# Yong Mei

Yong Mei (Chinese: 咏梅; born 14 February 1970) is a Chinese actress. In 2019, she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival for her performance in the film So Long, My Son directed by Wang Xiaoshuai.

## Early life and education

An ethnic Mongol, Yong Mei was born on 14 February 1970 in Hohhot, the capital of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Her original name in Mongolian is Sunjidma (Mongolian: ᠰᠦᠨᠵᠢᠳᠮ ᠠ, Сүнжидмаа, Sünžidmaa, Mongolian pronunciation:, Chinese: 森吉德玛; pinyin: Sēnjídémǎ), meaning "fairy", which has given rise to her nickname "Sister Fairy" (Chinese: 仙姐儿; pinyin: xiānjiěr). She studied business administration at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, where she was active in performing arts.

## Career

After graduation from university, she initially worked in foreign trade, and later in the studio of the influential television hostess Xu Gehui (许戈辉). On the recommendation of Xu, Yong Mei starred in the 1997 television drama The Man Who Herds the Clouds (牧云的男人) and began her acting career. She had her breakout role in the 2004 television drama A Chinese-style Divorce (中国式离婚), which made her wildly popular. She was also praised for her performances in the TV series Cell Phone (手机), Ocean Paradise (海洋天堂), You Are My Lover (你是我爱人), and Cliff (悬崖, 2012).
In 2015, Yong Mei appeared in Hou Hsiao-hsien's film The Assassin (or Assassin Nie Yinniang), in which she plays the mother of the title character, Nie Yinniang. The production lasted from 2012 to 2014; she thoroughly enjoyed the experience and held the film in high regard. She did not accept a major role for the next few years for lack of a suitable script that met her standard for quality.
The next major film she appeared in was So Long, My Son, directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, in which she portrays a mother who has lost her only son. To prepare for the role, she interviewed a real-life mother who had lost her only child. She originally scheduled two hours for the interview, but it was eventually extended to seven hours and gave her deep insight into a mother's sorrow. The film premiered at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2019, Yong Mei's 49th birthday. For their performance, Yong Mei and Wang Jingchun, who plays her husband in the film, were awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively. She was the first actress from mainland China to win the award.

## Personal life

Yong Mei is married to Luan Shu, the former lead singer of the Beijing rock band Black Panther. She became a fan of the band after being introduced to its music by a friend, and starred in the music video for its song "Don't Break My Heart".

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | A Lingering Face | 非常夏日 | Foreman | |
| 2000 | Piao zai haishang de xue | 飘在海上的雪 | Liang Xiaoling | |
| 2002 | Longtao | 龙套 | Song Xing | |
| 2003 | Cell Phone | 手机 | Xiao Su | |
| 2010 | Ocean Heaven | 海洋天堂 | Principal Tan | |
| 2010 | Aftershock | 唐山大地震 | Fang twins' aunt | |
| 2011 | Wo de xiatian | 我的夏天 | Liao Chenxue | |
| 2013 | Young Style | 青春派 | Mother | |
| 2014 | One Day | 有一天 | Mother of left-behind children | Segment Present |
| 2015 | The Assassin | 刺客聂隐娘 | Lady Nie Tian | Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Chinese Film Media Awards |
| 2017 | Secret Fruit | 秘果 | Mother Yu | |
| 2018 | Genghis Khan | 战神纪 | Hoelun | |
| 2019 | So Long, My Son | 地久天长 | Wang Liyun | Won the Silver Bear for Best Actress and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress |
| 2021 | Schemes in Antiques | 古董局中局 | Shen | |
| 2024 | Like a Rolling Stone | 出走的决心 | Li Hong | Based on the true story of Su Min |

### Television

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Mu Yun's Man | 牧云的男人 | Mu Yun | |
| 1996 | Rizhao nuren xin | 日照女人心 | | |
| 1997 | Beijing Love Story | 北京爱情故事 | Mo Huan | |
| 1998 | Silk Street | 秀水街 | Qimei | |
| 1999 | Feng die yu ren | 疯蝶雨人 | Roland | |
| 1999 | Supreme Honor | 至高荣誉 | Xia Jie | |
| 1999 | The Place Where Dreams Start | 梦开始的地方 | Xin Pingping | |
| 2000 | Wenzhou Woman | 温州女人 | Ami | |
| 2000 | Secretary of the Party Committee | 县委书记 | Shen Lihong | |
| 2001 | Mantra | 真言 | Anyang | |
| 2001 | Bangkok Rainy Season | 曼谷雨季 | Bu Yilan | |
| 2001 | Stacking Emotions | 堆积情感 | Liu Li | |
| 2001 | Langji tianya | 浪迹天涯 | Qinfang | |
| 2001 | Past and Present | 前世今生 | Xianglan/ Duan Xiaoyu | |
| 2002 | Not Far Away | 相邻不远 | Mu Yun | |
| 2002 | Qianlong Dynasty | 乾隆王朝 | Su Qinglian | |
| 2002 | Loyal Guard | 忠诚卫士 | Ouyang Yurong | |
| 2002 | Don't Come Near Me | 不要靠近我 | Meng Yue | |
| 2003 | Walk Through Happiness | 走过幸福 | Fang Fang | |
| 2003 | Blue Bird Sky | 青鸟的天空 | Lin Ping | |
| 2003 | Chinese Divorce | 中国式离婚 | Xiao Li | |
| 2004 | When Marriage Comes to an End | 当婚姻走到尽头 | Shan Lingling | |
| 2005 | Student Abroad | 小留学生 | Mrs. Ye | |
| 2006 | Yi hei zhi hei | 以黑治黑 | Shen Lihong | |
| 2006 | Dutiful Son | 孝子 | Xie Yan | |
| 2006 | Suochun | 锁春记 | Chawandan | |
| 2007 | Where is My Home | 何处是我家 | Han Rusu | |
| 2007 | Half of Heaven | 一半天堂 | Chen Xiaoning | |
| 2008 | Ruguo hai you mingtian | 如果还有明天 | Leng Wei | |
| 2008 | Newcomers to the Middle-Aged | 人到中年 | Jiang Ning | |
| 2009 | Shan bei hanzi | 陕北汉子 | Ulanzhu | |
| 2010 | Zhongdiangongmen | 钟点工们 | Liu Li | |
| 2010 | Zong you qingkong | 总有晴空 | Chawandan | |
| 2011 | Cliff | 悬崖 | Sun Yuejian | |
| 2011 | Ni shi wo airen | 你是我爱人 | Chen Xiaoning | |
| 2011 | Ernu de zhanzheng | 儿女的战争 | Leng Wei | |
| 2012 | Luanshi shuxiang | 乱世书香 | Jiang Ning | |
| 2016 | Xiao bieli | 小别离 | Ulanzhu | |
| 2019 | A Little Reunion | 小欢喜 | Liu Jing | Nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series at the Shanghai Television Festival |
| 2021 | LouYang | 风起洛阳 | The Emperor | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Project | Result |
| 2004 | China TV Golden Eagle Awards | Audience's Choice for Actress | Loyal Guardian | Nominated |
| 2006 | China TV Golden Eagle Awards | Audience's Choice for Actress | Chinese Style Divorce | Nominated |
| 2016 | Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Assassin | Nominated |
| 2019 | Berlin International Film Festival | Silver Bear for Best Actress | So Long, My Son | Won |
| 2019 | Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actress | So Long, My Son | Won |
| 2020 | Asian Film Awards | Best Actress | So Long, My Son | Nominated |
| 2019 | Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | So Long, My Son | Nominated |
| 2019 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Performance by an Actress | So Long, My Son | Nominated |
| 2020 | China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | So Long, My Son | Nominated |
| 2020 | Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series | A Little Reunion | Nominated |