Vivian Wu

Born in Shanghai, China, to renowned Chinese actress, Zhu Man Fang and college professor Wu Cheng Ye, Vivian started her film career. After a series of notable movie and television roles, and while completing her high school education, Ms Wu was chosen by award winning Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci for his epic, THE LAST EMPEROR, to play opposite John Lone as the courageous young consort, Wen Xiu. The role marked Ms Wu’s first English speaking engagement and she has not looked back ever since.

The Last Emperor went on to receive nine Oscars from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, as well as, many other international nominations and awards. For her role of Wen Xiu, Vivian received the “best supporting actress” nomination at the internationally famous David Donatello Film Festival.

In 1987 Vivian left China bound for Hawaii having received a scholarship in Travel Management from Hawaii Pacific University. Two years later, however, her acting career began to flourish having starred in such internationally successful films Iron and Silk and Shadow of China. Her busy acting career made her University schedule almost impossible so in 1989 she moved to Hollywood, California to pursue her acting career full time.

Since her move to Hollywood in 1989, Ms Wu has appeared and starred in numerous film and television projects. Most notable amongst her many works are: HEAVEN AND EARTH (directed by Oliver Stone), THE SOONG SISTERS (directed by Mabel Chung) and JOY LUCK CLUB (directed by Wayne Wang). In 1995 eccentric English director Peter Greenaway picked Vivian to play the role of “Nagiko” in THE PILLOWBOOK.

Vivian portrayed an obsessive Japanese woman who indulged her erotic fantasies by brush painting her lovers’ nude bodies. The Pillowbook won the “Certain Regard” award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996. Her dedication and courage in the role of “Nagiko” reassured audiences around the world that Ms Wu was one of the top leading Asian actresses. In 1998 she collaborated with Mr. Greenaway again in 8 AND 1/2 WOMEN. The film became an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. Vivian was the only actor to have ever worked on two different film projects for Mr. Greenaway.

The success of The Soong Sisters brought Ms Wu back to China to work on several Chinese film projects. At the end of 2003 Vivian finished filming Ann Hu’s Forgive Me Not in Qingdao, China, a story about two half sisters in early forties China who fall in love with the same man. The film is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2005. Ms Wu also recently wrapped filming on the Danish film CHINAMAN directed by award winning and OSCAR nominated, Danish director Henrik Ruben Genz. Vivian stars in the role of the fateful, melancholy Chinese immigrant, Ling, who falls in love with a Danish man who is down and out on his luck.

During filming of the Universal television mini series VANISHING SON, Vivian met her future husband Oscar Luis Costo. The couple wed in December of 1996. Their Shanghai banquet was featured in PEOPLE magazine and Vivian was chosen as the best-dressed celebrity bride of the year. Ms Wu was also previously selected by PEOPLE magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the world.

Mongrel Media