Sino Celeb is a monthly feature where we introduce a Chinese celebrity to our readers.
Not acquainted with Xu Zheng’s work? You should be. While we’ll forgive you for not being familiar with his role as a pig-like beast in the film adaptation of Journey to the West, Xu’s part in this summer’s hit black comedy Dying to Survive is credited with the film’s massive success (RMB3-billion at the box office). Here are five things you should know about Xu Zheng:
1. Born to Act:
The Shanghai-born actor has been fascinated with acting since he was in primary school, when he took part in a plethora of school performances. In 1994 Xu then went on to graduate from Shanghai Theatre Academy, one of the best of its kind in the Middle Kingdom.
2. He Married His Co-Star:
Xu made his mark with his comical portrayal of a pig-like character on the 2000 TV series roughly translated as ‘Sunny Pig,’ where he met his current wife, Tao Hong, while working on set.
3. A Box Office Guarantee:
After taking center screen in Lost on Journey, Xu directed and starred in two sequels – Lost in Thailand and Lost in Hong Kong, both of which were box office hits.
4. Sophomore Baldy:
His signature bald head wasn’t a blessing to his acting career, causing problems for him at a young age. In college, classmates ridiculed him during his sophomore year when he started losing his hair.
5. He’s Socially Responsible:
Xu was recently ranked No.1 on a social responsibility list compiled by Beijing Normal University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Recognized for his charitable deeds, Mr. Xu is the face of a charity that provides health insurance for underprivileged households.
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[Cover image via 徐峥/Weibo]
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