Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi once again proved her popularity in the Hollywood movie circle with a recent invitation from the organizing committee of the Oscar ceremony to be held on Feb. 27 next year. Zhang was said to have accepted the invitation with delight.

The young beauty has become one of the most highlighted Chinese actresses in the North American movie scene with the huge box-office result of Hero, a Zhang Yimou-directed martial arts epic in which Zhang Ziyi starred.

Her recent appearance in America to promote House of Flying Daggers, another Zhang Yimou's martial arts credit in which Zhang Ziyi had the leading role, and her cooperation with Hollywood heavyweight producer Steven Spielberg for Memoirs of a Geisha, also spurred her fame in Hollywood.

All these combined to attract the Oscar organizing committee to invite her to show up at the Oscar ceremony, which might be a gathering of the most famous and beautiful faces of the world.

However, it remains a mystery who will accompany Zhang Ziyi on the red carpet.

Although House of Flying Daggers was qualified to compete for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category, its director Zhang Yimou is now grappling with the shooting of his latest production Lonely Ride over a Long Distance and might not appear at the Oscar ceremony.

It is very likely Zhang Ziyi will walk up the red carpet with a foreign face.

Chinese movie fans are also anticipating House of Flying Daggers to appear on an Oscar shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film award. The nomination list will be announced Jan. 25.

Apart from the Oscar ceremony, Zhang Ziyi will also attend the Golden Globe ceremony Feb. 15, 2005. The busy schedule has postponed the premiere of her Jasmine, which was previously set to hit the domestic screens on Valentine's Day, 2005. Now the movie is due out March 3.

(Shenzhen Daily December 14, 2004)