Zhang Tielin (born 15 June 1957) is a Chinese-British actor and film director. He is best known for portraying the Qianlong Emperor in the first two seasons of the Chinese television series My Fair Princess.

Zhang Tielin
張鐵林
Born (1957-06-15) 15 June 1957 (age 67)
NationalityChinese, British
EducationBeijing Film Academy (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, film director
Years active1979–present
ChildrenZhang Yueliang
(daughter, b. 1991)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese張鐵林
Simplified Chinese张铁林
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Tiělín
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingZoeng1 Tit3-lam4
Musical career
Also known asCheung Tit-lam (Cantonese romanisation)

Early life and education

edit

Zhang was born in Tangshan, China and grew up in Weinan. In 1973, he was sent to Lintong District, Xi'an to perform agricultural labour as part of the Chinese government's Down to the Countryside Movement. Three years later, he became a construction worker in Xi'an.

In 1978, Zhang enrolled in the Beijing Film Academy and graduated in 1982, after which he worked in the television station Tianjin Television. In 1984, Zhang made his debut in the films The Burning of Imperial Palace, Reign Behind a Curtain and Under the Bridge, of which the third one propelled him to fame.

Career

edit

In 1987, Zhang went to England to further his studies at the British Film Institute and he graduated in 1990. He became a British citizen in 1997. In the early 1990s, Zhang went to Hong Kong to expand his career and signed a contract with film producer Tsui Hark, working together with Tsui on the Once Upon a Time in China film series.[1] He joined the Hong Kong television network Phoenix Television in 1996 and worked there briefly before returning to the Chinese entertainment industry. His portrayal of the Qianlong Emperor in the first two seasons of the television series My Fair Princess boosted his fame. Zhang starred together with actors Wang Gang and Zhang Guoli in many television series and they are collectively known as the "Iron Triangle" in the Chinese entertainment industry.[citation needed]

In 2007, Zhang became the dean of the art school of Jinan University in Guangzhou.[2][3]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Under the Bridge
大桥下面
Gao Zhihua
1984 Duocai De Chenguang
多彩的晨光
Lin Lishuang
1984 The Burning of Imperial Palace
火烧圆明园
Prince Gong
1984 Reign Behind a Curtain
垂帘听政
Yisu
1991 Once Upon a Time in China II
黄飞鸿之男儿当自强
Sun Yat-sen
1993 Xianhe Shenzhen
仙鹤神针
Cao Xiong
1994 Once Upon a Time in China V
黄飞鸿之龙城歼霸
Chief constable Xie Sibao
1995 Man from China
椅子
director
1999 Xin Duguo Choucheng
新赌国仇城
Chou Yisen
1999 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Simba Mandarin dub
2009 The Silver Valley
白银帝国
Old Master Kang
2009 Astro Boy Dr. Tenma Mandarin dub
2012 Qian Xuesen
钱学森
Mao Zedong
2012 The Southern Storm
南方大冰雪

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1979 You Yige Qingnian
有一个青年
Gu Minghua
1985 Sanyuedi De Chuchun
三月地的初春
1996 Hangong Feiyan
汉宫飞燕
Emperor Cheng of Han
1997 Dongbei Yijiaren
东北一家人
1997 My Fair Princess
还珠格格
Qianlong Emperor
1998 Hua Mulan
花木兰
Jade Emperor
1998 The Female Official
女巡按
Wen Bizheng guest star
1999 Biezou Woaini
别走我爱你
Wang Zong
1999 Ghost Tales
聊斋先生
Pu Songling
1999 My Fair Princess II
还珠格格2
Qianlong Emperor
2000 Wrong Carriage, Right Groom
上错花轿嫁对郎
Emperor
2001 Lü Buwei: Hero in Times of Disorder
乱世英雄吕不韦
Lü Buwei
2001 The Bronze Teeth
铁齿铜牙纪晓岚
Qianlong Emperor
2001 Taiji Prodigy
少年张三丰
Master Chengkong
2001 Mingbu Zhen Guandong
名捕震关东
Jiajing Emperor
2002 Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge
书剑恩仇录
Yu Wanting
2002 The Bronze Teeth II
铁齿铜牙纪晓岚2
Qianlong Emperor
2002 Qing Dynasty God of Medicine
大清药王
Yue Hongda
2002 Longfeng Qiyuan
龙凤奇缘
Qianlong Emperor
2003 Eighteen Monks
十八罗汉
Abbot
2003 The Vicissitudes of Life
人生几度秋凉
Fu Silong
2003 The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber
倚天屠龙记
Yang Xiao
2003 Huoshuai
火帅
Emperor Renzong of Song
2003 The Return of Justice Bao
包公出巡
Emperor Renzong of Song
2003 Buyi Tianzi
布衣天子
Qianlong Emperor
2004 Buyi Zhixian Fan Ruhua
布衣知县梵如花
Sanjueluo
2004 The Bronze Teeth III
铁齿铜牙纪晓岚3
Qianlong Emperor
2004 Canghai Bainian
沧海百年
Fuk'anggan
2004 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
南少林三十六房
Yongzheng Emperor
2004 Da Tang Fu Rong Yuan
大唐芙蓉园
Li Bai guest star
2004 The Phantasmal Angel
幻影天使
Wang Zhengzhong
2004 The Perfect Banquet
满汉全席
Kangxi Emperor
2004 Aroma in Autumn
五月槐花香
Fan Shirong
2004 Yuqian Sibao
御前四宝
Shunzhi Emperor
2004 Assassinator Jing Ke
荆轲传奇
Lü Buwei
2004 Miracle Healers
神医侠侣
Xing Shan
2004 Yuanlai Jiushi Ni
原来就是你
Yi Zhengbang
2005 The Juvenile Qianlong Emperor
少年宝亲王
Ye Xu
2005 Song Liansheng Zuotang
宋莲生坐堂
Shunzhi Emperor
2005 Crazy King and General Iron
铁将军阿贵
Qianlong Emperor
2005 The Great Dunhuang
大敦煌
Qing governor guest star
2005 Yingxiong Zhi
英雄志
Wuying Emperor
2006 Fly with Me
想飞
Han Kai
2006 Canjian Zhen Jianghu
残剑震江湖
Yan Kang
2006 Empress Dowager Feng of Northern Wei
北魏冯太后
Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei
2006 Feichang Fuqi
非常夫妻
Yan Yuedong
2006 Emerald on the Roof
屋顶上的绿宝石
Ling Xinfu
2006 The Legendary Warrior
薛仁贵传奇
Li Daozong
2006 Carol of Zhenguan
贞观长歌
Luo Yi
2007 Wu Zi Bei Ge
无字碑歌
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
2008 Zhongli Xun Ta Qianbaidu
众里寻她千百度
Lin Haitao
2008 The Bronze Teeth IV
铁齿铜牙纪晓岚4
Qianlong Emperor
2009 Huang Yanpei
黄炎培
Huang Yanpei
2010 Mudan Ting
牡丹亭
Emperor Gaozong of Song
2010 Baijiaxing Chuanshuo
百家姓传说
Yanhuang
2011 All Men Are Brothers
水浒传
Marshal Hong
2011 Modeng Xin Renlei
摩登新人类
Xie Leizhen
2011 Heise Mingdan
黑色名单
Liu Zhiqi
2011 Zhongguo 1945 Zhi Chongqing Fengyun
中国1945之重庆风云
Huang Yanpei
2011 Bainian Wanxiang
百年莞香
2011 Huguo Junhun Chuanqi
护国军魂传奇
Zhang Taiyan
2011 Mu Guiying Takes Command
穆桂英挂帅
Emperor Zhenzong of Song
2011 Bo Yi
博弈
Bi Zhenzhong
2012 Management Marriage
经营婚姻
Qingniao's father
2012 Red Army Expedition East
红军东征
Mao Zedong
2012 The Legend of the Huangmei Opera Grandmaster
黄梅戏宗师传奇
Qianlong Emperor
2012 Gandong Shengming
感动生命
Guan Mingmei
2012 Dao Ying
刀影
2012 Shuxiang
书香
2012 Wenfang Sibao
文房四宝

References

edit
  1. ^ "Actor due to play Chairman Mao causes uproar due to British citizenship". Telegraph. October 22, 2018.
  2. ^ "Questioning the art of selling science" (PDF). China Daily. p. 5. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ^ (in Chinese) Zhang Tielin's profile on the Jinan University website
edit