Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has announced she is splitting with her husband of eight years, musician Wang Feng, with whom she has two children.
On October 23, Zhang and Wang posted the same message on Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter: “Having experienced eight years of marriage together, and after extensive consideration and discussion, we have decided to get a divorce.”
The statement goes on to say that no blame is attached to either party and their separation does not mean that either failed or betrayed the other; and nor will it affect their love for their children.
“This is a decision between two adults. We hope to gain your understanding and support,” it adds.
Zhang, 44, and Wang, 52, married in 2015. Zhang gave birth to their daughter in the United States in December 2015 and to their son in January 2020, also in the US.
Zhang Yimou was not the only leading filmmaker to have recognised the actress’ talent and attributes.
She also starred in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) – controversial for its use of Chinese actresses to portray Japanese characters – which told the story of a young girl who would go on to become one of the most successful geishas.
In 2005, Time magazine named Zhang one of the world’s 100 most influential people and “China’s gift to Hollywood”.
In 2007, she obtained Hong Kong residency through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.
The following year Zhang became engaged to Israeli-American venture capitalist Aviv Nevo, but the couple went their separate ways in 2010.
Five years later, Zhang married Wang Feng and, months afterwards, gave birth to their first child.
This was Zhang’s first marriage, but Wang’s third. When they married he already had two daughters, one born out of wedlock and the other the fruit of his second marriage, which lasted from 2010 to 2013. His first marriage only lasted a year.
Although Zhang and Wang have decided to divorce, they write in the shared statement that they will continue to co-parent their eight-year-old daughter and three-year-old son “as a family unit”.
Their statement on Weibo adds that neither of them will say anything more about their divorce.