On March 14, Zhang Ziyi attended a brand event and caused controversy because of her unusual appearance.
The actress appeared with a round face, uneven makeup further revealed her flaws and made her face look stiff.
Audiences expressed regret because Zhang Ziyi was originally a star with impressive slim and delicate features.
A part of netizens suspected that the actress had cosmetic surgery to keep her youth, to the point that many people said it was "hard to recognize" Zhang Ziyi in this appearance.
At the same time, viewers advised Zhang Ziyi not to have cosmetic surgery, because she is famous for her very photogenic "movie face", if surgery is performed, she will lose this advantage.
Besides, fans also spoke out to defend Zhang Ziyi, saying that she has gained about 10 kg to serve her new role, so her face looks fuller. But this information has not been officially confirmed.
In a recent interview, Zhang Ziyi revealed that the film she directed and starred in is still in the script completion stage, not starting filming in May as rumored; but she will join the new film crew from April.
Zhang Ziyi emphasized that the new movie is not a romantic movie and there are no fighting scenes. Many people once predicted that she would collaborate for the second time with director Ang Lee in the movie "Lao Jinshan", but this speculation was quickly rejected.
Later, sources said she could play the main role in the movie "Finding Your Child", produced by Tao Bao Binh's company, directed by Vuong Hi Hi. This project is still in preparation, expected to start filming in April 2026.
Zhang Ziyi has always worked very discreetly, usually only announcing when everything is certain, because she does not need to rely on noisy promotion, that is the creative point of view that she always maintains.
Recently, thanks to the movie "Tuong Vien Long", Zhang Ziyi was nominated for Best Leading Actress at the Golden Statue Film Awards, and also received the Best Person award presented by the Hong Kong Film Screenwriters Association (China).
The media believes that Zhang Ziyi has reached the "Great Mansion" milestone of Chinese cinema, because she has won all 5 major awards - Kim Ke, Bach Hoa, Hoa Bieu, Kim Tuong, Kim Ma.
This record has not been surpassed by anyone to date. In addition, thanks to "The Grandmaster", she alone won 12 Best Leading Actress awards, setting a record for the Chinese film with the most acting awards for a film.
Zhang Ziyi is not only an actress but also a promoter of Eastern culture. At international events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, she often appears with Chinese cultural elements such as folding fans or Eastern-style jewelry, showing cultural confidence.
In 2025, she was officially awarded the title "Image Ambassador for International Promotion of Chinese Cinema" by China Cinema Channel, recognizing her role as a representative of Chinese cinema on the international stage.
She has also been an Oscar judge and chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival many times, deeply involved in the global film evaluation system.
Zhang Ziyi's influence is also shown in the fashion field. At Milan Fashion Week 2025, she was invited to end Armani's high-end fashion show, even wearing two unique dresses, which foreign media called "a homecoming welcome".
In addition, she has also been a global ambassador of Dior for more than 10 years, becoming one of the few Asian female stars who can cooperate long-term with international luxury brands.
