Liu Ye

Liu Ye, one of the best famous actors in China, is widely considered as one of China's most outstanding performers, having won his first Golden Horse Award at the age of 23. Rather than depending on his nice looks to become a teen idol, Liu Ye has chosen the arduous path of constantly testing himself on film by taking on difficult roles. From honest, basic, and down-to-earth "farmer-like" roles to weak and gloomy personas to tough and Casanova characters, Liu Ye has proven his extraordinary acting skills to not only the audience but also well-known foreign directors. Liu Ye, who was born in Changchun, Jilin Province, in 1978, grew up surrounded by the arts: his father worked as a stage lighting technician, while his mother worked at a film production firm.

Liu Ye's acting abilities were immediately apparent in his first film, Postman in the Mountains (Nà Shn Nà Rén Nà Gu) (1999). He acted in the film while still a student at Beijing's Central Academy of Drama, and was nominated for a Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a lad from a mountain town who is about to take up his father's duties as a village postman. Liu Ye made his breakout performance in the gay-themed film Lan Yu (Lán Y) (2000), which received multiple accolades at various film festivals throughout the Chinese-speaking world, shortly after graduation. Liu Yu earned Best Actor at the Taipei Golden Horse Awards and another mention at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his courageous and brilliant performance as the eponymous character Lan Yu, a sweet, sympathetic homosexual.

He won Best Actor at China's Golden Rooster Awards three years later for his work in The Foliage (Mi Rén Co) (2003). Liu Ye's versatility as an actor can be seen in his roles as a cold-blooded killer in Connected (Boch Tng Huà) (2008) and Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao) in The Founding of a Party (Jin Dng Wi Yè) (2011) and The Founding of an Army (Jin Jn Wi Yè) (2012). (2017).

• Born: March 23, 1978 (age 44), Changchun, Jilin
• Alma mater: Central Academy of Drama
• Occupation: Actor
• Years active: 1997–present