# Wen Zhang

Wen Zhang (Chinese: 文章, born 26 June 1984) is a Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2006. Wen ranked 58th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, and 45th in 2014.

## Career
### Rising popularity

Wen first became known for his role in the youth drama Romantic Life.
Wen rose to fame for his role in the youth television series 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.
Another notable series Wen starred in is Dwelling Narrowness (2009). The series, which focuses on rising property prices in China and the impact it has on youths and their ambitions, was a major hit with the audiences and sparked a discussion among youths online. The same year, he made his film debut in A Tale of Two Donkeys (directed by Li Dawei), a black comedy film set in the Cultural Revolution. Wen won the Best New Actor award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards for his performance.

### Mainstream success

Wen had his first major role on the screen in Xue Xiaolu's literary film, Ocean Heaven (2010), playing a 21-year-old autistic man whose only happiness is swimming. Wen was initially rejected by the producers, as he did not fit their requirements; and this prompted him to master four kinds of living strokes in one week. After he successfully got the role, Wen underwent arduous training - which involves swimming 5000 m per day and a 180-day's living with a group of autistic people, which Wen says helped him get closer to their inner mind. Wen's efforts paid off to overwhelming positive reviews from critics, and he clinched the Best Actor award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards. The same year, Wen won the Best Actor award at the Sichuan Television Festival and Audience's Choice for Actor at the Golden Eagle Awards for his role as a war-time hero in Snow Leopard.
In 2011, Wen starred in the romantic comedy Love is Not Blind alongside Bai Baihe. The low-budget film became a surprise hit and ended up grossing over 350 million yuan at the Chinese box office. Wen won the Best Actor award at the Hundred Flowers Award for his performance. The same year, Wen won the Best Actor award at the China TV Drama Awards for his performance in Naked Wedding. The series, which explores the struggles a China couple faces when they marry for love with no house, substantial savings, or elaborate ceremonies, struck a chord with Chinese youths and become a major hit.
In 2013, he starred as Tang Sanzang in Stephen Chow's fantasy blockbuster Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, which broke records to become the highest grossing Chinese movie then. He also starred in action comedy Badges of Fury alongside Jet Li. The same year, Wen launched his directorial debut, Little Daddy on the small screen; which stars himself as the lead actor. He received the award for Best TV Series for the production, and the Best TV Actor award at the LETV Awards.

### Post-scandal and successful comeback

Wen directed his first film, When Larry Met Mary which was released in 2016. However, despite positive reviews, the film failed to do well at the box office. Wen received the Best Directorial Debut award at the Golden Rooster Awards.
The same year, Wen made a successful comeback in 2016 with the hit television series, Young Marshal, a biopic based on the life of war hero Zhang Xueliang.

## Personal life

Wen married Chinese actress Ma Yili, who is eight years older, and they have a two-year-old daughter. They first met while appearing in a Chinese historical television drama The Jinyiwei Guard. When they filmed Struggle together, they became lovers. However, in 2014, Wen was exposed by the media to be involved in an affair with Yao Di, a Chinese actress who starred with Wen in the 2011 television series Naked Marriage. His affair attracted widespread discussion on Sina Weibo with over millions of comments. On 28 July 2019, they announced their divorce on Sina Weibo.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | A Tale of Two Donkeys | 走着瞧 | Ma Jie | |
| 2010 | Ocean Heaven | 海洋天堂 | Da Fu | |
| 2011 | Mr. & Mrs. Incredible | 神奇侠侣 | Emperor | |
| 2011 | The Law of Attraction | 万有引力 | Gao Yuan | |
| 2011 | The Sorcerer and the White Snake | 白蛇传说 | Neng Ren | |
| 2011 | Love is Not Blind | 失恋33天 | Wang Xiaojian | |
| 2012 | In-Laws New Year | 亲家过年 | Zhang Xuelun | |
| 2012 | Truth or Dare | 真心话大冒险 | | Cameo |
| 2012 | All for Love | 三个未婚妈妈 | | Cameo |
| 2012 | The Guillotines | 血滴子 | Qian Long | |
| 2013 | Beyond the Bounds | 越位者 | | Cameo |
| 2013 | Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons | 西游·降魔篇 | Tang Sanzang | |
| 2013 | Badges of Fury | 不二神探 | Wang Bu'er | |
| 2014 | On the Way | 我在路上最爱你 | Xia Yu | |
| 2014 | Gone with the Bullets | 一步之遥 | Wu Qi | |
| 2016 | The Mermaid | 美人鱼 | Policeman | Cameo |
| 2016 | League of Gods | 封神传奇 | Nezha | |
| 2016 | When Larry Met Mary | 陆垚知马俐 | | Director |
| 2017 | Gong Shou Dao | 功守道 | | Director |
| 2018 | Fat Buddies | 胖子行动队 | | |
| 2019 | God of Practice | 遇神 | | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Bloom of Youth | 青春正点 | Chen Long | |
| 2001 | Black Triangle | 黑三角 | Du Liang | |
| 2003 | | 拯救少年犯 | Cao Xiaolei | |
| 2004 | You Are Smiling, While I am Weeping | 你在微笑我却哭了 | Chen Chen | |
| 2006 | Song of Youth | 青春之歌 | Lin Daofeng | |
| 2006 | Romantic Life | 与青春有关的日子 | Zhuo Yue | |
| 2006 | Embroidered Uniform Guard | 锦衣卫 | Zhu Tianjiao | |
| 2007 | | 暗流 | Duan Yifei | |
| 2007 | Struggle | 奋斗 | Xiang Nan | |
| 2007 | Where is Happiness | 幸福在哪里 | | Cameo |
| 2008 | Brothers | 兄弟门 | Hua Xiaowen | |
| 2009 | Prominent Family | 望族 | Du Qingming | |
| 2009 | Love in Sun Moon Lake | 爱在日月潭 | Meng Ting | |
| 2009 | Dwelling Narrowness | 蜗居 | Xiao Bei | |
| 2010 | Snow Leopard | 雪豹 | Zhou Weiguo | |
| 2010 | National Anthem | 国歌 | Nie Er | |
| 2010 | | 冰是睡着的水 | Coach Gao | |
| 2011 | Naked Wedding | 裸婚时代 | Liu Yiyang | |
| 2011 | | 再过把瘾 | | Cameo |
| 2011 | Black Fox | 黑狐 | Luo Bin | |
| 2013 | Blood Rose 3 | 血色玫瑰之女子特遣队 | Wang Jingwei | |
| 2013 | Little Daddy | 小爸爸 | Yu Guo | Also director |
| 2013 | Love is not Blind | 失恋33天 | | Cameo |
| 2016 | Young Marshal | 少帅 | Zhang Xueliang | |
| 2016 | Happy Mitan | 欢喜密探 | | Cameo |
| 2017 | Razor | 剃刀边缘 | Xu Congliang | Also director |
| 2020 | Raiders of the New Way | 一步登天 | Na Lan | |
| 2020 | Snow Leopard 2 | 雪豹2 | Zhou Weiguo | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2009 | China Movie Channel Media Awards | Best New Actor | A Tale of Two Donkeys | Won |
| 2010 | China Movie Channel Media Awards | Best Actor | Ocean Heaven | Won |
| 2011 | Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actor | Ocean Heaven | Nominated |
| 2011 | Beijing College Student Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | Ocean Heaven | Won |
| 2011 | Huabiao Film Awards | Best Newcomer | Ocean Heaven | Won |
| 2011 | Golden Phoenix Awards | Society Award | Ocean Heaven | Won |
| 2011 | China TV Drama Awards | Best Actor | Naked Wedding | Won |
| 2011 | Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actor | Snow Leopard | Nominated |
| 2012 | Golden Eagle Awards | Audience's Choice for Actor | Snow Leopard | Won |
| 2012 | Golden Eagle Awards | Most Popular Actor | Snow Leopard | Won |
| 2012 | Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actor | Naked Wedding | Nominated |
| 2012 | China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actor | Love is Not Blind | Nominated |
| 2012 | Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actor | Love is Not Blind | Nominated |
| 2012 | Beijing College Student Film Festival | Most Popular Actor | Love is Not Blind | Won |
| 2012 | Hundred Flowers Award | Best Actor | Love is Not Blind | Won |
| 2013 | Sichuan Television Festival | Best Actor | Snow Leopard | Won |
| 2013 | LeTV Awards | Best Director (TV) | Little Daddy | Won |
| 2013 | LeTV Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Little Daddy | Won |
| 2013 | China TV Drama Awards | Best Director | Little Daddy | Won |
| 2016 | Asian New Talent Award | Best Director | When Larry Met Mary | Nominated |
| 2017 | 31st Golden Rooster Awards | Best Directorial Debut | When Larry Met Mary | Won |