Ling, Bai

Bai Ling

Photo taken by L. Mangue

Bai Ling was born on October 10, 1966 in Chengdu, China (Szechwan Province) to a music teacher (her father) and a stage actress/dancer (her mother).  Their professions made life difficult for the family and shortly after Bai Ling was born she was sent off to live with her grandmother.  Ling recalls being an introverted child, she believes that shyness was a catalyst in her desire to perform.

Ling began performing when she was in grade school, with the choir, and had learned ballet and gymnastics.  She was barely into her teens (fourteen) when she enlisted in the Chinese People's Liberation Army's acting troupe, as a performer entertaining the soldiers in Tibet (Xizang.)  She was seventeen when her service was finished and she moved on to perform in Beijing (Chinese and Western plays) and made seven films in mainland China, making her a movie star.

Ling suffered from a depression which led her to rest in a mental institution for a short time and it wasn't long after this period that she became involved in the pro-Democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.  

In 1991 Ling left China for the US, she was a visiting scholar to New York University's film school. She felt the greatest thing she learned from NYU's film school was English.

Bai Ling currently lives in Marina Del Rey, CA

Film
Gleichschaltung~2016
Finding Julia~2015 - ZiZi
Party Pieces~2105 - Lydia
Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance~2015 - Doggé
When the Devil Rides Out~2015 -
Everlasting~2015 - Cristiane
Boned~2015 - The Mistress
Call Me King~2015 - Li Soo
Assassin's Game~2105 - The Bodyguard
6 Ways to Sundown~2015 - June Lee
Vultures in the Void~2014 - (Short) Deadspeed
The Key~2014 - Ida
Blood Shed~2104 - Lucy
American Girls~2013  Amanda Chen
Game of Assassins~2013 - Kim Lee
Speed Dragon~2013 - Jackie
Yellow Hill: The Stranger's Tale~2012 - (Short) The Stranger
Lord of the Elves~2012 - (V) Laylan
The Lazarus Papers~2010 - Kyo
The Bad Penny~2010 - Nok
Locked Down~2010 - Guard Flores
Petty Cash~2010 - Coco
Magic Man~2010 - Samantha
The Confidant~2010 - Black
Circle of Pain~2010 - (V) Victoria Rualan
Love Ranch~2010 - Samantha
Comedy Makes You Cry_~2010 Zhang Qian
Chain Letter~2009 - Jai Pham (credit only)
Crank: High Voltage~2009 - Ria
Dim Sum Funeral~2008 - Dede
A Beautiful Life~2008 - Esther
Toxic~2008 - Lena
The Hustle~2008 - Han
Shifter~2008
62 Pickup~2008
Razor~2008
The Gene Generation~2007 - Michelle
Nomad: The Warrior~2005 (English dubbed version) - voice of Gaukhar

Shanghai Baby~2007
Edmond~2005 - Peep Show Dancer
Living & Dying~2006 - Nadia
Southland Tales~2006 -
Man About Town~2006 - Barbi Ling
Dumplings~2005 - Mei

Lords of Dogtown~2005 - Punky Photographer
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 - Senator Bana Breemu
Brave new World~2005 - Mysterious Woman (archive footage)
My Baby's Daddy~2004 -
Three...Extremes~2004 - Mei in Dumplings
Skycaptain: World of Tomorrow, The~2004  - Mysterious Woman
She Hate Me~2004 - Oni (second from left)

Beautiful Country~2003 - Ling

My Baby's Mama~2003 -  XiXi
Paris~2003 - Linda/Shen Li
Extreme Team, The~2003
Taxi 3~2003 - Qiu
Storm Watch~2002 - Skylar
Face~2002 - Kim
Breed, The~2001 - Lucy Westenra
Shaolin Soccer~2001 - Mui (English Version)
Row Your Boat~1999 - chun Hua
Anna and the King~1999 - Tuptim
Wild Wild West~1999 - Miss East, Dr. Loveless' Personal Assistant
Row Your Boat~1998
Somewhere in the City~1998 - Lu Lu
Red Corner~1997 - Shen Yuelin
Nixon~1995 - Chinese interpreter
Dead Funny~1994 - Norriko
Crow, The~1994 - Myca

Pen Pals~1992 - Sharice
On The Beach~ -
Wu Giang giang shou~1988 - Yan Hong
Hu guang (Arc Light)~1988 - Jing Huan
Shan cun feng yue~1987
Yue Yue~1986 - Yue Yue
Tears in Suzhou~1985 - Wang Lingjuan
Hai tan~1984 - Lu Xiao Mei

TV 
Hawaii Five-0~2012 - Esmerelda in Popilikia
The Being Frank Show~2010-2011 in:
    Roadtrip to the Oscars: Part Three
    Episode #1.2
The Unit~2007 - Achara in Stranger in a Strange Land
Lost~2004 - Achara, Jack's love interest (3 eps)

Stranded with a Star~2006 - co-host
But Can They Sing?~2005 - contestant singing Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'  10/30/05 (six week run)
Entourage~2004 - Li Lei in Chinatown
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The~2005 - Herself
G-Phoria~2004 - Herself
Howard Stern~2004 - Herself 9/29/04
Senkveld med Thomas og Harald~2004 - Herself 3/19/04
Tribeca Film Festival Presents~2003 - Herself
2003 MTV Movie Awards~2003 - Herself
Jake 2.0~2003 - Mei Ling in Cater Waiter
Point of Origin~2002 - Wanda Orr
Lost Empire, The~2001 - Kwan Ying
Chris Isaak Show, The~2001 - Herself in Freud's Dilemma
Angel~1999 - Jhiera in She
 
Touched by an Angel~1994 - Jean Chang in The Spirit of Liberty Moon: Parts 1 & 2

Awards, Honors, and Nominations
Asians On Film Festival:
Rec'd 2014 Best Actress for The Gauntlet
Chinese Film Media Awards:
Rec'd 2005 Best Supporting Actress for Jiao zi
The Diversity Awards:
Rec'd 2006 Spirit Award
Golden Apple Awards:
Rec'd 19997 Female Discovery of the Year
Golden Bauhinia Awards: 
Rec'd 2005 Best Supporting Actress for Jiao zi
Golden Horse Film Festival:
Rec'd 2004 Best Supporting Actress for Saam gaang yi (Dumplings)
Hong Kong Film Awards:
Rec'd 2005 Best Supporting Actress for Saam gaang yi (Dumplings)
Los Angeles cinema Festival of Hollywood:
Rec'd 2013 Feature Film for The Gauntlet
National Board of Review, USA:
Rec'd 1997 Breakthrough Performance - Female for Red Corner
New York International Independent Film & Video Festival:
Rec'd 2013 Best Feature Film for Speed Dragon
Remy Martin X.O Honors Second Generation (2g) Awards
Rec'd 2003 COE Award
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards:
Rec'd 1997 Best Actress for Red Corner

Miscellany
1998 - Named one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine