# Tong Dawei

Tong Dawei (simplified Chinese: 佟大为; traditional Chinese: 佟大為; pinyin: Tóng Dàwéi, born 3 February 1979) is a Chinese actor and singer. Tong is best known for starring in the television series Jade Goddess of Mercy (2003), Struggle (2007), and Tiger Mom (2015); as well as the films Lost in Beijing (2007), The Flowers of War (2011) and American Dreams in China (2013).
Tong ranked 97th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 84th in 2014, and 51st in 2015.

## Early life and career

Tong Dawei was born in 1979 in Fushun, Liaoning. He joined the Shanghai Theater Academy in 1997 and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting.
Tong first gained attention for his role in the romantic film I Love You (2002) by acclaimed director Zhang Yuan. He then starred in Jade Goddess of Mercy (2003), which was a huge hit with the audience in China and launched Tong into a household name. After the success of Jade Goddess of Mercy, none of Tong's performance struck a chord in the audience, till he starred in the youth drama Romantic Life (2006). His powerful performance in the series left a deep impression on the audiences, and Tong returned to the limelight once again.
Tong hit a new peak in his career with his most successful television series yet; Struggle (2007). Based on the popular novel by Shi Kang, Struggle gained unexpected acclaim and was seen as a breakthrough in Chinese TV production as it broke from the usual Chinese TV series focusing in traditional legends and series. Tong's character, Lu Tao, reflected the rise in a new social class in modern China. The same year, he starred in Lost in Beijing which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and earned Tong a Best New Actor nomination at the Busan Film Critics Awards. He released his debut vocal album titled Da Shi Jie Xiao Zuo Wei (A Small Action in a Big World) in 2007.
In 2008, Tong starred in war epic Red Cliff: Part II, directed by John Woo. The film was also shown at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, bringing Tong onto the international platform for the first time. The same year, Tong joined the Chinese ensemble in the film The Founding of a Republic, a movie marking the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
In 2011, Tong starred in award-winning director Zhang Yimou's film The Flowers of War. Dealing with the sensitive issue of the Rape of Nanjing, Tong plays Major Lee, who died as a hero to save his lost friend during China's anti-Japanese war. To better portray the role, Tong underwent military-like training and lost 16 pounds. Zhang praised Tong's performance, saying that he added an "intellectual temperament to his character" and said he continues to "break through and impress the audience." He became the first Chinese actor to walk the red carpet of the Golden Globe Awards.
Tong received acclaim for his role as an artistic youth in Peter Chan's American Dreams in China (2013), and he won the Best Supporting Actor awards at the Changchun Film Festival and Hundred Flowers Award. This was followed by another role in Peter Chan film, the critically acclaimed Dearest (2014), based on a true story about child abduction. He also co-starred in John Woo's romantic epic The Crossing (2014), based on the true story of the Taiping steamer collision and follows six characters and their intertwining love stories in Taiwan and Shanghai during the 1930s.
Tong reunited with Dearest co-star Zhao Wei in the television series Tiger Mom (2015), which focuses on parenting and children education. Tong won Best Actor at the 17th Huading Awards for his performance.
In 2016, Tong was appointed goodwill ambassador of National Committees for UN Women.

## Personal life

On 17 April 2008, Tong married Guan Yue (born 1979), a film and television actress and the niece of Rosamund Kwan. The wedding was held in the Hotel sofitel Wanda, Beijing. They have two daughters and one son.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | One Hundred Thieves | 一百个小偷 | Shi Gang | |
| 2003 | Double Dating | 非常浪漫 | Xiao Chun | |
| 2003 | I Love You | 我爱你 | Wang Yi | |
| 2003 | Sky of Love | 情牵一线 | Wen Tao | |
| 2003 | Fall in Love at First Sight | 一见钟情 | Zhao Benxuan | |
| 2007 | Lost in Beijing | 苹果 | An Kun | |
| 2008 | Volunteer | 志愿者 | Xiao Ran | |
| 2008 | Fit Lover | 爱情呼叫转移II：爱情左右 | Zhang Ting | |
| 2009 | Red Cliff: Part II | 赤壁-下 | Sun Shucai | |
| 2009 | On His Majesty's Secret Service | 大内密探灵灵狗 | Royal Tiger | |
| 2009 | The Founding of a Republic | 建国大业 | Kong Lingkan | |
| 2009 | Mars Baby | 火星沒事 | Bank Staff | Cameo |
| 2011 | Treasure Inn | 财神客栈 | Wen Wenqie | |
| 2011 | Great Wall My Love | 追爱 | Fang Mingdi | |
| 2011 | The Flowers of War | 金陵十三釵 | Major Li | |
| 2012 | To My Wife | 与妻书 | Lin Juemin | |
| 2012 | The Zodiac Mystery | 十二星座离奇事件 | Chen Wei | |
| 2012 | All for Love | 三个未婚妈妈 | Dong Bei's brother | Cameo |
| 2013 | Better and Better | 越來越好之村晚 | Geng Zhi | |
| 2013 | American Dreams in China | 中国合伙人 | Wang Yang | |
| 2013 | Switch | 天机·富春山居图 | Toshio | |
| 2013 | Badges of Fury | 不二神探 | Real Estate Manager | Cameo |
| 2014 | Dearest | 亲爱的 | Gao Xia | |
| 2014 | But Always | 一生一世 | Teacher | Cameo |
| 2014 | The Crossing | 太平轮 | Tong Daqing | |
| 2014 | Meet Miss Anxiety | 我的早更女友 | Yuan Xiao'ou | |
| 2014 | Love on the Cloud | 微爱之渐入佳境 | Security guard | Cameo |
| 2015 | You Are My Sunshine | 何以笙箫默 | Ying Hui | |
| 2015 | Hollywood Adventures | 横冲直撞好莱坞 | Fang Dawei | |
| 2015 | The Crossing 2 | 太平轮2 | Tong Daqing | |
| 2016 | Lost in White | 冰河追凶 | Wang Hao | |
| 2016 | Scandal Maker | 外公芳龄38 | He Zhiwu | |
| 2018 | Goddesses in the Flames of War | 那些女人 | Teacher Bao | Cameo |
| 2018 | Dream Breaker | 破梦游戏 | Jiang Shan | Cameo |
| 2018 | Kill Mobile | 手机狂响 | Jia Di | |
| 2019 | My People, My Country | 我和我的祖国 | | |
| TBA | Fatal Visit | 圣荷西谋杀案 | | |
| TBA | Midnight Drive | 午夜慢车 | | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Brother's Wife | 嫂娘 | Yun Dong | |
| 1999 | Difficult Lover | 难得有情人 | Tan Yonglin | Cameo |
| 2000 | Life of a Century | 世纪人生 | Da Ming | |
| 2000 | Green Wedding | 绿色婚礼 | Xiao Yong | |
| 2001 | Young Justice Bao II | 少年包青天II | Emperor Song | |
| 2001 | All the Misfortunes Caused by the Angel | 都是天使惹的禍 | Xiong Feng | |
| 2002 | Date at the Aquarium | 海洋馆的约会 | Mai Di | |
| 2003 | Network Love Story | 一网情深 | Zhou Wei | |
| 2003 | Jade Goddess of Mercy | 玉观音 | Yang Rui | |
| 2004 | First Intimate Contact | 第一次親密接觸 | Pizi Cai | |
| 2004 | Water Lilies | 出水芙蓉 | Gao Chu | |
| 2004 | Butterfly Fantasy | 蝴蝶飞飞 | Lan Dongchen | |
| 2004 | Crimson Romance | 紅粉世家 | Yu Shuicun | |
| 2004 | Heaven Has Eyes | 苍天有眼 | Wu Yu | |
| 2004 | Taste of Summer | 夏天的味道 | Zhu Cheng | |
| 2004 | Family on a Diet | 瘦身家族 | Tang Manjin | |
| 2005 | The Vinegar Tribe | 醋溜族 | Xiao Bai | |
| 2006 | Give the Definite Word | 一言为定 | Ximen Hong | |
| 2006 | Romantic Life | 与青春有关的日子 | Fang Yan | |
| 2007 | We Have Nowhere to Place Youth | 我们无处安放的青春 | Li Ran | |
| 2007 | Struggle | 奋斗 | Lu Tao | |
| 2007 | Special Police | 女特警 | Liu Chun | |
| 2008 | The So-called Marriage | 所谓婚姻 | Wu De | |
| 2008 | How Far Is It to My Happiness | 幸福还有多远 | Wang Xiaomao | |
| 2009 | The Perfect Happiness | 幸福的完美 | Worker | Cameo |
| 2009 | Sniper | 狙击手 | Long Shaoqin | |
| 2010 | Marriage Battle | 婚姻保卫战 | Guo Yang | |
| 2011 | All Men Are Brothers | 新水浒 | Su Dongpo | Cameo |
| 2011 | To Southeast Asia | 下南洋 | Jian Zhaoqing | |
| 2011 | Waiting For Our Happiness | 远远的爱 | Lin Ziyang | |
| 2013 | Wonder Lady | 我的极品是前任 | | Cameo |
| 2013 | Matched For Marriage | 门·第 | He Chunsheng | |
| 2013 | Longmen Express | 龙门镖局 | Tong Chengchou | Cameo |
| 2013 | Little Daddy | 小爸爸 | Boss | Cameo |
| 2014 | May December Love | 大丈夫 | Cheng Wu | Cameo |
| 2014 | My Son is Unique | 我的儿子是奇葩 | Chu Hanmin | |
| 2014 | 10 Rides of Red Army | 十送红军 | Zhang Erguang | |
| 2015 | Think Before You Marry | 想明白了再结婚 | Long Xia | |
| 2015 | Tiger Mom | 虎妈猫爸 | Luo Su | |
| 2015 | My Baby | 我的宝贝 | Yuan Xiaofan | |
| 2017 | Love Actually | 人间至味是清欢 | Ding Renjian | |
| 2019 | If I Can Love You So | 如果可以这样爱 | Geng Mochi | |
| 2019 | The Galloped Era | 奔腾年代 | Chang Hanqing | |
| 2020 | The Centimeter of Love | 爱的厘米 | Zhuge Qingfeng | |
| 2021 | Our New Era | 我们的新时代 | Cao Chong | |
| 2021 | A Love for Dilemma | 小舍得 | Xia Junshan | |
| 2021 | Medal of the Republic | 功勋 | Sun Jiadong | |
| 2022 | Modern Marriage | 我们的婚姻 | Sheng Jiang Chuan | |
| 2022 | The Disappearing Child | 消失的孩子 | Yang Yuan | |
| 2023 | The Top Speed | 奔跑吧急救医生 | Zhang Chi | |
| 2023 | Prosecution Elites | 公诉 | He Lu Yuan | |
| TBA | Secret Keepers | 绝密者 | Jin Haodong | |
| TBA | The Gap | 一念无间 | Su Ming | |
| TBA | | 女士的品格 | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2003 | 9th Huabiao Film Awards | Best Newcomer | I Love You | Nominated |
| 2004 | 24th Flying Apsaras Award | Best Actor | Jade Goddess of Mercy | Nominated |
| 2004 | 22nd China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actor | Jade Goddess of Mercy | Won |
| 2005 | 5th Top Ten China TV Arts | Best Actor | Jade Goddess of Mercy | Won |
| 2006 | 11th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Newcomer | Lost in Beijing | Nominated |
| 2007 | 57th Berlin International Film Festival | Best Actor | Lost in Beijing | Nominated |
| 2012 | 12th Chinese Film Media Awards | Most Popular Actor | The Flowers of War | Won |
| 2013 | 5th China Image Film Festival | Best Actor | American Dreams in China | Nominated |
| 2013 | 5th China Image Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2013 | 50th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Nominated |
| 2013 | 10th Guangzhou Student Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2013 | 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Nominated |
| 2014 | 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Nominated |
| 2014 | 12th Changchun Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2014 | 32nd Hundred Flowers Award | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2014 | 10th Chinese American Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | American Dreams in China | Won |
| 2015 | 16th Huading Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Crossing | Nominated |
| 2015 | 17th Huading Awards | Best Actor | Tiger Mom | Won |
| 2015 | 20th Asian Television Award | Best Actor | Tiger Mom | Nominated |
| 2016 | 22nd Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actor | Tiger Mom | Nominated |
| 2019 | Golden Bud – The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | If I Can Love You So, The Galloped Age | Nominated |
| 2020 | 7th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actor (Sapphire) | — | Pending |