Yao Chen

Yao Chen (, born 5 October 1979) is a Chinese actress and philanthropist. In 2014, Time named Yao as one of the most influential people on their Time 100 list. As of 2014, she is listed as the 83rd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. Several English-language media outlets have nicknamed her "China's answer to Angelina Jolie." Yao ranked 56th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2013, 69th in 2014, 41st in 2015, and 60th in 2019. Personal life Yao was born in Shishi City, Quanzhou, Fujian province on 5 October 1979 to a middle-class family, and studied Chinese folk dance at the Beijing Dance Academy from 1993 to 1997, then studied at the Beijing Film Academy from 1999 to 2003. In 2004, Yao married Chinese actor Ling Xiaosu, but they divorced in January 2011. Yao married cinematographer Cao Yu in November 2012. She gave birth to their first child in 2013.