Jackie Chan vs. Bruce Lee: who is the coolest Asian in the history of action films

Childhood

Jet Li (real name Li Lianjie) was born on April 26, 1963 in Beijing into a large family in which two eldest sons and two eldest daughters were already growing up. The actor's father, Li Qingquan, died when Li was not even two years old. The actor doesn't even remember what he looked like. The family has fallen on hard times.

Jet Li as a child

Having lost her husband, Zhang Feng Lan began to overprotect her youngest son. Li was prohibited from everything that constituted the leisure time of an ordinary Chinese boy in those years: cycling, swimming, ice skating, in a word, everything that had the slightest danger. His childhood passed under the auspices of his mother’s constant taunts: “Don’t touch!”, “Don’t eat!”, “Don’t you dare!”. While all the peers were playing on the street, Lee looked at them from the window. And he went to school later than the others - at eight years old.

The teachers quickly fell in love with the newcomer because he was extremely honest, never misbehaved, and did his homework carefully. He got straight A's in all subjects, except for music, since Lee had no hearing. And the physical education teacher allowed the kid to stand next to him during a long break (after the second lesson in Chinese schools there is a break for exercise) and count: “One, two, three, four...”.

KisTv

Born 04/26/1963, Beijing, China. Chinese actor, wushu athlete

Winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards (2008)

Childhood

Jet Li, real name Li Lianjie, was born on April 26, 1963 in Beijing. The boy went to school at the age of eight and was the oldest student in his class. The teachers liked Lee, and not because he often helped teach physical education lessons, he was an exemplary and exemplary student. After finishing each class, Jet Li’s parents sent him to a sports camp for the summer, where he began to seriously study wushu.

Wushu

In 1972, the guy had already gone through several stages of selection and entered the national wushu championship and won the “Best Master” prize there. After such a victory, the aspiring athlete was completely freed from classes at a regular school, and most of the time Jet Li honed his skills in the gym. In 1974, in China, only the best of the best were selected for a new stage of selection among Wushu athletes. And Jet Li was among them! Then the country's National Wushu Team was formed, consisting of 30 people, including Li. The team represented the Republic of China in the USA. This trip took a special place in the guy’s life. During their trip to America, the Chinese athletes were guarded by dozens of CIA agents, State Department employees and police officers. Jet Li's performance was celebrated by President Richard Nixon. The boy saw the luxurious life of people in the West and it became a culture shock for him - he noticed that the Americans were friendly and could hardly be enemies. From that time on, Jet Li's worldview began to change dramatically. The young athlete was trained by the best martial arts masters in China. In 1975, at the age of twelve, he was sent to the qualifying tournament of the Third National Wushu Championship. Lee won in five disciplines out of five possible, his opponents were adult athletes. That same year, Jet Li won four gold medals in the all-around, unarmed complex, spear complex and Tao sword complex at the Third Championship itself in Beijing. From 1976 to 1977, the Chinese national team made a world tour, where athletes demonstrated wushu techniques in different countries. A well-known athlete and as a “trusted” person, Jet Li, the Chinese authorities began to invite him to state banquets and meetings with foreign delegations. In 1979, Chinese authorities held visiting demonstrations in Great Britain. At the National Wushu Competition in 1977, Jet Li took first place in the Tao sword complex and became virtually inaccessible among followers of the long fist style. The following year, Jet Li again became the gold medalist in the all-around, unarmed complex and Dao sword complex. And in 1979, at the Fourth Chinese Wushu Championship, the talented athlete won in the all-around, and in the “long fist” style, and in the complex without weapons, and in the complex with the Dao sword, and became the first in exhibition fights.

Film career

Jet Li entered the Asian film industry at the age of 18, thanks to his spectacular achievements in sports. At a wushu competition, the athlete was noticed by directors and offered to act in films, promising to make him the next Bruce Lee. Jet Li played his first major and prominent role in the film “Shaolin Temple” directed by Cheng Hsin in 1982. The film was a huge success and on this wave two more sequels were shot - in 1983, “Shaolin Temple 2: Children of Shaolin” and in 1986, “Shaolin Temple 3: Northern and Southern Shaolin.” These three series were considered the best Shaolin films. After the Shaolin trilogy, the aspiring actor and famous athlete received the nickname “Jet,” which translated means “jet.” After the release of the trilogy, the actor took the pseudonym Jet Li, becoming a legend in China. On the set of the film “Shaolin Martial Arts,” Li had some acting differences with the director, after which Jet Li decided to start making films himself and play the main roles. However, his first and last film, “Born to Defend,” about the adventures of a young soldier during World War II, failed miserably at the box office and for a long time discouraged the actor from doing something other than his own business. Added to all the failures was a back injury received by the actor while performing a complex film stunt. For the next two years, Jet Li tried to obtain US citizenship, but the idea of ​​moving to the West also failed. In 1991, Jet Li met Tsui Hark, who later invited the actor to film “Once Upon a Time in China.” The film was a huge success, received excellent reviews from critics, and was followed by two proposals for a sequel to the film “Once Upon a Time in China,” which were released in 1992 and 1993. Between filming the film “Once Upon a Time in China,” he managed to star in the feature films “The Legend of the Swordsman,” “Master of Tai Chi,” and “Two Warriors.” Jet Li worked a lot and fruitfully in Hong Kong and played numerous roles with kung fu techniques, both in good and mediocre films. In the 1993 films “Legend” and “Legend 2,” Jet Li brilliantly played the role of the young kung fu master Fong Sai Yuk. These cult films were shot in the best traditions of martial arts films and became classics of Hong Kong cinema. This was followed by an equally successful appearance in the film “Claws of Steel” in the role of the temperamental Wong and in the film “Servants of Evil”, in which the irresistible Jet Li perfectly portrayed the sensual Mo Kei. Jet Li's film career was steadily gaining film speed. Every year, films starring the incendiary Jet Li were released. In 1994, the actor credited his film credits with roles in the sensational films: “The Bodyguard from Beijing,” “The Legend of the Red Dragon,” and “Red Dragon.” In the same year there was also the film “Fist of Legend”, where the actor successfully worked in the role of Zhen Chen. The plot of this film, however, was very reminiscent of the film “Fist of Fury” with the legendary Bruce Lee. However, the role of Jet Li clearly differed in acting from his compatriot, which was immediately noted by all film critics and Hollywood film bosses. A fan of Hong Kong cinema, Quentin Tarantino helped Jet Li with several projects in the American box office. America appreciated and remembered the first films with the participation of the athletic Chinese actor. Proposals were not long in coming. The actor was in great demand. He moved from one set to another, fortunately Jet Li’s makeup did not require any special changes. From 1995 to 1997, Jet starred in the films: “Secret Agent” with the well-performed role of Kung Wei, the actor played the role of Keith Lee in “At Risk” and the film “Black Mask”, where Lee brilliantly played the role of Black Mask. In 1997, Jet Li played the role of Chinese folk hero-liberator kung fu master and healer Wong Fei Hong in the sequel to Once Upon a Time in China VI. The performance of the stunts and their entertainment value put this film trilogy among the most outstanding films about martial arts.

Hollywood

In 1998, having already gained great popularity in Asia, Europe and America, Jet Li once again accepted the invitation of Hollywood. Jet Li starred with legendary director Richard Donner as the evil Chinese uncle Sing Koo in the blockbuster Lethal Weapon 4. Then the actor first appeared on camera in the role of a negative hero. It was both an amazing acting job and a fascinating film in all respects. Hollywood has completely taken over both the actions and thoughts of the actor. But as a true patriot, Jet Li still continued to act in China. In 1998, viewers saw the popular actor in the role of the assassin Fu in the film “Once Upon a Time in China 3” with the already famous role of Wong. And again filming in America! In 2000, Jet Li received rave reviews for his role as Han Sing in the Warner Bros. film Romeo Must Die, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and produced by Joel Silver. Luck went side by side with Jet Li's film life. The actor masterfully played the main role, and his partner was the singer Aalie Houghton, who tragically died in 2001. The eccentric melodrama, which featured famous actors Russell Wong, Delroy Lindo and Isaiah Washington, told how a war raged between the mafia families of Chinese and blacks in the port part of Oakland. To the delight of the audience, the film productions were simply stuffed with hip-hop and kung fu. 2001 was full of films starring Jet Li. The actor finished working with the 20th Century Fox film studio with the film Kiss of the Dragon, in which he took on part of the production work in addition to the role he played. Jet played a Chinese intelligence officer sent to Paris on a deadly mission. The film also stars Bridget Fonda and Tchéky Karyo. The premiere of this film, directed by Chris Nahon and written by Luc Besson and Robert Kamen, exceeded all expectations in terms of box office receipts, excellent responses from film critics, and audience appreciation. Jet Li basked in the rays of film fame, while never ceasing to hone both his acting skills and his athletic talent. Jet Li brightly starred in the project of the Revolution film studio directed by James Wong “Confrontation”, where he successfully played the role of agent Gabriel Hulot and worked in partnership with film actors Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham. This time, Jet Li managed to skillfully combine a couple of roles at once. He played the lead role of Gabriel, a police officer who struggled with his sinister manifestation. And he appeared in a small role in a massive street brawl, once again demonstrating his sporting achievements. The film was simply packed with sci-fi elements and the everyday struggle between good and evil. At the end of 2001, Jet Li, together with Mel Gibson's company, completed filming of the television series "Invincible". The spectacular combination of martial arts and excellent fight choreography in these films demonstrated the unique Hong Kong film style to the entire world film audience.

Career continuation

In mid-2002, the popular Jet Li completed his work in another large film project with a budget of 17 million dollars, “Hero,” in which he superbly played the Man with No Name, and which also starred Jang Ziyi, Maggie Cheung and Donnie Yen. The premiere of this film took place on December 18 in Beijing, and at the beginning of 2003 it collected the largest box office receipts in China. In December of the same year, Jet finished filming the action drama “From Cradle to Grave” directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and produced by Joel Silver along with American rap star DMX Kelly Hu. Jet Li's stellar film career did not stand still for a minute. In 2003, a whole series of very successful films followed. The actor starred with the legendary Luc Besson in the film “Danny Chain Dog” in the title role of the intrepid Danny, who masterfully mastered martial arts. Filming of the crime film took place in France from April to June. Actors Kerry Condon and Morgan Freeman also took part in the work on this film. And in the same year, the famous athlete and actor also worked in the role of Su in the film “From the Cradle to the Grave.” And then, unexpectedly for the entire film elite, the fighting actor unexpectedly decided to take a short film vacation, which, however, resulted in a three-year film break. But after this break, appearing on camera in a small role in the film “Fearless,” Jet Li decided to make up for lost time in 2007. And the film proposals were not long in coming. Jet Li successfully starred in several cult films. This is the melodrama “The Generals”, and the film “Blood Brothers”, and the horror film “War”, in which Jet Li played the main role of the mysterious and elusive killer Rog, who several years ago killed a policeman’s partner along with his family. The policeman from San Francisco was then brilliantly played by Jason Statham. In 2008, Jet Li played in another fantasy-style adventure film directed by Rob Minkoff, “The Forbidden Kingdom,” with a brilliantly worked lead role as the Monkey King, where the actor first starred in a duet with the talented cult actor Jackie Chan. He played the role of teenager Jason Tripitikas, obsessed with kung fu and Hong Kong action films, who turned out to be the chosen one, and who was destined to return the fighting pole to the immortal Monkey King. Not the last film work in the movie star’s filmography was the cult film directed by Rob Cohen, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” in 2008. The actor again played the main role of the evil mummy of the Dragon Emperor, who came to life after several thousand years. Mummy - Jet Li was ready to raise the entire Asian state to fight for world domination. The legendary Brendan Fraser and Maria Belo shared the set with the actor.

Personal life

The personal life of the great Jet Li is extremely prosaic. In 1987, Jet Li married athlete Huang Qiuyan, with whom he competed in the Chinese Wushu team, and with him the athlete starred in the film “Shaolin Temple.” In 1990, the married couple divorced, and Jet had two daughters from their marriage. In 1999, Jet Li married for the second time. Lee's chosen one was the Hong Kong actress Nina Li Chi, with whom the famous actor had a son, Jane, in 2000, and a daughter, Jadu, in 2002.

Interesting Facts

In 1974, a team of athletes, of which Jet Li was a member, was assigned to represent the People's Republic of China, so in America, Li tried to independently check for the presence of “bugs”: while in an American hotel room, he went up to a vase, then to a mirror, to a telephone and loudly spoke his wishes . Then Jet left the room for a while, and when he returned, his wishes were strictly fulfilled. In 2004, while vacationing in the Maldives, Jet Li and his daughter were caught in a tsunami. At first there was a version that Lee died during the cataclysm, but later it turned out that he only injured his leg while saving his daughter from the hotel lobby. In Hollywood, Jet Li was offered a role in the film trilogy "The Matrix" and in the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but he refused because of a promise to his wife that if she was pregnant, the actor would stay with her until the birth of the child and would not work. The popular actor and athlete grew up in Beijing, and the first films he saw as a child were Soviet films, such as “Lenin in October”, “Lenin in 1918”.

Introduction to Wushu

Li began to practice wushu thanks to a happy accident. When he graduated from the first grade, all junior high school students from Beijing were sent to a sports-oriented camp so that the urchins would not run around uselessly all summer. All wards were divided into four groups: football, swimming, gymnastics and wushu. Lee was lucky enough to get into the latter.

At the age of 8, Jet Li was introduced to Wushu.

The boy had no idea what wushu was, but, being an obedient student, he diligently followed the coach’s instructions. All summer he and about a thousand other kids practiced martial arts two and a half hours a day. Everyone liked it, because it was more interesting than hanging out on the street.

When the new school year began, the coach told everyone to leave. All but twenty guys, including Jet Li, and he was the youngest student, his group mates were in grades 5-6. The mentor even bought food for Jet's family, since they could not afford meat, which was so necessary for proper muscle development.

The training became more and more difficult. Every day Lee waited for the older kids after school and went with them to the sports school. In winter, it was impossible to study in this old building, and the students were kicked out into the street, all the same, the boys were freezing, and every movement was painful.

Jet Li and his mother

Lee’s mother already did not approve of her son’s interests, but when she found out that her 9-year-old baby would go to a competition in a neighboring province, she created a scandal. But the boy made the main decision in his life and still went to the competition. He performed best of all, and yet famous athletes came to the event. He received no trophies, no medals, no money, since the main prize was the title "Excellent".

Biography

Born 04/26/1963, Beijing, China.
Chinese actor, wushu athlete

Winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards (2008)

Childhood

Jet Li, real name Li Lianjie, was born on April 26, 1963 in Beijing. The boy went to school at the age of eight and was the oldest student in his class. The teachers liked Lee, and not because he often helped teach physical education lessons, he was an exemplary and exemplary student. After finishing each class, Jet Li’s parents sent him to a sports camp for the summer, where he began to seriously study wushu.

Wushu

In 1972, the guy had already gone through several stages of selection and entered the national wushu championship and won the “Best Master” prize there. After such a victory, the aspiring athlete was completely freed from classes at a regular school, and most of the time Jet Li honed his skills in the gym. In 1974, in China, only the best of the best were selected for a new stage of selection among Wushu athletes. And Jet Li was among them! Then the country's National Wushu Team was formed, consisting of 30 people, including Li. The team represented the Republic of China in the USA. This trip took a special place in the guy’s life.

During their trip to America, the Chinese athletes were guarded by dozens of CIA agents, State Department employees and police officers. Jet Li's performance was celebrated by President Richard Nixon. The boy saw the luxurious life of people in the West and it became a culture shock for him - he noticed that the Americans were friendly and could hardly be enemies. From that time on, Jet Li's worldview began to change dramatically.

The young athlete was trained by the best martial arts masters in China. In 1975, at the age of twelve, he was sent to the qualifying tournament of the Third National Wushu Championship. Lee won in five disciplines out of five possible, his opponents were adult athletes. That same year, Jet Li won four gold medals in the all-around, unarmed complex, spear complex and Tao sword complex at the Third Championship itself in Beijing.

From 1976 to 1977, the Chinese national team made a world tour, where athletes demonstrated wushu techniques in different countries. A well-known athlete and as a “trusted” person, Jet Li, the Chinese authorities began to invite him to state banquets and meetings with foreign delegations. In 1979, Chinese authorities held visiting demonstrations in Great Britain.

At the National Wushu Competition in 1977, Jet Li took first place in the Tao sword complex and became virtually inaccessible among followers of the long fist style. The following year, Jet Li again became the gold medalist in the all-around, unarmed complex and Dao sword complex. And in 1979, at the Fourth Chinese Wushu Championship, the talented athlete won in the all-around, and in the “long fist” style, and in the complex without weapons, and in the complex with the Dao sword, and became the first in exhibition fights.

Film career

Jet Li entered the Asian film industry at the age of 18, thanks to his spectacular achievements in sports. At a wushu competition, the athlete was noticed by directors and offered to act in films, promising to make him the next Bruce Lee. Jet Li played his first major and prominent role in the film “Shaolin Temple” directed by Cheng Hsin in 1982. The film was a huge success and on this wave two more sequels were shot - in 1983, “Shaolin Temple 2: Children of Shaolin” and in 1986, “Shaolin Temple 3: Northern and Southern Shaolin.” These three series were considered the best Shaolin films. After the Shaolin trilogy, the aspiring actor and famous athlete received the nickname “Jet,” which translated means “jet.”

After the release of the trilogy, the actor took the pseudonym Jet Li, becoming a legend in China. On the set of the film “Shaolin Martial Arts,” Li had some acting differences with the director, after which Jet Li decided to start making films himself and play the main roles. However, his first and last film, “Born to Defend,” about the adventures of a young soldier during World War II, failed miserably at the box office and for a long time discouraged the actor from doing something other than his own business. Added to all the failures was a back injury received by the actor while performing a complex film stunt. For the next two years, Jet Li tried to obtain US citizenship, but the idea of ​​moving to the West also failed.

In 1991, Jet Li met Tsui Hark, who later invited the actor to film “Once Upon a Time in China.” The film was a huge success, received excellent reviews from critics, and was followed by two proposals for a sequel to the film “Once Upon a Time in China,” which were released in 1992 and 1993. Between filming the film “Once Upon a Time in China,” he managed to star in the feature films “The Legend of the Swordsman,” “Master of Tai Chi,” and “Two Warriors.” Jet Li worked a lot and fruitfully in Hong Kong and played numerous roles with kung fu techniques, both in good and mediocre films.

In the 1993 films “Legend” and “Legend 2,” Jet Li brilliantly played the role of the young kung fu master Fong Sai Yuk. These cult films were shot in the best traditions of martial arts films and became classics of Hong Kong cinema. This was followed by an equally successful appearance in the film “Claws of Steel” in the role of the temperamental Wong and in the film “Servants of Evil”, in which the irresistible Jet Li perfectly portrayed the sensual Mo Kei.

Jet Li's film career was steadily gaining film speed. Every year, films starring the incendiary Jet Li were released. In 1994, the actor credited his film credits with roles in the sensational films: “The Bodyguard from Beijing,” “The Legend of the Red Dragon,” and “Red Dragon.” In the same year there was also the film “Fist of Legend”, where the actor successfully worked in the role of Zhen Chen. The plot of this film, however, was very reminiscent of the film “Fist of Fury” with the legendary Bruce Lee. However, the role of Jet Li clearly differed in acting from his compatriot, which was immediately noted by all film critics and Hollywood film bosses.

A fan of Hong Kong cinema, Quentin Tarantino helped Jet Li with several projects in the American box office. America appreciated and remembered the first films with the participation of the athletic Chinese actor. Proposals were not long in coming. The actor was in great demand. He moved from one set to another, fortunately Jet Li’s makeup did not require any special changes.

From 1995 to 1997, Jet starred in the films: “Secret Agent” with the well-performed role of Kung Wei, the actor played the role of Keith Lee in “At Risk” and the film “Black Mask”, where Lee brilliantly played the role of Black Mask. In 1997, Jet Li played the role of Chinese folk hero-liberator kung fu master and healer Wong Fei Hong in the sequel to Once Upon a Time in China VI. The performance of the stunts and their entertainment value put this film trilogy among the most outstanding films about martial arts.

Hollywood

In 1998, having already gained great popularity in Asia, Europe and America, Jet Li once again accepted the invitation of Hollywood. Jet Li starred with legendary director Richard Donner as the evil Chinese uncle Sing Koo in the blockbuster Lethal Weapon 4. Then the actor first appeared on camera in the role of a negative character. It was both an amazing acting job and a fascinating film in all respects.

Hollywood has completely taken over both the actions and thoughts of the actor. But as a true patriot, Jet Li still continued to act in China. In 1998, viewers saw the popular actor in the role of the assassin Fu in the film “Once Upon a Time in China 3” with the already famous role of Wong.

And again filming in America! In 2000, Jet Li received rave reviews for his role as Han Sing in the Warner Bros. film Romeo Must Die, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and produced by Joel Silver. Luck went side by side with Jet Li's film life. The actor masterfully played the main role, and his partner was the singer Aalie Houghton, who tragically died in 2001. The eccentric melodrama, which featured famous actors Russell Wong, Delroy Lindo and Isaiah Washington, told how a war raged between the mafia families of Chinese and blacks in the port part of Oakland. To the delight of the audience, the film productions were simply stuffed with hip-hop and kung fu.

2001 was full of films starring Jet Li. The actor finished working with the 20th Century Fox film studio with the film Kiss of the Dragon, in which he took on part of the production work in addition to the role he played. Jet played a Chinese intelligence officer sent to Paris on a deadly mission. The film also stars Bridget Fonda and Tchéky Karyo. The premiere of this film, directed by Chris Nahon and written by Luc Besson and Robert Kamen, exceeded all expectations in terms of box office receipts, excellent responses from film critics, and audience appreciation.

Jet Li basked in the rays of film fame, while never ceasing to hone both his acting skills and his athletic talent. Jet Li brightly starred in the project of the Revolution film studio directed by James Wong “Confrontation”, where he successfully played the role of agent Gabriel Hulot and worked in partnership with film actors Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham. This time, Jet Li managed to skillfully combine a couple of roles at once. He played the lead role of Gabriel, a police officer who struggled with his sinister manifestation. And he appeared in a small role in a massive street brawl, once again demonstrating his sporting achievements. The film was simply packed with sci-fi elements and the everyday struggle between good and evil.

At the end of 2001, Jet Li, together with Mel Gibson's company, completed filming of the television series "Invincible". The spectacular combination of martial arts and excellent fight choreography in these films demonstrated the unique Hong Kong film style to the entire world film audience.

Career continuation

In mid-2002, the popular Jet Li completed his work in another large film project with a budget of 17 million dollars, “Hero,” in which he superbly played the Man with No Name, and which also starred Jang Ziyi, Maggie Cheung and Donnie Yen. The premiere of this film took place on December 18 in Beijing, and at the beginning of 2003 it collected the largest box office receipts in China. In December of the same year, Jet finished filming the action drama “From Cradle to Grave” directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak and produced by Joel Silver along with American rap star DMX Kelly Hu.

Jet Li's stellar film career did not stand still for a minute. In 2003, a whole series of very successful films followed. The actor starred with the legendary Luc Besson in the film “Danny Chain Dog” in the title role of the intrepid Danny, who masterfully mastered martial arts. Filming of the crime film took place in France from April to June. Actors Kerry Condon and Morgan Freeman also took part in the work on this film. And in the same year, the famous athlete and actor also worked in the role of Su in the film “From the Cradle to the Grave.”

And then, unexpectedly for the entire film elite, the fighting actor unexpectedly decided to take a short film vacation, which, however, resulted in a three-year film break. But after this break, appearing on camera in a small role in the film “Fearless,” Jet Li decided to make up for lost time in 2007. And the film proposals were not long in coming. Jet Li successfully starred in several cult films. This is the melodrama “The Generals”, and the film “Blood Brothers”, and the horror film “War”, in which Jet Li played the main role of the mysterious and elusive killer Rog, who several years ago killed a policeman’s partner along with his family. The policeman from San Francisco was then brilliantly played by Jason Statham.

In 2008, Jet Li played in another fantasy-style adventure film directed by Rob Minkoff, “The Forbidden Kingdom,” with a brilliantly worked lead role as the Monkey King, where the actor first starred in a duet with the talented cult actor Jackie Chan. He played the role of teenager Jason Tripitikas, obsessed with kung fu and Hong Kong action films, who turned out to be the chosen one, and who was destined to return the fighting pole to the immortal Monkey King.

Not the last film work in the movie star’s filmography was the cult film directed by Rob Cohen, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” in 2008. The actor again played the main role of the evil mummy of the Dragon Emperor, who came to life after several thousand years. Mummy - Jet Li was ready to raise the entire Asian state to fight for world domination. The legendary Brendan Fraser and Maria Belo shared the set with the actor.

Personal life

The personal life of the great Jet Li is extremely prosaic. In 1987, Jet Li married athlete Huang Qiuyan, with whom he competed in the Chinese Wushu team, and with him the athlete starred in the film “Shaolin Temple.” In 1990, the married couple divorced, and Jet had two daughters from their marriage.

In 1999, Jet Li married for the second time. Lee's chosen one was the Hong Kong actress Nina Li Chi, with whom the famous actor had a son, Jane, in 2000, and a daughter, Jadu, in 2002.

Interesting Facts

In 1974, a team of athletes, of which Jet Li was a member, was assigned to represent the People's Republic of China, so in America, Li tried to independently check for the presence of “bugs”: while in an American hotel room, he went up to a vase, then to a mirror, to a telephone and loudly spoke his wishes . Then Jet left the room for a while, and when he returned, his wishes were strictly fulfilled.

In 2004, while vacationing in the Maldives, Jet Li and his daughter were caught in a tsunami. At first there was a version that Lee died during the cataclysm, but later it turned out that he only injured his leg while saving his daughter from the hotel lobby.

In Hollywood, Jet Li was offered a role in the film trilogy "The Matrix" and in the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but he refused because of a promise to his wife that if she was pregnant, the actor would stay with her until the birth of the child and would not work.

The popular actor and athlete grew up in Beijing, and the first films he saw as a child were Soviet films, such as “Lenin in October”, “Lenin in 1918”.

Author – GRETA STAR.

Sources of information: “My favorite hero is Pavka Korchagin,” article, Maxim Chizhikov, Komsomolskaya Pravda website, July 2008. “Jet Li”, article, “Cyril and Methodius Cinema Encyclopedia”, version 2002. "Jet Li", article, Wikipedia website. “The Life Story of Jet Li,” article, People's History website.

Let the master

From now on, Lee attended only half of the lessons, but the training became more serious.
At that time, China, isolated from the Western world for many years, was preparing for an important event, the world table tennis championship. The event was so important for the Chinese authorities that at the opening ceremony it was decided to demonstrate everything that the country is famous for: opera, folk dancing and wushu. Lee participated in three routines, which he perfected an infinite number of times. After a demonstration of Wushu techniques at the largest stadium in Beijing, the young fighters were invited by the Prime Minister (and in fact the head of the country) Zhou Enlai. The first person in China praised the guys. For nine-year-old Lee, this was a huge honor.

Jet Li at Wushu school

After such success, Lee was completely exempted from attending secondary school. He moved to the Wushu school and from now on visited his father’s house on weekends. In addition to him, 12 people studied wushu. They all lived according to the same strict routine. In those years, even in Beijing there were regular power outages. Each area of ​​the city was disconnected from the network once a week for one evening. The school where Lee studied wushu traditionally closed on Fridays. The students were happy because the evening training in the gym was also cancelled. At first this was the case, but soon the coach began to herd everyone into the hall, despite the darkness. The only source of light in the room was his flashlight. The students trained in the dark, giving it their all, because no one could predict at what moment the flashlight beam would fall on him.

Jet Li became the youngest Wushu champion in the world

During one of these “dark” training sessions, Lee twisted his ankle and felt pain. But for two more days I did not dare to tell the teacher about this, fearing that he would order me to do even more exercises. The leg was so swollen that the coach himself noticed and sent Lee for an x-ray. Fracture. The doctor put a thick layer of plaster on his leg, but this did not save the boy from training. Lee was carried to the hall in his arms, and there he stood, leaning on his back, and practiced punches.

When Jet was 11, China decided to select the best Wushu athletes from all over the country. The boy made it into the top thirty. Selected athletes qualified to represent China at exhibition competitions in the United States. This was extremely important for the PRC, since relations with the West were becoming extremely tense. Athletes were taught the rules of Western etiquette: eating with a fork and knife, dealing with the press, using electrical appliances. They also explained to the children what they can say abroad and what they shouldn’t.

A trip to the USA changed the young athlete’s views

It took them six months to master the basics of Western culture. And yet Lee found himself in an unpleasant situation that almost turned into a scandal. At an American airport, he saw a plane with the sign “Chinese Airlines” and shouted: “Look, a plane from China!” But the plane belonged to the state of Taiwan, with which China had a territorial dispute. But the boys mastered dining etiquette perfectly and were very surprised when they saw their bodyguards eating chicken with their hands. It turned out that at school they were taught table manners according to the set of prim rules of Buckingham Palace.

The trip to the United States made Li question the ideology being imposed on him and his peers by the Chinese authorities. He was taught that everything Chinese is equally good, and everything that came from the West is harmful. But here Lee realized how great the differences were between the communist and capitalist systems. He was especially impressed by the backyard pools in every American home. But most importantly, the myth of “evil Americans” was debunked. Everyone around them turned out to be ordinary, friendly people, and if they showed strictness, like, for example, their bodyguards, it was only for their own safety.

Jet Li's performance At his final performance in Washington, Jet Li met President Richard Nixon. He praised the boy's skill. Nixon invited Lee to become his bodyguard, to which he refused: “I don’t want to protect a specific person. I will protect my compatriots." These words were circulated in newspapers, surprised at the level of patriotism in China. From the trip, Lee brought back a Swiss watch, bought with pocket money that he and his friends were given in America, and gave it to his mother.

Meeting Jet Li and Richard Nixon

In 1972, Li was included in the Beijing Wushu team, which represented the capital city at the National People's Games of the People's Republic of China. “It’s like the Olympics, but only Chinese,” Jet Li later said. He had already won the National Youth Competition, snatching victory from the guys whose age was approaching 18 years. Now he had to fight people from 20 to 30 years old.

Jet Li in childhood and youth

Before the main competition, qualifying tournaments were held. At his first exhibition performance, Lee accidentally cut his head with his own sword. Everyone around him screamed in fear, but the boy did not notice anything, because all these years he had been trained to ignore the pain and move forward to victory. Working out with a broken leg was much more painful. When he finished and bowed, the girls on the team were crying. Lee received stitches and was told not to get up until the start of the competition. He was more worried not about whether he would be able to perform, but about whether his mother would find out about what happened.

Over the next 4 years he traveled halfway around the world

Lee competed with still fresh stitches and took first place. On the podium he stood taller than everyone else; 2nd and 3rd places were taken by men who were 25-30 years old. The athlete remembered that feeling forever – he had never experienced anything like it before. In 1977, the young man became the leader in the Tao sword complex competition. Li then became a master of several styles of Wushu, and also studied other types of Chinese martial arts and mastered the basic weapons of Wushu. During the period from 1975 to 1979, he became the Chinese Wushu champion five times. Jet Li at the 1978 Wushu competition

Movies

Noticing a guy who skillfully controls his body and has excellent knowledge of wushu, director Zhang Xinyan invited Li to try himself as an actor. Of course, it was a film about a young man who is a master of martial arts. The debut film for Lianjie, who took the stage name Jet Li, was the film “Shaolin Temple,” which tells the story of an orphan boy raised in a monastery by Shaolin monks.

Jet Li in the movie "Shaolin Temple"

The film was released in 1982 and was a resounding success. Therefore, the directors immediately began filming sequels: Shaolin Temple 2: Children of Shaolin, filmed in 1983, and Shaolin Temple 3: Shaolin Martial Arts in 1986.

Then there was a short break in filming, and only in 1991 the world saw another serious film, “Once Upon a Time in China,” where Jet Li plays the role of the Chinese folk hero Huang Feihong. The movie was again a success, and again two sequels followed, released in the next 2 years.

Jet Li in The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk

Also in 1993, the film “The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk” was released, which truly became legendary for all fans of Hong Kong action films. The following year, a remake of the film by Jet Li's idol, Bruce Lee, was released. The new film was called “Fist of Legend” and the plot repeated the famous action movie “Fist of Legend”.

Jet Li in the movie "Fist of Legend"

Jet Li has become a prominent figure in Asian films, and the actor has always played only positive characters.

In 1994, the actor appeared in the Hong Kong action film Beijing Bodyguard. Jet Li got the role of a professional bodyguard who is hired to protect a girl who became the only witness to a murder committed by the mafia. The bodyguard will have to fight with an organized group of killers.

Jet Li in the movie Beijing Bodyguard

In 1995, the actor received the main role in the crime thriller "Secret Agent". This film interweaves classic Asian martial arts action with family drama. Jet Li plays the role of an undercover cop. Because of this work, the officer cannot spend enough time with his sick wife and young son. The man only makes it to one of the child’s competitions and disappears again on a mission. His hero must infiltrate a criminal gang that plans to carry out terrorist attacks and prevent explosions.

In 1996, Jet Li starred in the adventure comedy Black Mask. The actor plays the role of a character who in modern cinema would receive the established name “masked superhero.” The character Chhei Chik is a product of a military experiment, a former super soldier who does not feel pain. Chick goes into hiding and lives the quiet life of a librarian, but when the hero learns that the criminals operating in the city are also former super-soldiers, Chhei puts on a black mask to stop his former colleagues.

Jet Li in the movie "Black Mask"

In the late 90s, life presented Jet Li with two challenges at once: firstly, the actor was invited to act in Hollywood, and secondly, he was given the role of a “bad guy”, which the actor had not encountered before. However, he did an excellent job portraying Wa Sing Ku in the blockbuster Lethal Weapon 4.

It is curious that Jet Li was offered a role in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but he refused because he preferred to be with his wife during her pregnancy. He could also star in “The Matrix,” but even here he did not give his consent, saying that ordinary actors who do not know martial arts could also play in a film with such an abundance of computer graphics. Despite the fact that Lee is not in these two cult films, his skill and acting talent are recognized all over the world.

Jet Li in the movie Romeo Must Die

In 2000, the actor appeared in the American action film, inspired by martial arts films, Romeo Must Die. Fans consider the main highlight of the film to be a four-minute video of Jet Li's incredible prison escape, in which the actor fights guards upside down, suspended by his leg from the ceiling. The actor plays the role of the son of the head of the Chinese mafia in America, but at the same time remains a positive hero. The main goal of Jet Li's character is to stop the bloody war between factions and establish peace in the city.

Jet Li in the action movie "The Stand"

This was followed by a number of successful action films: “Kiss of the Dragon”, “Confrontation”, “From Cradle to Grave”, “American Adventure”, as well as films of other genres. Jet Li starred in the epic tale "Hero" and the dramas "Denny the Chain Dog," "Ocean of Heaven" and "Fearless."

In 2007, the American action movie War was released, in which Jet Li plays a controversial character. The Chinese actor plays the role of an elusive killer who killed an FBI agent and his family. The agent's partner, played by another famous action actor, Jason Statham, vows to avenge his friend's death. As a result of intrigue and military clashes, it turns out that the heroes are not who they seem.

Jet Li and Jackie Chan

In 2008, the martial arts action movie “The Forbidden Kingdom” was released, in which Jet Li plays in a duet with another Asian star, Jackie Chan. In the same year, Jet Li played the main villain of the film from the popular series of adventure films about archaeologists and mummies “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” - the revived Dragon Emperor who is trying to seize world domination.

Jet Li in the film "American Adventure"

And two years later the world was captivated by the film “The Expendables.” An action movie becomes famous even before release. Stallone's project, designed to revive the spirit of action films of the 80s and 90s and bring together the stars of this genre in one film, is gaining momentum. In 2012, the sequel “The Expendables 2” was released, and in 2014 another sequel appeared, “The Expendables 3”.

Jet Li in the movie "The Expendables"

In 2020, Jet Li played the lead role in the Chinese fantasy film League of Gods. The film tells the story of a mad emperor who wanted power over demons and for this purpose allowed the powerful spirit of the Black Dragon into his own body. But the spirit makes its own plans to conquer the world. The Dragon can be stopped by three heroes who go in search of a magic sword that can defeat evil.

In the same year, the actor appeared in the action movie Fearless, which tells the biography of the Chinese hero - martial arts master Huo Yuan Zhia.

Jet Li in the movie Fearless

Also in January 2020, news was published on the Internet that Jet Li would join the cast of the action film “The Return of Xander Cage,” the third film in the “xXx” franchise, where, as in the other parts, Vin Diesel would star. But for unknown reasons, Jet Li left the project and was replaced by Donnie Yen.

Actor career

At the turn of the 70s and 80s, Lee ended his sports career due to a serious knee injury and decided to focus on filming.
The first filming experience was the Shaolin Temple trilogy (1982, 1984 and 1985), which told the story of a former slave who escaped from his tormentors and found shelter in a monastery. The monks taught him martial arts, and now he intends to take revenge on the killer of his parents. All three films were extremely popular with audiences in Hong Kong and China.

Young Jet Li in the film "Shaolin Temple"

The future actor acquired the creative pseudonym “Jet Li” in 1982 in the Philippines, when an advertising company announced that his real name was too difficult to pronounce. PR people came to the rescue and compared Lee's successful career to an airplane taking off. On the poster of the athlete’s debut film “Shaolin Temple” in 1982, the name “Jet Li” appeared (translated from English as “jet” - airplane or jet). "Shaolin Temple" Fragment Jet's most famous early films include the action films Once Upon a Time in China (1991), Legend (1993) and Fist of Legend (1994), as well as the remake of the Bruce Lee film Fist of Fury (1972).

Still from the film “Once Upon a Time in China”

In 1998, Jet made his debut in the American action film Lethal Weapon 4 with Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci. It is noteworthy that in this film the actor played a villain for the first time.

On the set of the film "Lethal Weapon"

Two years later, producer Joel Silver invited Lee to play the lead role in the film Romeo Must Die, in which the late singer Aaliyah appeared. The film became a real box office hit, and Jet received a fee of $2.4 million. Although Lee still spoke very little English, his role as a Chinese mafioso was highly appreciated by critics and audiences.

Still from the film "Romeo Must Die" starring Jet Li

In 2000, Lee had to turn down a role in Ang Lee's Chinese action film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon because he promised his wife that he would not act during her pregnancy months. The role intended for Jet was played by Chow Yun-fat, and the film became the highest-grossing non-English-language film in the history of American box office.

Lee could also play Seraph, the bodyguard of the Oracle, in the Matrix film trilogy, but the actor said that this role would not require his athletic skills, and therefore let them look for someone else!

Jet subsequently starred in a number of other iconic films. In 2001, he played in the big-budget action films The Stand (his first collaboration with Jason Statham) and Kiss of the Dragon with Bridget Fonda. One of the most memorable roles in Lee’s filmography was his work in Zhang Yimou’s fantasy drama “Hero,” where he played the royal mercenary Nameless.

In 2001, Jet Li played in the film Kiss of the Dragon.

In 2003, the actor worked again with Joel Silver on the set of the action film Cradle to Grave, where he starred alongside rapper DMX and martial artist Mark Dacascos. In 2004, Li participated in the creation of the video game Jet Li: Rise to Honor for the PlayStation 2.

Jet Li has a “signature” game on PlayStation2

In 2005, Lee played a serious dramatic role in the film “Danny Chain Dog,” in which he portrayed a guy brought up in harsh conditions. Although Jet used his fighting skills in the film, this project differed from his other works in that it was more dramatic.

Dramatic role of Jet Li in the film "Danny the Chain Dog"

In 2006, Ronny Yu's drama Fearless was released with the participation of Jet, and at the end of 2007, Lee returned to his homeland and starred in the Chinese-Hong Kong film Warlords. The main emphasis in the film was not on martial arts, but on the dramatic component - for this work Jet received the Hong Kong Film Award in the category "Best Actor".

Jet received the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor

In 2008, Lee made his first screen appearance alongside martial arts veteran Jackie Chan in Rob Minkoff's action-adventure film The Forbidden Kingdom. Soon Jet starred as the main villain in the fantasy action film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with Maria Bello and Brendan Fraser.

Jet Li and Jackie Chan

Jet's return to the film industry after a year-long break took place on the set of the action movie The Expendables, which brought together stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Mickey Rourke. From 2012 to 2014, Lee reprized his role in the sequels The Expendables 2 and The Expendables 3. "Unstoppable." Fragment Initially, Lee was supposed to appear with Vin Diesel in the action adventure film Xxx: World Domination (2017), but then Jet was replaced by Donnie Yen.

Jet Li and Jack Ma

In November 2020, the short film “Guardians of Martial Arts” was released, in the plot of which the main character fights with representatives of other martial arts. In addition to Jet Li, the film stars Jack Ma, “Shaolin” actor Jackie Wu, and “Fearless” and “Warlords” action star Jackie Hen.

News: Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Lee Byung Ho and others

Jet Li admitted that he was very ill.
The famous Chinese actor and martial artist Jet Li shocked his fans by posting on a social network after a trip to a Chinese temple. In the photo he looks very thin and emaciated. In response to questions from excited fans, the artist left a comment: “ I’m close to death

«.

The former Wushu world champion is reportedly suffering from the effects of injuries sustained during filming throughout his acting career. These injuries caused serious damage to Jet Li's spine, although he denies rumors that he was confined to a wheelchair. However, he confirmed that his doctor warned him that if he did not leave the film industry, he would end up spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. In addition, the artist continues to take medications for hyperthyroidism (a syndrome caused by an overactive thyroid gland), which have a strong side effect on the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which he continues to lose weight. In addition to everything, he was diagnosed with heart disease. To all the rumors and questions about his health, Jet Li replied that he was close to death.

Despite his deteriorating health, the actor has no plans to leave show business and continues to act in various projects. He commented on his decision: “ If I leave now, I will end up in a wheelchair later. But if I don't leave, I'll still end up in it, but it will be encrusted with diamond

".
But despite this statement, he still tries to participate in action scenes as little as possible and turns down many projects, devoting more and more time to restoring his health and reading Buddhist books. Loyal fans of the 53-year-old actor support him, wish him a speedy recovery and leave the following comments: “ I hope you get better soon, take care of your health
,” “
Life seems very long, but in reality it is short.”
Get well soon, Jet ."

Donnie Yen left handprints on the Walk of Fame

Chinese actor, producer, and martial artist Donnie Yen left handprints on the Walk of Fame in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The ceremony took place on the square on November 30, 2020.

Donnie Yen became the third Chinese actor to make his mark in Hollywood in this way. At the ceremony, the 53-year-old actor expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the trust placed in him and said: “ Sometimes being an Asian actor is not easy. Unfortunately, for many years, actors from Asia have not had equal opportunities with American and European ones. But I think times are changing. And I of course want to be one of the actors who sets a good example

«.

Unlike the Walk of Stars, also located in Hollywood, the Walk of Fame is marked by artists chosen by the owners of Grauman's Cinema. Also on the Walk of Fame there are hand and foot prints of Charlie Chaplin, Jack Nicholson, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp and other famous Hollywood stars. In the near future we will be able to see the actor in the films “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” and “Star Wars: Rogue One”.

Jackie Chan will star in a new film

Famous actor and martial artist Jackie Chan will star in the film Five Against a Bullet. The film takes place in a small Mexican town under the control of a powerful drug cartel.

The plot revolves around dirty elections in a small Mexican town. One of the local politicians hires five of the best bodyguards from around the world during the election campaign. The politician’s life is under threat - people from a drug cartel recently killed his father, and now they intend to take the city by storm. Jackie Chan will play one of the bodyguards. The producers plan to create an entire franchise based on the film, sending the five main characters on new assignments.

At the moment, Jackie Chan is involved in the filming of the film “Bleeding Steel” directed by Leo Zhang.

In the near future, Jackie Chan can be seen as an archeology professor in the Chinese-Indian film “Kung Fu Yoga,” an emigrant restaurant owner in the film “The Foreigner,” and a partisan in the action comedy “Railway Tigers.”

The premiere of the latter, by the way, will take place in China on December 30. Synopsis: In December 1941, Japan expands its occupation of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. The railway from Tianjin to Nanjing in East China became a key route for military transport under heavy guard by Japanese soldiers. Railway worker Ma Yuan (Jackie Chan) organizes a team of freedom fighters. Using his intimate knowledge of the railroad networks, he and his men ambush Japanese soldiers and steal their supplies to feed their starving countrymen. Locals call their heroes “railway tigers.”

Trailer with Russian subtitles here (don't forget to set them up):

Lee Byung Hun talks about racism in Hollywood

Lee Byung Hun has already acted in several Hollywood films such as "Rise of Cobra", "RED 2" and "Terminator Genisys". Although the actor achieved success in Hollywood, he did not succeed immediately.

The actor recalled the time when his colleagues simply ignored him: “ I don’t want to name names, but when I worked in Hollywood, some of my colleagues wouldn’t even look me in the eyes because I’m Asian. I tried to introduce myself and extended my hand, but they all ignored me and walked past. I didn’t shake their hands until the end of filming. Despite the outcry over the lack of diversity in Hollywood, things haven't changed much. One day I went to a local cafe for a cup of coffee and the barista came up to me and asked, “Are you a movie star?” I literally beamed with pride, finally being recognized for my roles in films. And the barista continued that he liked the movie “The Hangover.” At that moment I realized that for white people all Asians look the same

".
After experiencing this attitude towards himself for several years, Lee Byung-hun developed several rules for racist statements: “ I’m already used to racism and racists.
I always felt like white people were distancing themselves from me. I think my job is also to bridge that gap between Asians and white people. I haven't given up on Hollywood. I still want to act in films there and become a Hollywood actor ."

Jaden Smith expresses his admiration for G-Dragon

American rapper and son of a star father, Jaden Smith, expressed his admiration for G-Dragon. The Smith family has long had a bit of a soft spot for South Korean performers.

In the past, Jaden Smith and his father Will Smith expressed their love to the entire YG family during their visit to South Korea. Hollywood stars enjoyed their time with G-Dragon, as well as Psy, CL and many others.

It seems that Jaden Smith has not forgotten GD for a long time, remaining a fan of his for many years. This is evidenced by Jaden's tweet in December of this year regarding the K-pop star: " G-Dragon is my inspiration

«.

2016 was already a successful year for Drakosha. The idol was included in the “2016 HYPEBEAST 100” list, where the publication included the best innovators of this year. GD and fellow agency member CL are the only Koreans on the list, but this is the third time GD has made the list after 2013 and 2015.

HYPEBEAST mentioned the singer's fashion brand, PEACEMINUSONE, which began selling not only in Korea but also in London this year, and the singer's collaborations with international artists in 2020. This also includes his collaboration with the Chanel brand as a new representative from Korea.

And in general, our Drakosha is a terrible fashionista!

Lee Joon Ki and Rola at the premiere of "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter."

The world premiere of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter took place in mid-December in Tokyo. The film will be Japanese singer Rola's first major acting experience and Korean actor Lee Joon Ki's Hollywood debut.

The actor was dressed entirely in black, contrasting with the light outfit of his colleague, actress Ali Larter. The singer was also dressed in black: a dress with a frill at the bodice and a slit from the hip, revealing her slender legs.

The film will premiere on January 27, 2020.

The news was taken from the websites Showazia Ru, Yesazia Ru and Doramakun.

Thank you all for your attention and have a great weekend!

Jet Li's personal life

In 1987, Jet married Huang Qiuyan, a member of the Beijing Wushu team. In their marriage they had two daughters, Si and Taimi. In 1990, the couple separated.

Jet Li with Huang Qiuyan

Since 1999, the actor has been married to Nina Li Chi, a Shanghainese actress from Hong Kong. Nina gave birth to Jet two daughters - Jane (born 2000) and Jada (born 2003).

Jet Li and Nina Li Chi

In 2004, Jet Li was in the Maldives at the time of the powerful Indian Ocean tsunami. Although the media actively circulated the news that Lee had died, the actor received only a minor leg injury.

Jet Li in his youth and now

In 2009, Jet Li renounced his previously acquired American citizenship. In July 2009, the actor became a citizen of Singapore. Jet chose this country because of the quality education system his younger daughters needed.

Jet Li with family

In 2009, Lee launched his own fitness program called "Wuji", which consists of elements of Wushu, yoga and Pilates. Adidas soon launched a clothing line for this program, emblazoned with the initials “JL.”

Lee launched his own fitness program

Lee practices Tibetan Buddhism. In his free time, Jet plays badminton and table tennis, rides a bike, reads and meditates.

Jet Li

Chinese film actor, wushu master.

KinoPoisk: https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1511 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001472 Official website: https://jetli.com Discussion on the forum: https://www. kinokopilka.tv/forum_topics/10830

Li Lianjie was born in Beijing. The family was large (5 children, including Jet) and not rich, however, like many other families at that time (China was still far from the status of one of the mighty world powers). His father died when Jet was 2 years old, and his mother had to raise the children alone. Little Jet had a calm character and exemplary behavior. He was the youngest in the family. His mother forbade him from many things, fearing for his health (he was not even allowed to ride a bicycle).

He went to school only at the age of 8 and was the oldest in his class. The teachers immediately liked Jet and often helped teach physical education classes. After first grade, Jet (like all other students) was sent to a sports camp for the summer, where he began to study wushu. Moreover, Lee later admitted that he got into the wushu section not purposefully, but completely by accident. After the holidays, all the children were dismissed, and Jet, the only one of his peers, was strongly recommended to continue studying wushu. From this moment on, training becomes daily. Having gone through several stages of selection, Jet Li entered the national Wushu championship in 1972 and won the prize as “Best Master”. After this victory, he was released from classes at a regular school and Lee began to spend most of his time in the gym, honing his skills.

In 1974, China held a new stage of selection among Wushu players, choosing the best of the best. As a result, the country's National Wushu Team was formed (it included 30 people, including Jet Li). The team was tasked with representing China in the United States. This trip occupies a special place in Jet’s life (he himself admitted this in an interview). Before the trip, all athletes were given detailed instructions on what can be done in the States and what is not recommended. In particular, they warned about possible wiretapping and surveillance. It's funny that little Lee tried to check for bugs on his own. As he wrote in his biography, while in an American hotel room, he alternately approached a vase, a mirror, or a telephone and loudly said that he wanted chocolate, ice cream and fruit. Jet left the number for a while, and when he returned, he saw that everything he asked for was on the table. During their trip to the United States, the Chinese athletes were looked after by dozens of CIA agents, State Department employees and police officers. Lee's performances were noted by President Richard Nixon himself. Seeing how people live in the West, in particular the USA, the luxurious life - all this was a culture shock for little Jet Li. Communicating with the Americans, he noticed that they were very friendly and were unlikely to be enemies. In a word, from the moment Lee traveled to the United States, his worldview began to change.

Returning to his homeland, Lee took part in the first National Wushu Championship (1974) among youths. He won first place in all-around and complexes with the Dao sword. Jet Li began to be trained by the best martial artists that could be found in China. In 1975, at the age of 12, Li was sent to the qualifying tournament for the Third National Wushu Championship. He won 5 out of 5 possible disciplines at once (the opponents were adult athletes). In the same year, Jet Li won 4 gold medals at the Third Championship in Beijing (all-around, unarmed complex, spear complex, Tao sword complex).

In 1976-77. The Chinese national team made a world tour: athletes demonstrated wushu techniques in different countries. Jet Li, as a “trusted” person and famous athlete, the Chinese authorities began to invite him to state banquets and meetings with foreign delegations. Road shows were also held in the UK in 1979.

In 1977, at the National Wushu Competition, Jet Li took first place in the Tao sword complex, and was also unattainable among the followers of the “long fist” style. In 1978, Jet Li again won the gold medal (in all-around, complex without weapons, complex with a Tao sword). In 1979, at the Fourth Chinese Wushu Championship, he won the all-around, long fist style, unarmed complex, Tao sword complex, and exhibition matches.

Film career

1980 - 1990

Jet Li was invited to the Asian film industry at the age of 18. He appeared on the screens precisely thanks to his spectacular achievements in sports. At a wushu competition, directors noticed him and offered him a role, promising to make him the next Bruce Lee. The first (and immediately the main and noticeable) role in the film “Shaolin Temple” (1982). The film was a great success and on this wave two more sequels were filmed - “Shaolin Temple 2: Children of Shaolin” (1983) and “Shaolin Temple 3: Northern and Southern Shaolin” (1986). The last, third episode, in 1989, was broadcast in pieces on Soviet television in the anthology “Around the World” (although there it was called “Martial Arts of Shaolin”). By the way, these three episodes are considered the best films about Shaolin. Actually, after filming the Shaolin trilogy, Lee received the nickname “Jet” Jet, i.e. "Reactive".

1990 - 2000

The following notable films with the participation of Jet Li are the series of films “Once Upon a Time in China” (1991), “Once Upon a Time in China 2” (1992) and “Once Upon a Time in China 3” (1993). There he played the role of the Chinese people's hero-liberator, kung fu master and healer Wong Fei Hong. The excellent technique of strikes, the execution of tricks and their entertainment also place this film trilogy among the world's masterpieces of martial arts.

Also follows O (1993) and Legend 2 (1993), where Jet Li played the role of young kung fu master Fong Sai Yuk (Fang Shiyu). These two films were shot in the best traditions of films about martial arts and are considered classics of Hong Kong cinema. Another film is “Fist of Legend” (1994) - a kind of remake of Bruce Lee’s “Fist of Fury” (the plots are very similar).

In 1998, having already gained great popularity in Asia, Europe and America, Jet Li made his debut in Hollywood. He is invited to play the role of the “bad guy” in the blockbuster “Lethal Weapon 4.

2000 - present

This is followed by a whole series of successful films: “Romeo Must Die” (2000), “Kiss of the Dragon” (2001), “The One” (2001), “Hero” (2002), “From Cradle to Grave” (2003), “Danny Chain Dog" (2005), "Fearless" (2006), "War" (2007). The most recent works are “The Forbidden Kingdom” (2008), where Jet Li first starred in a duet with another cult actor Jackie Chan, as well as the next series of the adventure film “The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

It is interesting that in Hollywood Jet Li was offered to star in the Matrix film trilogy, as well as the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but the actor refused. As he himself repeatedly explained in various interviews, he did this because he promised his wife - if she was expecting a child - to stay with her until his birth and not to work. Ang Lee's offer to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came just as Lee's wife became pregnant. So Jet Li kept his word. As for The Matrix, Jet Li considered that his presence and skill would not be needed there, because ordinary actors could also appear in the computerized blockbuster.

Personal life

In 1987, Jet Li married athlete Huang Qiuyan, who competed with him on the Chinese Wushu team and also starred in the film “Shaolin Temple.” The marriage produced 2 daughters. In 1990, the couple divorced.

In 1999, Jet Li remarried. His chosen one was Hong Kong actress Nina Li Chi. The couple has 2 children: Jane (born in 2000) and Jada (2002).

Social activity

Since 2006, Li has been a "philanthropy ambassador" for the Chinese Red Cross. He contributed 500,000 yuan ($62,500) from the box office receipts of the film Fearless (2006) to the fund. In the spring of 2007, Lee founded his own nonprofit, the One Foundation, which supports international disaster relief and suicide prevention efforts.

Since 2006, Lee has been an "ambassador for philanthropy"

In 2011, together with Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba Group (which includes the well-known sites AliExpress and Taobao), Jet founded Lifestyle, whose main mission is “health and happiness for all.”

Filmography

Jet Li now

Jet Li has rarely appeared in films lately. “Money is not the main thing. Your health is your life,” says the master. Fans were frightened by his photo in a Buddhist datsan. In it, Jet Li looks exhausted. The actor himself explained this as an unfortunate angle, but admitted that he has health problems; after all, old injuries are making themselves felt. So, Jet believes that he has excess weight that he cannot lose. Since the age of 45, he has suffered from problems with the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

In “Mulan” Jet Li will play the emperor
. It is known that in 2020 a live-action version of the Disney masterpiece with a Chinese flavor “Mulan” will be released on the big screen, and Jet Li is on the list of actors, but you can’t expect a demonstration of martial arts from him - he will act Emperor.

Lee himself caused concern among fans this year after battling hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the body's metabolism speeds up, causing spontaneous weight loss and a fast or uneven heartbeat.

Photos of the sickly-looking 55-year-old actor made the rounds online this summer, but he later said he was "doing great and feeling great," backed up by an Instagram snap.

The Verge 12/02/2015 South China Morning Post 12/05/2018 The Diplomat 03/06/2013 Nihon Keizai 02/20/2013

His two daughters with former Hong Kong actress Nina Lee Chi, whom he married in 1999, towered over their 170cm tall father in platform shoes, and Lee looked incredibly proud.

He also celebrated his daughters' accomplishments in entrepreneurship and philanthropy in other Instagram posts, and also claimed that they convinced him to take part in the action-packed remake of Disney's Mulan, scheduled for release in 2020, so he could popularize Chinese culture.

The Lethal Weapon 4 star is also still happily married to his wife, to whom he is so devoted that he turned down Chow Yun-fat's role in 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon because he promised her he wouldn't act. in no films while she is pregnant.

Lee said he wanted to credit his wife, who was a star herself before leaving the film industry for her family, for her dedication, leaving her with his HK$2 billion ($235.3 million) fortune.

Nina also has complete control over their money. “When I go out and want to buy jewelry, I have to call my assistant and ask if he has money,” Li joked in an October interview on the Chinese television talk show “A Date with Luyue.”

But the harmonious family life Lee enjoys - he has two other children from his first marriage to former actress Huang Qiyuan - stands in stark contrast to the experience of Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan, whose estranged daughter struck him down last month.

Etta Ng Choeklam married her Canadian girlfriend Andi Autumn in Toronto in November after claiming "homophobic parents" left them homeless.

After that, they headed to Hong Kong, where same-sex marriages concluded abroad are now recognized when issuing visas.

Ng was born to Chen and actress and Miss Asia 1990 Elaine Ng Wu Qili, with whom the actor had an extramarital affair while he was married to Joan Lin Fengjiao, a former Taiwanese actress.

“United by love and law on our wedding day. We have all suffered, but if you dream of love, you will find it,” Etta wrote on Instagram.

“We have strived for happiness since the day we were born. We were bullied as children because we never experienced love, we have so much to give,” she added.

“We overcame our fears, accepted our mistakes and now understand that the people who hurt us continue to do so.”

Chan did not talk about his daughter in his new memoir, Never Grow Up, which was published earlier in December. However, he spoke about how the affair affected his marriage, which he said in 2020 he was "forced to return to" after Lyn became pregnant with their son Jaycee Chan.

“In 1999, I made a serious mistake,” Chan wrote in his new book. “When news of my novel, which included a child, spread, the media frenzy turned into a bombshell. I wanted to call Joan, but I didn't know what to say. I couldn't explain it."

The "Rush Hour" and "Drunken Master" star also writes in his new book, where he describes himself as a "disgusting asshole" and "a real creep who has wasted money in the past on prostitutes, alcohol and gambling," about an episode of domestic violence. when he pushed Jaycee so that he flew "across the room" into the couch after Chan's argument with Lin.

Chan had a tense relationship with his son. At an awards ceremony in Beijing in April 2011, he said he would donate half of his money to charity after his death, instead of giving it to Jaycee.

“If he can, he will make his own fortune,” Chan said. “If not, he will simply waste my money.”

In 2014, Chan flew to Beijing to try to help Jaycee after he, then 32, was arrested on drug charges. Police said Chan Jr. was found with 100 grams of marijuana in his home, and he faced a felony charge and a possible sentence of death or life in prison.

The elder Chan, China's anti-drug goodwill ambassador since 2009, issued a public apology to his son, who admitted to using drugs for eight years.

After Jaycee spent six months in prison, father and son met and appeared to reconcile.

“I haven’t seen him for too long,” Chan said. “I think he’s matured this time.” We didn't talk about sad things. It was just a family conversation. We talked until night and didn’t sleep.”

Jaycee, who co-starred with his father in the film 1911, saw his career decline after his arrest and is now said to be living a quiet life in Taiwan, where he lives with his mother.

Despite renouncing his American citizenship in favor of Chinese citizenship through a Hong Kong residency permit obtained in 2009, Jaycee has failed to follow in his father's footsteps in an attempt to appeal to Chinese audiences.

His albums and films sold poorly despite extensive publicity: Double Trouble was a box office failure in Hong Kong, grossing only $9,000.

Perhaps Jaycee's attempts to achieve fame and make a fortune are the reason why Lee kept his children away from the public eye.

Chan similarly hid Jaycee until his son decided to enter show business in 2004, but he did not have the appearance or martial arts skills to achieve significant success.

Some fans wondered if Lee was paving the way for Jane and Jada to enter the film industry after publishing his Christmas post.

But, on the contrary, it seems that he simply shared the joy that his family gives him.

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.

The Stand (2001)

Aliens have arrived on our planet. What are they up to? An employee of the Interdimensional Bureau of Investigation named Yulo decides to find out. Feeling superpowers in himself, he goes to a parallel world to clarify the situation and in order to overcome his doubles.

More films featuring Jet Li:

• Secret Agent (1995)
• Risk Level (1995)
• Adventure King (1996)
• Hitman (1998)
• Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
• Fearless (2006)
• Warlords (2007)
• Ocean Paradise (2010)
• The Expendables (2010)
• The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)
• The Expendables 2 (2012)
• Dragon Gate (2013)
• Rage Tokens (2013)
• The Expendables 3 (2014)
• League of Gods (2016)

Jet Li • Watch all the actor’s films online

You can watch Jet Li's movie on demand in good quality for free here on the Movies Online Cinema Portal. This film resource has long established itself as a convenient online cinema, where all viewings are in HD quality without advertising and without registration. You can choose the good viewing quality that is acceptable to you: HD 720p and higher formats are available. A special advantage of the Cinema Portal is its ease of search. All movies are divided into specific genres, making it easy to find exactly what you want. In the era of high technology, you can watch a movie that fully meets your preferences online without leaving your home. Simple, in one click.