Nina Li Chi
- Actress
Nina Li was one of the most distinguished Chinese leading ladies in
late 80s and early 90s, and was renowned for her ravishing sex appeal
which earned her the reputation of being "Marilyn of the East". She was
born as Li Chi (Li Zhi) on the last day of 1961 in Shanghai. During her
childhood, she was greatly influenced by her father, who had taught in
the actor studios in Shanghai and Canton and can be considered the
Lee Strasberg of China. In 1981, she followed her father to Hong Kong. At
first, she worked in a furniture store but later on she went abroad to
study in the United States, majoring in economics and business. Her
breakthrough came when she came back to Hong Kong in 1986 and joined
the Miss Asia contest. She was elected the Champion. However, people
sneered at her at first, regarding her beauty as "tasteless" and,
because she spoke Cantonese with her Shanghai accent, they hissed at
her. However, with the help of tycoons like Jackie Chan and Raymond, she
was soon recognized by filmmakers as the most hardworking in the city.
Within 2 years, she became the fifth highest paid actress in Hong Kong.
During her fairly short career (1987-1992), she has collaborated with
stars like Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-Fat, Samuel Hui and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung. In 1992, she retired
and became an investor in mainland China. Her business collapsed in
1996 and she retired to private life. She was later married to Jet Li,
who was a martial arts master from China and was catapulted to
international stardom soon after with Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).