Born in the bustling city of Shenyang, a place where her childhood dreams began to take shape, the daughter of an economics professor grew up in Jinan, surrounded by the serenity of the city's tranquil atmosphere. Music was an integral part of her life from a very young age, and she had always dreamed of a singing career. However, her aspirations were met with a setback when she failed to gain entrance to China's top music school in 1985.
Undeterred by her initial failure, she decided to apply for and was subsequently admitted to the prestigious Central Drama Academy in Beijing, from which she graduated in 1989. During her time as a student, she was fortunate enough to be cast as the female lead in the film "Red Sorghum" (1988),the inaugural directing effort by the renowned director Yimou Zhang. This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration between the two, which would span several successful films.
Her portrayal of the female lead in "The Story of Qiu Ju" (1992) earned her the coveted title of Best Actress at the 49th Venice International Film Festival, cementing her status as China's most well-known actress in the West. Her partnership with Yimou Zhang resulted in a string of successful films, but unfortunately, their personal relationship came to an end in 1995, leading to the conclusion of their professional collaboration. Gong subsequently married a tobacco company executive, marking a new chapter in her life.
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