Bai Ling | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Bai in 2016 | |||||||||
| Born | (1966-10-10)October 10, 1966 (age 58)[1][2] | ||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||
| Occupation | Actress | ||||||||
| Years active | 1981–present | ||||||||
| Parent(s) | Bai Yuxiang, Chen Binbin | ||||||||
| Awards |
| ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 白靈 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 白灵 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Bai Ling (Chinese:白灵, born October 10, 1966)[1] is aChinese American actress and musician. She is best known for her work in the filmsThe Crow,Nixon,Red Corner,Crank: High Voltage,Dumplings,Wild Wild West,Anna and the King,Southland Tales, andMaximum Impact, as well as TV showsEntourage andLost. She won the Best Supporting Actress awards at the 2004Hong Kong Film Awards and the 2004Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan for her role inDumplings.
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Bai was born inChengdu. Her father, Bai Yuxiang (白玉祥), was a musician in thePeople's Liberation Army, and later a music teacher. Her mother, Chen Binbin (陈彬彬), was a dancer, stage actress, and literature teacher atSichuan University; Bai's maternal grandfather was a military officer of theKuomintang army, thus was persecuted during theCultural Revolution. In the early 1980s, Bai Ling's parents divorced, and her mother married renowned writerXu Chi. Bai Ling has one older sister, Bai Jie (白洁), who works for the Chinese tax bureau, and a younger brother, Bai Chen (白陈), who emigrated to Japan and works for an American company.
Bai has described herself as a very shy child who found that she best expressed herself through acting and performing. During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), she learned how to perform by participating ineight model plays, at her elementary school shows. After her graduation from middle school, Bai was sent to do labor work atShuangliu, on the outskirts of Chengdu.
In 1978, after graduating from high school, she passed the People's Liberation Army's exams, and became an artist soldier inNyingchi Prefecture,Tibet. Her main activity there was entertaining in the musical theater. She also served briefly as an Army nurse. Bai later stated that during her time in Tibet, other female performers and she were regularly plied with alcohol and sexually abused by older male officers, including one instance of rape that led to a pregnancy she aborted. She cites this period of sexual abuse for her subsequent struggles with alcohol addiction.[3][4] Subsequently, Bai spent some time in a mental hospital.
Soon after her release from the hospital, in 1981, Bai joined People's Art Theater of Chengdu, and became a professional actress. Her performance as a young man in the stage playYueqin and Little Tiger drew the attention of movie director Teng Wenji (滕文骥), which gained her first movie role inOn the Beach (1985), as a village girl who becomes a factory worker and struggled against her father's will for her to marry her cousin.
She temporarily moved to New York in 1991 to attendNew York University's film department as a visiting scholar, but later obtained a special visa that allowed her to remain in the United States until she became a U.S. citizen in 1999.
Bai began her acting career in China, appearing in several Chinese feature films. In 1984, she made her film debut as a fishing village girl in the movieOn the Beach (海滩). Later, she filmed several other movies, includingSuspended Sentence (缓期执行),Yueyue (月月), andTears inSuzhou (泪洒姑苏) without much attention. She became famous after playing a girl with a psychological disorder who has an affair with her doctor, in the filmThe Shining Arc (弧光), directed byZhang Junzhao (张军钊), her most highly acclaimed role in the Chinese film industry. In 1991, Bai moved to the United States, where she appeared in a number of American films and television shows including the legendary soap operaGuiding Light alongside actressMelina Kanakaredes.
Bai's first major American film role was inThe Crow (1994), where she played the half sister and lover of the main villain, Top Dollar. In 1997, she played the lead female role, oppositeRichard Gere, in the American filmRed Corner.The New York Times praised Bai Ling's performance, saying that she gave the film "not only grace, but also substantial gravity".[5] For her role inRed Corner, she received the National Board of Review Freedom for Breakthrough Female Performance and the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress.[6] The film was critical of human rights abuse in China, and as a result, Bai Ling's Chinese citizenship was revoked. She later became a U.S. citizen.[7]
Bai was named one ofPeople's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1998. She shaved off her hair, which was longer than 36 in (90 cm) for her role inAnna and the King, and is widely known inThailand as "Tuptim", her character's name from the film, though the film is officially banned because of its depiction of the King ofSiam. She filmed scenes forStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) as Senator Bana Breemu, but her role was cut during editing. She claimed that this was because she appeared in the June 2005 issue ofPlayboy magazine, whose appearance on newsstands coincided with the movie's May 2005 release, but directorGeorge Lucas denied this, stating that the cut had been made more than a year earlier.[8] Her scenes were included in the deleted scenes feature of the DVD release.
In 2004, Bai made a comeback to Chinese cinema, co-starring with Hong Kong actressMiriam Yeung in independent filmmakerFruit Chan's horror thrillerDumplings. Her portrayal of the villainous local chef Aunt Mei in the film earned her the 2005Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, and led to her renewed popularity among the Chinese film audience. In the same year, she also received critical acclaim for her performance in another independent movie,The Beautiful Country, co-starringNick Nolte, and directed byHans Petter Moland.
Later in 2005, Bai was a member of the official jury at the55th Berlin International Film Festival. On television, she was a cast member on theVH1 program calledBut Can They Sing?. Also in 2005, Bai guest-starred in season two ofEntourage in which she played a love interest ofVincent Chase (Adrian Grenier).
In 2007, she starred as Coco in the film adaptation of the controversial Chinese contemporary novelShanghai Baby, which premiered atCannes Film Festival, and also guest-starred in one episode ("Stranger in a Strange Land") of the showLost. Since 2007, she has appeared in a number of films, includingLove Ranch,Crank: High Voltage, andA Beautiful Life, although she became more well known for her red-carpet appearances and outrageous fashions.[9]
In 2013, Bai enjoyed a career resurgence with the movieThe Gauntlet (a.k.a.Game of Assassins), which earned her the Best Actress award at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, and at the 2014 Asians On Film Festival. Also, forSpeed Dragon, she received the Best Feature Film Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. In late 2014, Bai starred alongsideDavid Arquette inThe Key,Jefery Levy's adaptation of the novel byJun'ichirō Tanizaki. In October 2014, Bai was a member of the jury in the "India Gold 2014" section of theMumbai Film Festival.
In 2017, Bai took part in the short filmTo Pimp a Butterfly by Rui Cui, which won her second Best Actress win at the Asians On Film Festival. Subsequently in 2019, after 15 years since their collaboration inDumplings, directorFruit Chan and Bai worked together again inThe Abortionist (墮胎師). For her performance Bai obtained her second nomination at theGolden Horse Film Festival as Best Actress. She also enjoyed a new success in independenthorror movies such asExorcism at 60,000 Feet (2019) andUnspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep (2024). Bai was also awarded in Italy the Milan Gold Awards Best Actress prize forJack Be Nimble (2022), another horror film.
On February 14, 2008, Bai was arrested atLos Angeles International Airport for shoplifting.[10] Bai stated it was an "emotionally crazy" day due to the breakup of a relationship,[11] and was ordered to pay a fine and penalties after pleading guilty in March 2008 to disturbing the peace.[12]
In a 2009 interview, Bai claimed that she is from the Moon, where her grandmother lives. "I'm not really in reality. I'm in my own universe and my mind is a million miles somewhere else", she stated, further explaining: "Why I feel like I come from the Moon is because my mother told me I was found somewhere". She believes that when she looks up at the Moon, she can often spot her grandmother there, still living in her childhood home.[13]
In 2011, she appeared in the fifth season of the VH1 reality television seriesCelebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which documented her recovery from alcohol addiction.[14] In a 2011 interview regarding her public image and troubles over the years, she stated:
I accidentally or innocently destroyed the beautiful Bai Ling that everybody loved, that beautiful, talented actress. Instead, the media brought me out as this crazy slut showing her nipples everywhere. I become this character the pop culture Hollywood machine created. Somehow, I become a victim to that image.[3]
When Bai first came to the United States, before she became fluent in English, she was initially confused by people asking if she was bi (as inbisexual), as the word ishomophonous with "Bai". After the miscommunication was clarified, she subsequently affirmed that she is bisexual and that gender is not relevant to who she is attracted to.[15][16][17]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Hai tan (海滩) | Lu Xiao Mei (陆小妹) | |
| 1985 | Lei sa Gu Su (泪洒姑苏) | Wang Lingjuan (王怜娟) | |
| 1986 | Yue Yue (月月) | Yue Yue (月月) | |
| 1987 | College Student Stories (大学生轶事) | Xiao Qian (小钱) | |
| Shan cun feng yue (山村风月) | Guier (桂儿) | ||
| 1988 | Wu qiang qiang shou (无枪枪手) | Yan Hong (严红) | |
| 1989 | The Shining Arc (弧光) | Jing Huan (景唤) | |
| Fei fa chi qiang zhe (非法持枪者) | Nu Siji | ||
| 1992 | Pen Pals | Sharice | |
| Escape from China | Peasant Woman (voice) | ||
| 1994 | The Crow | Myca | |
| Dead Funny | Norriko | ||
| 1995 | Dead Weekend | Amelia A. | TV movie |
| Nixon | Chinese Interpreter | ||
| Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West | Mary Bong | ||
| 1997 | Red Corner | Shen Yuelin | |
| 1998 | Somewhere in the City | Lu-Lu | |
| 1999 | Row Your Boat | Chun Hua | |
| Wild Wild West | Miss Mae Lee East | ||
| Anna and the King | Tuptim | ||
| 2001 | Shaolin Soccer | Mui (voice) | |
| The Breed | Lucy Westenra | ||
| 2002 | Face | Kim | |
| Storm Watch | Skylar | ||
| Point of Origin | Wanda Orr | TV movie | |
| 2003 | Taxi 3 | Qiu | |
| The Extreme Team | R.J. | ||
| Paris | Linda/Shen Li | ||
| 2004 | My Baby's Daddy | XiXi | |
| The Beautiful Country | Ling | ||
| Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow | Mysterious Woman | ||
| She Hate Me | Oni | ||
| Dumplings (餃子) | Mei | ||
| Three... Extremes (三更2) | Mei | ||
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | Senator Bana Breemu | |
| Lords of Dogtown | Punky Photographer | ||
| Nomad | Gaukhar (voice) | ||
| Edmond | Peep Show Girl | ||
| 2006 | Man About Town | Barbi Ling | |
| Southland Tales | Serpentine | ||
| 2007 | Living & Dying | Nadia | |
| Shanghai Baby [it] | Coco | ||
| The Gene Generation | Michelle | ||
| 2008 | Toxic | Lena | |
| The Hustle | Han | ||
| A Beautiful Life | Esther | ||
| Dim Sum Funeral | Deedee | ||
| 2009 | Crank: High Voltage | Ria | |
| 2010 | Pai mai chun tian (拍卖春天) | Zhang Qian (张倩) | |
| Magic Man | Samantha | ||
| Love Ranch | Samantha | ||
| Circle of Pain | Victoria Rualan | Video | |
| The Confidant | Black | ||
| Chain Letter | Jai Pham | ||
| Petty Cash | Coco | ||
| Locked Down | Guard Flores | ||
| The Lazarus Papers | Kyo | ||
| 2011 | The Bad Penny | Nok | |
| 2012 | Clash of the Empires | Laylan | Video |
| Yellow Hill: The Stranger's Tale | The Stranger | Short | |
| 2013 | Game of Assassins | Kim Lee | |
| American Girls | Amanda Chen | ||
| Blood Shed | Lucy | ||
| 2014 | The Key | Ida | |
| Vultures in the Void | Deadspeed | Short | |
| 2015 | Terms & Conditions | The Bodyguard | |
| 6 Ways to Sundown | June Lee | ||
| ABCs of Superheroes | Galvana | ||
| Boned | The Mistress | ||
| Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance | Doggé | ||
| Sacred Blood | Lilly | ||
| Call Me King | Li Soo | ||
| Everlasting | Cristiane | ||
| 2016 | Beyond the Game | Tara | |
| Shanghai Wang | Madame Xin | ||
| Better Criminal | Miss Jasmine Feng | ||
| 2017 | To Pimp a Butterfly | Butterfly (Mother) | Short |
| Sharknado 5: Global Swarming | Mira | TV movie | |
| Andover | Professor Huan | ||
| Maximum Impact | Scanlon | ||
| 2018 | Tang ren jie tan an 2 | Aaimali Kunana | |
| Dead Ringer | April | ||
| Accidental Diplomats | The Translator | Short | |
| 2019 | Exorcism at 60,000 Feet | Amanda | |
| Speed Dragon | Jackie | ||
| The Final Level: Escaping Rancala | Challenger | ||
| The Abortionist (墮胎師) | Jane | ||
| 2020 | The Legion | Amirah | |
| Airliner Sky Battle | Dr. Meili Liu | ||
| 2021 | Venus as a Boy | Cleo | |
| The Expat | NBI Operative | ||
| Fast Vengeance | Lucid Lucy | ||
| Night Caller | Jade Mei | ||
| Hustle Down | Crystal | ||
| Banking on Christmas | Judith | ||
| Painted Beauty | Biyu | ||
| 2022 | Jack Be Nimble | Nurse Edmond | |
| Lockdown | Cherry | ||
| Pig Killer | Brenda | ||
| 2023 | Johnny & Clyde | Zhang | |
| My Red Neck Neighbor | Shumai | ||
| Buckle Up | Scorpio | ||
| Back Home | Mother of Heung Wing | ||
| Phoenix | Scavenger | ||
| Scalper | Jade Mei | ||
| Mega Ape | Dr. Li | ||
| 2024 | The Haunted Studio | Cornelia | |
| Baba Yaga | Scorpio | ||
| Patsy Lee & the Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms | Kuang | ||
| The Omicron Killer | Nurse Nancy | ||
| Unspeakable: Beyond the Wall of Sleep | Dr. Fenton | ||
| TBA | Werewolf Game | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Guiding Light | Lin | Episode: "Episode #1.11946" |
| Homicide: Life on the Street | Teri Chow | Episode: "And the Rockets' Dead Glare" | |
| 1995 | The Cosby Mysteries | Dr. Valerie Chong | Episode: "The Hit Parade" |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel | Jean Chang | Episode: "The Spirit of Liberty Moon: Part 1 & 2" |
| 2000 | Angel | Jhiera | Episode: "She" |
| The Wild Thornberrys | Mother Panda/Mei-Mei (voice) | Guest Cast: Season 2-3 | |
| 2001 | The Chris Isaak Show | Herself | Episode: "Freud's Dilemma" |
| The Monkey King | Guanyin | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" | |
| 2003 | Jake 2.0 | Mei Ling | Episode: "Cater Waiter" |
| 2005 | But Can They Sing? | Herself | Main Cast |
| Entourage | Li Lei | Episode: "Chinatown" | |
| 2007 | Lost | Achara | Episode: "Stranger in a Strange Land" |
| The Unit | Princess | Episode: "Freefall" | |
| 2009 | Free Radio | Herself | Episode: "KDOG" |
| 2011 | Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew | Herself | Main Cast: Season 5 |
| 2012 | The Unemployment of Danny London | Herself | Episode: "London's Labyrinth" |
| Hawaii Five-0 | Esmeralda | Episode: "Popilikia" | |
| 2021 | Transcendent Realms | Shadow | Main Cast |
| 2023 | Barbee Rehab | Chinese Barbee | Main Cast |
| Great Kills | Bai | Main Cast |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Enter the Samurai |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | Ana Yamada - U-Gin Bar Manager (voice) |
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Please" | Chris Isaak | Herself |
