1979–2006: Early life and beginnings
Tang is the only child of a former stage actress and painter. In an interview, she explained that she often traveled around China and learned to paint, adding that she was influenced by her parents. Tang graduated from a local vocational high school in her hometown in 1996, where her teachers described her as "athletic" and a "good student who always did her homework". She had no plans to become famous; she originally aspired to become an archaeologist orlawyer. Tang made the decision to enter the entertainment industry after doing some modeling in 1997. She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2002.
Tang met Zhu Yuchen in 1995. A Shanghai native, both were majoring in drama and acting. By 1998, the couple had moved in together while continuing to receive university education. They officially split in 2002, a few weeks before Zhu and Tang obtained degrees at the acting school, and Tang was reported to be distraught and crying upon witnessing their graduation ceremony.
Shortly after her university graduation, Tang met Stan Lai during one of his trips to China. He was impressed by the actress, and was quoted as saying, "The number of stars may not be good actors, a lot of good actors may not be good stars, but Tang Wei was fortunate to have done it." He proceeded to recommend her to several directors and was thus cast in more roles, although she was relatively unknown outside her hometown in China at this time. Nonetheless, Tang starred in a TV series, Policewoman Swallow (2004) and a brief university drama, Che Guevara (2004). After working with a more diverse group of actresses, she also appeared in TV dramas Leaving Seafront Street (2005), East Meets West (2005) and Born in the 60s (2006).
2006–08: Lust, Caution
In July 2006, Tang was selected from more than 10,000 actresses to appear in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution (2007) as Wong Chia Chi, co-starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Joan Chen, and Leehom Wang. She learned both Shanghainese and the related Suzhou dialect during this time, and was trained in a more formal style of dressing and acting. Tang won the Best New Performer Golden Horse award. Tang was also nominated for the Independent Spirit Award, and was present at the ceremony in Santa Monica, California in February 2008. She received wider fame throughout and beyond China after this role. In March 2008, China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) ordered a media ban due to Tang's performance of sexual acts in Lust, Caution. Because of the controversy instigated by the statement, this was followed by discontinuing most of Tang's forthcoming TV commercials to endorse various snack foods and cosmetics.
Following the success of Lust, Caution, Tang and her parents obtained residency in Hong Kong. She ended a three-year relationship with Tian Yu (田羽) in December 2007. She would not reveal further details or reasons for the split, but stated, "Tian Yu is important to me, and for years, he was the person who treated me the best. He always cared about and helped me quietly. Without him, I definitely would not have played a role in Lust, Caution, and wouldn't have the success I've made today. I will always feel grateful to him."
2009–present: Late Autumn and Crossing Hennessey
She was set to star in Tian Zhuangzhuang's budget period film The Warrior and the Wolf (2009), but was replaced by Maggie Q. In February 2009, during her absence from the movie industry, she was reported to have briefly attended drama classes at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
From November 2009 to March 2010, Tang filmed with Hyun Bin in Late Autumn (2010), directed by Kim Tae-Yong. Late Autumn was shot in Seattle, Washington. In Crossing Hennessy (2010), a romantic drama, with Jacky Cheung, Tang plays the orphaned Oi Lin who falls for the troubled Xu. Her uncle proceeds to attempt to avert the attraction to another man, and succeeds as the plan ends in marriage.She learned Cantonese during this time, and was reported to be very capable despite the limited filming time and her role in the movie.Tang's first film to be shown in China since Lust, Caution, a March 2010 news article quoted her as saying, "Coming to Hong Kong for this premiere, I can see director Ivy and co-star Andy On again. I've been very happy. Now I'm just excited to see the movie. I will be happy if everyone can see my work."
In September 2010, it was announced she was set to star in The Founding of a Party (2011). In May 2011, Tang's scenes were deemed too explicit. Subsequently, Mao Zedong's grandson, Mao Xinyu, ordered them to be cut from the movie entirely.
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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| Chinese girls Tang Wei |
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