time on stage. She told Lee her favorite director was Ingmar Bergman, but she had no idea he was also one of Lee's favorites. When she mentioned that her mother was a Yueju opera singer, Lee asked her to sing.

As Lee later described it, that day they found something in common - a love for theater and southern China.

"Lee was like a senior family member," Tang said in a phone interview. "He was a modest, good listener. I felt very happy when I found the communication was so smooth, no obstacle at all."

When the call for the third audition came, Tang was told to wear a cheongsam. "I had no cheongsam at all, actually I seldom wore dresses then," she said. After hanging up the phone, she rushed to a tailor's shop.

No one gave her any feedback at the third audition. She had the fourth and fifth soon after with makeup and full costume, which helped her get into the character, a student-turned spy in the chaos of 1930s' Shanghai.

After five auditions, Tang was getting nervous. "I said to myself, 'you have tried your best, now it's time to relax'."

Another call led her to Hong Kong last summer. There, she found that the crew had begun preparations for Lee's new project - the espionage thriller Lust, Caution.

"Everyone was busy," she recalled, "Material was piled everywhere, but no one came up and told me that I was the leading actress."

But she suspected that was the case, as Lee had told her they were planning a celebration.

"Celebrating what? I asked myself, but I felt that something was happening," she said. Even so, to stop the news from leaking to the press, the crew had a simple dinner.

"It was like, everyone has been busy preparing for the film. I knew work had begun."

To prepare for her role, Lee gave her a pile of historic records and books to read, and she had to watch plenty of films about 1930s and '40s Shanghai. She threw herself into Greta Garbo's films and the poems of Xu Zhimuo, one of the most famous Chinese poets of the 1920s. Rehearsals included walking with a book on the head and tying her knees together with a ribbon to emulate the elegant pose of Shanghai ladies. She also learned southern opera, Cantonese, Shanghai dialect and English.

The biggest torture for the 28-year-old, however, was trying on different clothes.

"I seldom shop. I think shopping is exhausting. When I had to change clothes, they jokingly asked me if I needed headache pills."

Tang said that Lee once told her: "What you will learn is more than 60 years of courses at the film academy."

The newcomer had to act alongside Asian superstars Tony Leung and Joan Chen and yet, of the 118 days of shooting, 114 were focused on her. She slept three hours a day, sometimes five to six. But despite these hardships, she said: "Even if it is the only role I have in my life, I feel content."

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Tang Wei didn't know what it was that she was auditioning for, or who was involved with the production. She had no idea that 10,000 actresses, including many A-listers, were competing for the role.

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Decision to Leave is a South Korean romantic mystery starring Tang Wei and ‘Memories of Murder’ fame Park Hae Il.

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Chinese actress Tang Wei receives best actress award at Asian Film Awards for South Korean thriller 'Decision to Leave'

Tang Wei, a renowned Chinese actress, was recently awarded the Best Actress Award at the Asian Film Awards. The 43-year-old actress has garnered numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Award and a Cannes Film Festival Award.

Although Tang Wei initially intended to pursue law or archaeology, her brief experience in modeling in 1997 ignited her passion for the entertainment industry. Her breakout drama was 'Chinese Female Football'.

Tang Wei starred in the South Korean romantic mystery, 'Decision To Leave', alongside Park Hae Il of 'Memories of Murder' fame. The film, co-written and directed by Park Chan Wook, received critical acclaim globally and was a commercial success. Tang Wei's role in 'Late Autumn' quickly won over South Korean audiences, making her the first non-Korean to win the Best Actress Award at Baeksang Awards.

Tang Wei also lent her voice to the character of Pia Sahastrabuddhe in the 2009 Bollywood blockbuster, '3 Idiots'. Her versatile acting skills were further highlighted by her outstanding performance in 'Decision To Leave', which earned the film an award for its direction at the British Academy Film Awards and a spot among the top 5 films of 2022 by the New York-based National Board of Review.

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Chinese actress Tang Wei receives best actress award at Asian Film Awards for South Korean thriller 'Decision to Leave' - BNN Breaking

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Read about Tang Wei, a renowned Chinese actress, who recently won Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards. Learn about her career and accolades.

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Tang Wei won Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer

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Tang Wei won Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer

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Tang's first award was the Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer for her debut character, Wang Jiazhi. This contributed to her fame, showing her talent, and becoming known to the public.

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Lust, Caution sweeps Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards

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Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution dominated the 44th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei with seven wins including best feature, best director, best actor and best adapted screenplay. The film had received eleven nominations. Tony Ayres’ The Home Song Stories took best actress for Joan Chen’s performance and best o…

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Review on Tang's sexual scenes in Lust, Caution (2017)

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Review on Tang's sexual scenes in Lust, Caution (2017)

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"As should be evidenced in this analysis, the sex scenes in Lust, Caution not only enhance the narrative; they are necessary to it."

This article analyses the reasonableness of the sex scenes in this film, identifies with the dedication of Tang Wei, and brings a positive impact on the reconstruction of her image.

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Author's notes: This article was originally published on Facets' blog in 2016. It is nsfw.

Lust, Caution is the title of Ang Lee's 2007 Chinese espionage film, but it might as well be the motto of the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA has a history of letting films with graphic depictions of violence get away with an R rating, while maintaining stricter guidelines for films featuring sexually explicit scenes. For instance, just look at Saving Private Ryan's scarily realistic depictions of the Doomsday landings on Omaha beach during World War II, The Revenant's bear mauling scene, Tarantino's entire body of work... All these films were rated R, regardless of their disturbing nature. Yet, Derek Cianfrance's Blue Valentine (2010), which followed the story of a marriage falling apart, was initially rated NC-17 - all because of a scene in which a male character goes down on his wife. Though an R versus an NC-17 rating may not seem like a big deal, it does affect the commercial viability of the film. NC-17 films are usually not released on as wide a scale as those that are R-rated, and thus have less of an opportunity to garner a profit. Because of this, many filmmakers try to edit their film's explicit scenes in a manner that will allow the film to be rated R.

However, some directors defy the pressure to cut graphic content. Ang Lee is one such director, being anything but cautious in his direction of Lust, Caution. This film, based off a novella of the same name by Chinese author Eileen Chang, is set during the Japanese occupation of China during the late 1930's and early 40's. It tells the story of university student Wong Chia Chi who becomes part of a patriotic drama troupe performing pieces to encourage Chinese nationalism. Unsatisfied with being limited to the stage, the troupe decides to pull off a radical act: assassinating Mr. Yee, a powerful special agent and Japanese collaborator. Being the most gifted actress of the group, Chia Chi is given the task of seducing Mr. Yee and setting him up to be killed.

After the film was completed, it sparked controversy when Lee rejected the idea of editing the film's multiple explicit sex scenes to make it R-rated. The graphic depictions of sex, he argued, were essential to the story. His decision not to yield to this pressure earned him both a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and a Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival. However, Lee did end up cutting out around seven minutes of footage out for the Chinese release of the film. In addition to editing down the sex scenes, he also cut some of the violence, and even changed Chia Chi's dialogue in a crucial moment near the film's end. Presumably Lee did this because the film would not have been shown in China otherwise. Thus, the Chinese version of Lust, Caution is not the same film that was released in the U.S. Yet, even if Lee had left the violence and dialogue untouched, Lust, Caution sans the sex scenes would be a different story.

During the course of the film, the dialogue is minimal. Very rarely do the characters say what they're feeling. Instead, Ang Lee uses sex as a means of illustrating character development. The sex scenes work silently but powerfully to convey shifts in the main characters' feelings for one another.

The first sex scene of the film is the least graphic. It depicts Wong Chia Chi having sex for the first time in order to keep up the guise of a married woman on her mission to seduce Mr. Yee. The most sexually experienced of the drama troupe is appointed to show Chia Chi the ropes. It is an uncomfortable experience, completely lacking in chemistry or intimacy between Chia Chi and her colleague. Shortly after, Mr. Yee moves to Shanghai and Chia Chi loses the opportunity to seduce him, making Chia Chi's situation all the more poignant. Not only did she spend her first time having sex with someone she wasn't attracted to, but it was also seemingly for naught.

The second sex scene takes place years later when Chia Chi is recruited by the Kuomintang (KMT), the Chinese Nationalist Party, to resume her role in attempting to assassinate Mr. Yee. Shortly after reconnecting with Yee, Chia Chi finally succeeds in her mission of seducing him. However, the cost of her success is steep. Her first sexual encounter with Mr. Yee is not consensual. The atmosphere is gloomy: it's raining outside and the scene has a blue tint to it. Chia Chi lacks any control when Mr. Yee takes her roughly from behind and begins ripping off her clothes. Chia Chi protests, but Yee continues, taking his belt off, hitting her, before using it to restrain her hands. This act peels back a layer of this enigmatic man to reveal someone with a great capacity for cruelty. As Roger Ebert says in his review of the film, "We do not see Mr. Yee at work, torturing his countrymen, but [the actor portraying Yee] is able to project the man's capability for menace and begins to do that in bed with her". At one point, Chia Chi turns around to look at him in the middle of the act and Yee, seemingly caught off-guard, roughly shoves her face back into the bed. Afterwards, Chia Chi lays alone in bed, a dull look in her eye, seemingly drained from the experience. However, just before the scene ends, her lips turn upward in a slight smile, and we know she is proud of her accomplishment.

The next time Chia Chi has sex with Mr. Yee, the experience is much different. In contrast to the blue hue of the previous sex scene, this scene is predominately orange. The warmer lighting is indicative of the feelings of the characters. During Yee's first time having sex with Chia Chi, he seemed almost angry that he was attracted to her, upset that he was letting his guard down to be with a woman whom he didn't feel completely in control around. Perhaps that was why he was so aggressive in bed, dominating over her to assert his power, trying to compensate for his self-perceived vulnerability. Yet, here Chia Chi is an active participant in the sex. Though Yee is hardly gentle, his roughness has subsided to some extent. He does not force her head away when she looks at him, instead returning her gaze. This maintained eye-contact, combined with their positions - facing each other, rather than him taking her from behind - creates a sense of tenderness among their passion. In addition to the looks shared between Chia Chi and Yee, the most powerful visual is the wideshot of them on the bed together. Chia Chi and Yee's limbs entangle together in such a way that it is difficult to discern where one begins and the other ends. However, at the end of the scene, Chia Chi tells Yee he should "get her an apartment," and we know that even in the midst of giving herself to him, she is still focused on the mission.

The fourth and final sex scene is the tipping point for their relationship. For the first time, we see Yee completely succumb to Chia Chi's control. In contrast to previous scenes, Chia Chi is the one on top. At one point, she even grabs the pillow and covers the top half of his face with it - only inches away from suffocating him. This shot, more than any other, illustrates how she feels about him. Her anger is not about the injustice he's caused for the Chinese; she's mad that he's forced her to have real feelings for him. For a moment, it's unclear whether or not Chia Chi is going to kill him right then and there; the look of hatred in her eyes tells us she's capable of it. However, she relents and removes the pillow - a moment that foreshadows her decision at the end of the film. Later, when the KMT agent in charge of Chia Chi's mission tells her to "keep him ensnared in her trap," she says:

"What trap? My body? He knows better than you how to put on an act. He not only gets inside me, he worms his way into my heart like a snake. Deeper. I take him in all the way like a slave. I play my part faithfully so I too can get to his heart. Every time he hurts me until I bleed and scream. Then he is satisfied. Then he feels alive. In the dark, only he knows it's all real."

This monologue voices what the sex scenes have made evident: a part of Chia Chi is in love with Mr. Yee. The only reason she has come this far seducing him is because her feelings for Yee are genuine.

As should be evidenced in this analysis, the sex scenes in Lust, Caution not only enhance the narrative; they are necessary to it. The first sex scene is essential because it shows Chia Chi's loss of innocence - not necessarily because she's having sex, but because she puts her entire self into her mission and it (initially) ends up being for naught. Similarly, each time Chia Chi and Yee have sex in the film; it indicates a change in their feelings for one another, and thus a turning point in their relationship. Their three sex scenes depict the slow transition of Yee allowing himself to be vulnerable in Chia Chi's presence and her struggle to not lose herself completely in their affair. Though perhaps the scenes could have been trimmed to show less explicit content, they could not have been edited in a way that would have made the film rated R without losing valuable narrative depth.

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Sex and Censorship in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution

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Lust, Caution is the title of Ang Lee's 2007 Chinese espionage film, but it might as well be the motto of the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA has a history of letting films with...

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This is a still of a sex scene from "Lust, Caution", which was the main reason for Tang's temporary ban.

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Users' comments from public review website Douban

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Users' comments from public review website Douban

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These film review comments from audiences reflected that Tang was perceived as an ambitious actress who gained fame by stripping, which strengthened her image.

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Director Lee defends actor banned from Chinese media (2008)

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Director Lee defends actor banned from Chinese media (2008)

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This article pointed out that director Ang Lee defended Tang:

"I am very regretful that Tang Wei has been hurt by this decision," the Oscar-winning director said in a statement. "She gave a great performance in this properly produced and distributed film. I will do everything I can to support her in this difficult time."

Ang Lee's staunch support demonstrated his opposition to this banning decision, defending the image of Tang.

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Ang Lee has mounted a firm defence of actor Tang Wei after the latter was banned from appearing in the Chinese media, apparently due to her salacious role in the director's pan-Asian blockbuster Lust, Caution.

According to reports, a skin care commercial featuring the 28-year-old actor has been pulled and TV companies have been advised not to invite her, or the producers of Lust, Caution, onto their awards shows. Broadcasters and newspapers have been banned from showing or printing any images of Wei. No reason was given by China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, which issued the instructions last week.

"I am very regretful that Tang Wei has been hurt by this decision," the Oscar-winning director said in a statement. "She gave a great performance in this properly produced and distributed film. I will do everything I can to support her in this difficult time."

The Brokeback Mountain director has already contacted the actor to "console her", according to the Beijing News, which broke the story.

The apparent blacklisting comes after the 28-year-old actor portrayed a student activist who seduces a Japanese-allied Chinese spy in the award-winning drama, set in Shanghai during the second world war. Lee made his own special edit of the film for the Chinese market, excising several of the more sexually explicit scenes in order for it not to fall foul of the country's strict censors.

He succeeded in getting the film shown in Chinese theatres, and it went on to break box office records there in its first week of release. But it may be that the sympathetic portrayal of a relationship between a spy for the Japanese and a Chinese woman was the real issue for the authorities. Officials reportedly criticised it at the time as "glorification of traitors and insulting to patriots".

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Director Lee defends actor banned from Chinese media

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Ang Lee has mounted a firm defence of actor Tang Wei after the latter was banned from appearing in the Chinese media, apparently due to her salacious role in the director's pan-Asian blockbuster Lust, Caution

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Industry voice: Chinese celebrity Jin Xing  spoke out for Tang Wei

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Industry voice: Chinese celebrity Jin Xing  spoke out for Tang Wei

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Public discourse was further amplified by voices within the entertainment industry.

In this news, Chinese celebrity Jin Xing spoke out for Tang on a talk show program, claiming that the ban against Tang alone was unjust. Jin emphasized on Tang's sacrifice.

Support from industry counterparts not only reinforced the public narrative but also solidified Tang Wei's persona - a victim and scapegoat who faced down institutional and gendered biases.

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4. Reconstruction of star image during the ban – a low-profile star dedicated to cultivate herself

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4. Reconstruction of star image during the ban – a low-profile star dedicated to cultivate herself

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Throughout this challenging period, Tang kept a low profile, yet showed resilience when navigating such controversy. Her persona was “subdued and carefully constructed”, which indicates how significantly the politics surrounding the film's contentious response controlled her body.

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With a simple outfit of a white sweatshirt and trousers without makeup, Tang was a volunteer at a show.

She kept a low-profile appearance, which reinforced her star persona at this period.

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Tang's marriage with the Korean director Kim Tae-Yong

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Tang's marriage with the Korean director Kim Tae-Yong

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Tang's marriage with the Korean director strengthened her image of a transnational star.

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SEOUL - Chinese superstar and South Korean director Kim Tae-yong, one of Asia's most famous couples, exchanged vows in a private wedding ceremony on July 12, they have revealed .

The event took place at the Ingmar Bergman House on Faro Island, Sweden, where the late legendary filmmaker spent his final hours. Tang had long wished to visit the scenic destination, according to Kim's agency, Bom Film Productions. Organizers of the Ingmar Bergman Film Festival took part as witnesses to the ceremony, which took place in the estate's front yard, overlooking the open sea. A reception attended by local residents took place the following day.
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The two are planning to hold a formal ceremony in the fall, as was previously announced, though it is expected to be sometime in August in accordance with the onset of autumn by the lunar calendar. It is also slated to be a private event.

In the meantime, Tang is said to be recovering from a recent ankle injury.

The 35-year-old star, best known for Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, met Kim, 45, five years ago when she appeared in the lead role of the director's award-winning romance Late Autumn. The two began dating last year and announced their engagement earlier this month, creating buzz across Asia.

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Chinese Actress Tang Wei Marries South Korean Director

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The "Lust, Caution" star and Kim Tae-yong married in a private ceremony at the Ingmar Bergman Estate in Sweden.

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Tang Wei's simple yet elegant wedding dresses

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Tang Wei's simple yet elegant wedding dresses

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Tang's wedding photographs showed her "unpretentious look" in a simply yet elegantly designed Vera Wang gown.

There was none of the extravagant and overtly sexy displays that are common among other female stars.

This picture of her wedding echoes the elegant and natural personality she always presents.

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Public appearance: Tang Wei in Cannes (2022)

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Public appearance: Tang Wei in Cannes (2022)

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This photoshoot in Cannes exhibited her success and elegant charm.

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Public appearance: Tang Wei in Venice Film Festival (2014)

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Public appearance: Tang Wei in Venice Film Festival (2014)

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This shoot also highlighted her elegance.

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Tang Wei's private and simple wedding ceremony

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Tang Wei's private and simple wedding ceremony

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On the secluded island of Fårö in Swede, Tang's marriage ceremony took place at the home of the late border-crossing director Ingmar Bergman.

It's a sign that she's keeping a low profile and minding her privacy

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Since the allure of high fashion can evidence celebrities’ sophisticated preferences and top status, this not only demonstrates her elegance but also helps eliminate the shameless image stemming from her role in Lust, Caution.

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Tang Wei tells you: Success is not a metaphysics, you have to rely on yourself to change your destiny

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Tang Wei tells you: Success is not a metaphysics, you have to rely on yourself to change your destiny

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This article discusses Tang's journey through the struggle, arguing that "She went through a difficult road, but finally found her spring".

As a consequence, her star image can be mediated by this media coverage to be an inspiring actress.

Nevertheless, this somewhat neglects the unjust nature of the ban, covering the truth of male-dominated oppression.

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The media uses her current success as legitimacy for reviewing the past ban she suffered, in order to construct an inspirational image while somewhat covering up the male-dominated oppression that still exists.