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On February 19, 2024, the prestigious director Jia Zhangke released news on social media about his new work "The Merry Generation", a master who has directed films starring his wife Zhao Tao many times, this announcement is inevitably reminiscent.
Sure enough, under the teaser poster released by Mr. Jia, the discussion among fans was in full swing, and the topic quickly changed from the film itself to Ms. Zhao Tao.
"Zhao Tao will definitely play the heroine, right?" I heard that Director Jia's latest masterpiece is still starring Zhao Tao!" She won the Chicago Film Queen's last film, and this time she is expected to win the Cannes Palme d'Or!" Countless confident messages poured in, showing the love and support of fans for the famous artist couple.
There is no doubt that the audience is full of great expectations for director Jia Zhangke's new work.
Everyone's recognition of Ms. Zhao Tao's strength also comes largely from the careful guidance that Mr. Jia Zhangke has devoted to her for many years. In the hearts of netizens, this couple is simply a pair of confidants who love art and have a heart-to-heart relationship.
Who would have thought that Ms. Zhao Tao, who has made countless fans crazy now, was just an unknown dance teacher back then?
If it weren't for Director Jia Zhangke's unique vision and recruiting her into the industry, I'm afraid Zhao Tao would still be just a nobody who is still concentrating on dance teaching.
Looking back, giving up his original dance career and switching to the film and television industry was really a difficult choice for Zhao Tao. The hesitation and uneasiness in my heart can be imagined, but in the end, I was impressed by Mr. Jia Zhangke's courage and enthusiasm.
Under the director's patient guidance, this unknown dance teacher has been carefully shaped, and thus opened a brilliant acting career.
Zhao Tao himself never imagined that one day he would become a high-profile international superstar. She was just moved by Director Jia's enthusiasm and devoted herself to a new career with enthusiasm, but then unexpectedly reaped today's achievements.
Time goes back to 1999, that year, director Jia Zhangke was in the limelight. The film "Xiao Wu" directed by him has just won an award at the Berlin International Film Festival, and his career is beginning to show its edge.
At this juncture, Mr. Jia, who was in his bright years, met a young and beautiful dance teacher Zhao Tao.
Jia Zhangke, who was in his prime, fell in love with Ms. Zhao Tao's outstanding oriental temperament at first sight, and did not hesitate to invite her to join the crew of the new work "Standing Stage" that he was preparing.
For a while, the tacit cooperation between the two in and out of the play caused countless talkers. On the big screen, Zhao Tao portrayed the character's character vividly with a simple and natural temperament; In front of and behind the scenes, she humbly learned from the director and absorbed valuable artistic experience.
It was from this movie that Jia Zhangke and Zhao Tao created the legendary combination of "Queen Director & Chief Actress". With the blessing of Zhao Tao's excellent acting skills, many films directed by Director Jia himself have been very successful.
The audience was also deeply attracted by Zhao Tao's pure and gentle temperament, and praised her as a well-deserved "new little girl in the entertainment industry".
However, at the same time as the career cooperation, a legendary relationship story also began. As we all know, director Jia Zhangke was already married at that time.
But Ms. Zhao Tao's maverick artistic temperament fascinated him, so he resolutely abandoned his original partner and entered the marriage hall with Zhao Tao instead.
The emotional story of Jia Zhangke and Zhao Tao can be described as ups and downs, twists and turns. In order to marry his beloved Ms. Zhao Tao, Mr. Jia even resolutely divorced his wife at the time, completely leaving his past life behind.
This decision undoubtedly disturbed the entire film industry, and the majority of fans were amazed by their decision, and they all sighed that Director Jia had a deep love for Zhao Tao, which was really moving mountains and reclaiming the sea, and poor mountains and bad waters.
In 2011, the artist couple, who had formed a casual relationship, finally tied the knot in the romantic city of Venice. The following year, they held a grand wedding in their hometown of Shanxi, which shows their dedication to love.
Since then, Jia Zhangke and Zhao Tao have worked hand in hand with one heart and one mind, and devoted themselves to their beloved film career.
In order to better maintain the best performing state, Ms. Zhao Tao even made up her mind not to have children and focused all her energy on career development. Faced with doubts from the outside world, Zhao Tao looked calm.
She only has a career in her eyes, and she only has full support for her director's husband. Mr. Jia Zhangke also firmly supported Zhao Tao's decision, and the two of them looked at each other and bravely moved forward towards their common ideals.
With the continuous release of director Jia Zhangke's works, Ms. Zhao Tao has finally made a name for herself in the international film industry with her excellent acting skills. One after another, she has repeatedly starred in her husband Jia's films, from Berlin, to Venice, and then to Cannes, and has won the highest praise at major heavyweight film festivals around the world.
In 2020, Zhao Tao won the high-profile Academy Awards jury vote, and competed on the same stage with Chinese superstars such as Wu Jing and Jet Li, adding a heavy expectation for Asian actors to make a wonderful appearance in the lofty hall of the Oscars.
As soon as this news was exposed, it immediately caused an uproar inside and outside the film industry, and countless fans spontaneously organized the activity of "calling for Goddess Zhao Tao", which was hotly discussed.
In a blink of an eye, Zhao Tao was on the honor list of the "25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century" with his mature and enthusiastic unique charm, which can be called a new milestone in his personal acting career.
When her photos were first revealed, everyone realized that the actress from the East had an exotic style, like a fresh breeze blowing in their faces, making people fragrant and intoxicated.
For winning this award, Zhao Tao maintained a calm and low-key style. She just smiled indifferently and pointed into the distance, saying that what she was pursuing was just the purest artistic realm.
However, such a humble and polite response undoubtedly added a lot of points to her fans.
Throughout Ms. Zhao Tao's entire acting career, although her personal popularity has not reached the top level like that of the actress, her influence and recognition within the film industry are obvious to all.
This is not only due to her own superb acting skills, but also to her director husband Jia Zhangke.
It can be said that it is precisely because of Jia Zhangke, the "queen director", who spared no effort to support the scene, that Zhao Tao was able to open all the way and won many international awards. Since his debut in 1999, Director Jia has loved Zhao Tao and spared no effort to tailor the role for her, bringing her unique temperament into full play.
Now, 25 years later, the artist couple is still as alive as they were back then, and they continue to deliver incredible films to audiences.
Although Zhao Tao's fame among the general public is not too high, in the film and television industry, she has long been a highly respected "dark fragrance latent art" actor.
I believe that as long as Jia Zhangke, a "favorite wife and madman", does not give up, Zhao Tao will be able to go further and further on the road of art, and finally achieve an indelible reputation in the film industry.