Gong Li Family Tree: The Story Behind Chinese Cinema's Defining Actress

Gong Li, born 31 December 1965 in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, is Chinese cinema's most-acclaimed actress — Red Sorghum (1987), Ju Dou (1990), Raise the Red Lantern (1991), Farewell My Concubine (1993), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Coming Home (2014), Miami Vice (2006).

The Family's Roots: A Shenyang Academic Family

The Gong family is from Shenyang, Liaoning, China — parents were economics teachers.

Her Husband: Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre, born 24 August 1948 — French electronic music composer. Married Gong Li in May 2019 in Paris.

Her Ex-Husband: Ooi Hoe Seong

Ooi Hoe Seong — Singaporean tobacco businessman. Married Gong Li in 1996; divorced 2010.

The Gong Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Mr. Gong — economics professor.

Mother: Mrs. Gong — economics teacher.

Husband: Jean-Michel Jarre (b. 24 August 1948; m. May 2019) — French electronic music composer.

Ex-Husband: Ooi Hoe Seong (m. 1996, div. 2010) — Singaporean tobacco businessman.

Gong Li:

  • Born 31 December 1965, Shenyang
  • Central Academy of Drama, Beijing (graduated 1989)
  • Discovered by director Zhang Yimou
  • Debut: Red Sorghum (1987 — Zhang Yimou)
  • Major films: Operation Cougar (1989), Ju Dou (1990), Raise the Red Lantern (1991), The Story of Qiu Ju (1992 — Venice Film Festival Best Actress), Farewell My Concubine (1993), To Live (1994), Shanghai Triad (1995), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Miami Vice (2006), Curse of the Golden Flower (2006), Coming Home (2014), Saturday Fiction (2019), Leap (2020), Mulan (2020 — playing Xianniang)
  • Volpi Cup (Venice) Best Actress: 1992 (The Story of Qiu Ju)
  • French Order of Arts and Letters (Officer); Singaporean citizenship (since 2008)
  • French citizenship (since 2019)

What the Gong Family Story Teaches Us

A pair of economics-professor parents. Two marriages — to a Singaporean businessman and to French electronic composer Jean-Michel Jarre. A career that produced Chinese cinema's defining face on the world stage.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Gong Li story carries the same lesson. Some 40-year careers anchor a country's cinema globally.

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