Xu Fan

Biography

Xu Fan was born in Wuhan, Hubei Province, to parents who were Chu opera actors. In 1979, she enrolled at the Hubei Opera School to study Peking opera, and after the school dissolved in 1982, she transferred to the Wuhan Drama School to study acting. After graduating in 1986, she was assigned to the Wuhan Drama Theatre. In 1987, she entered the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, and upon graduating in 1991, she was assigned to the Beijing People's Art Theatre, where she still works today. She holds the title of First-Class Actor and receives a special allowance from the State Council. She began her acting career in 1991 with her first film, "The Eunuch Li Lianying." In 2009, she starred in "Aftershock," directed by her husband Feng Xiaogang, and was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards. In 2011, she won Best Actress at the 5th Asian Film Awards held in Hong Kong. She has received numerous awards including the Plum Blossom Award in 1995, the Cultural Performance Award in 1995, Best Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2000, and the Feitian Award for Best Actress in 2003.