Lin Chi-ling (born 29 November 1974) is a Taiwanese actress, model, and television personality.[1][2]

Lin Chi-ling
林志玲
Lin Chi-ling at the LG New Chocolate (BL40) phone launching event on 4 November 2009, Hong Kong
Lin Chi-ling at the LG New Chocolate (BL40) phone launching event on 4 November 2009, Hong Kong
Born (1974-11-29) November 29, 1974 (age 49)
CitizenshipTaiwan
Alma materTaipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School
Bishop Strachan School
University of Toronto
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • television personality
Years active2002 – present
Spouse
(m. 2019)
Children1
Parent(s)Lin Fan-nan (father)
Wu Tzu-mei (mother)
RelativesLin Chi-hong (brother)
Modeling information
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorDark brown
AgencyCatwalk Production House (2000–2012)
ChilingLin Studio (2017–present)
Avex Management (Japan)
Chinese name
Chinese林志玲
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Zhìlíng
Wade–GilesLin Chih-ling
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLím Jî-Léng
Website林志玲 on Instagram

Early life

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Lin Chi-ling was born on 29 November 1974 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lin's father, Lin Fan-nan (Chinese: 林繁男), and her mother, Wu Tzu-mei (Chinese: 吳慈美), are both from Tainan in southern Taiwan. Following their marriage, they moved to Taipei where Lin and her elder brother Lin Chi-hong (Chinese: 林志鴻) were born. Lin attended Taipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School and at the age of 15 was discovered by model talent scout Lin Chien-huan (Chinese: 林健寰).[3] She later attended Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, then attended the University of Toronto until 1997, when she completed her bachelor degree, double-majoring in Western art history and economics.

After graduating from university, Lin returned to Taiwan.[4] She intended to pursue a career in fine art and sought a position at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, but was turned away because she lacked a postgraduate degree in the field.[5] Lin continued to model part-time before leaving the industry and working as an administrative assistant for the Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation (富邦文教基金會). In 2000, Lin left Fubon and spent three months studying in Japan, then returned to Taiwan and modeling, with Catwalk Production House.

Career

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Modeling

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2009 Asia Model Festival Awards, South Korea

In 2002, Lin was invited to model in a television advertisement in Hong Kong. The advertisement received attention and discussion on the internet, and interest in Lin began to grow.[6] The following year, noted television producer Ge Hongfu offered Lin a position as hostess of a fashion program on Shanghai Oriental Television. In 2004, Lin starred in a broad series of advertisements in Taiwan that included big giant building-size posters, billboards, and television commercials. Almost overnight, Lin skyrocketed to national fame and became an instant celebrity model. Her rise to fame initiated a Taiwanese craze for supermodels, an effect commentators named "The Lin Chi-ling Phenomenon" (Chinese: 林志玲現象; pinyin: Lín Zhìlíng xiànxiàng).

Lin's popularity grew throughout the rest of 2004, as she began modeling in Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese advertisements, and continued when she began doing Japanese advertisements in 2005. From 2004 to 2006, Lin served as Taiwan's goodwill ambassador to the Japan Tourism Association.[7] One of the unintended results of Lin Chi-ling phenomenon is that due to Lin's popularity among her Chinese fans, some Japanese pornographic actresses resembling Lin have become more famous and more popular among Chinese fans than their native homeland Japan, and received nicknames given by their China fans in association with Lin Chi-ling,[8][9] such as in the case of Yui Hatano, who is frequently referred by Chinese fans as AV Lin Chi-ling,[8] and Nozomi Aso (麻生希/あそう のぞみ), who is frequently referred by Chinese fans as AV little Lin Chin-ling.[9] On 8 August 2005, Lin was in Dalian, China, shooting an advertisement for Procter & Gamble home products when she fell from the back of a horse she was riding and was inadvertently trampled. Workers rushed Lin to a nearby hospital where doctors discovered that she had suffered six broken ribs, a punctured left lung, and an accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity.[10] Lin underwent four months of treatment and therapy, and announced in November 2005 that she had completely recovered.

Television

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Lin has had numerous roles in television over her time as a model, being the host of TVBS-G LA Mode News, TVBS-G Fashion Track, the Golden Melody Awards and the Top Chinese Music Chart Awards in 2005.

Lin starred as one of the three female leads in the 2010 Fuji TV Japanese television drama Tsuki no Koibito. The male lead is a popular actor Takuya Kimura.

Film

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Lin made her film début role in a historical epic directed by John Woo entitled Red Cliff. Playing the role of Xiaoqiao, it was her first time acting. In 2009, she starred together with Jay Chou in the action-adventure film The Treasure Hunter.

Earnings

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Lin Chi-ling at a Christmas tree lighting charity event, hosted by Longines Taiwan, at the Taipei 101 shopping mall on 5 December 2014
 
Andy Lau and Lin Chi-ling at Beijing Film Festival 2013
 
Lin Chi-ling and Mayor of Taipei Hau Lung-pin at the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition
 
Lin Chi-ling giving a speech at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology on 13 June 2008

As of 2006, Lin has served as an official spokesperson for both China Airlines and Longines.[11]

Taiwanese media reported Lin as No. 1 model in the "Richest Celebrities [in Taiwan]" list in 2007, with estimated earnings of NT$60,000,000 (≈ AU$2,100,000 ≈ CA$1,900,000 ≈ UK£906,000 ≈ US$1,900,000), in which Jay Chou appeared as No. 1 male singer (with over NT$100,000,000) and Jolin Tsai appeared as No. 1 female singer (with nearly NT$100,000,000).[12]

Hong Kong press reported she was 2009's No. 1 highest-paid model in the Greater China region, followed by Chinese Jennifer Du (#2), Hong Kong's Gaile Lai (#3) and Lynn Hung (#4).[13] She has continuously ranked No. 1 on Taiwan's "Highest-earning models" list since 2004. Her earnings was estimated to be NT$160,000,000 (≈ AU$5,400,000 ≈ CA$5,400,000 ≈ UK£3,370,000 ≈ US$5,320,000) in 2010, which consisted of those from advertisements (NT$120,000,000) and various such as TV-series appearance in Japan (NT$40,000,000),[14] and NT$200,000,000 (≈ AU$6,600,000 ≈ CA$6,800,000 ≈ UK£4,240,000 ≈ US$6,600,000) in 2011.[15]

In the same year, she established a charity fund Chiling Charity Foundation (財團法人臺北市志玲姊姊慈善基金會),[16] which supports child welfare.[17]

Personal life

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Lin was in an on and off relationship with Taiwanese actor Jerry Yan for many years.[18] Yan admitted to reuniting with Lin on 10 November 2017, but this was neither confirmed nor denied by Lin.[19][20] Around one year later, however, Yan refused to comment[21] and Lin denied dating.[22] On 6 June 2019, Lin announced her marriage to Akira, a member of the Japanese pop band Exile.[23][24] Lin announced the birth of her first child, a son, on 31 January 2022, after undergoing fertility treatments.[25][26]

Filmography

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Year English title Original title Role Notes
2008 Red Cliff: Part 1 赤壁 Xiao Qiao
2009 Red Cliff: Part 2 赤壁 Xiao Qiao Both parts also released as a single 2½ hour trimmed-down version in 2009
The Magic Aster 馬蘭花 Da Lan Voice acting
The Treasure Hunter 刺陵 Lan Ting
2010 Moon Lovers 月の恋人 Liu Xiu Mei Japan TV Series
Welcome to Shama Town 決戰刹馬鎮 Chun Niang
2011 Love on Credit 幸福額度 Xiao Hong and Xiao Qing
2012 Sweetheart Chocolate 甜心巧克力
2013 Say Yes! 101次求婚 Ye Xun
Switch 富春山居圖 Lisa
2014 Who is Undercover 王牌
2015 Beijing, New York 北京,紐約 Jasmine
Monk Comes Down the Mountain 道士下山 Yu Zhen
2017 This Is Not What I Expected 喜歡·你 Private chef
Didi's Dream 吃吃的愛 Shangguan Lingling
2018 The Monkey King 3 西遊記·女兒國 River God
The Faces of My Gene 祖宗十九代 Leia
2019 Mayday LiFE 3D 五月天人生無限公司3D Veterinarian Mayday's concert movie

Discography

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Singles

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  • "Fly Away" (2009) – written by Jay Chou and Lin Chi-ling[27]
  • "The Power of Beauty" (2010)[28]
  • "Me and The Moon" (2015)[29]
  • "You and me" (2018)[30]

Awards

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  • "International Artist Credibility Award", 2nd International Television Commercial Arts Festival in 2006
  • "Hong Kong Style Icons", Hong Kong Trade Development Council in 2006
  • "Top Ten China Beauty", 5th International Beauty Week in 2006
  • "Best Fashion Icon at the 2nd Entertainment Award at Beijing in 2007
  • "Most popular New Actress", Baidu Award in 2008
  • "Best New Actress", Sina Award in 2008
  • "Best Asia Star Award", Asia Model Awards at Korea in 2009
  • "Most Influential Charity Icon", Charity Star Award in 2009
  • "2017 University College Alumni of Influence Award", University of Toronto at Canada in 2017

References

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  1. ^ Zhan Weixiong 詹伟雄, (2008). Meixue de Jingji – Taiwan Shehui Bianqian de 60 ge Weixing Guancha 美學的經濟—臺灣社會變遷的60個微型觀察, lit. 'The Economy of Aesthetics&nbsp', '– 60 Microscopic Observations of Taiwan's Societal Changes'. Taipei: Feng Ge Zhe. ISBN 957-29895-2-9.
  2. ^ "Lin Chi-ling hopes to establish charity for needy children". Taipei Times. 8 February 2011. p. 2.
  3. ^ 林健寰慧眼識英雄 發掘張鳳書、林志玲等女星 | 娛樂新聞 | NOWnews 今日新聞網. Nownews.com (26 March 2006).
  4. ^ "積極、樂觀,林志玲", lit. 'Active and Optimistic Lin Chi-Ling', in Vogues Taiwan, 1998, issue 24, 180.
  5. ^ 林志玲鳳凰變身五重奏 光速走紅娛樂圈大揭秘-海峽兩岸-人民網. Tw.people.com.cn.
  6. ^ 林志玲价码三级跳 千万续约费让唐安麒傻眼, Ent.163.com, 10 September 2004,
  7. ^ www.libertytimes.com/2006/new/jun/27/today-show4.htm .
  8. ^ a b "Lin Chi-Ling look alike Yui Hatano". Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Lin Chi-Ling look alike Nozomi Aso". Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  10. ^ 中國評論新聞:林志玲傷得不輕 真的6根肋骨骨折. China Review News.
  11. ^ "Longines – Ambassadors of Elegances Personalities Page" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  12. ^ "ジェイ・チョウ「台湾歌手長者番付」でダントツ1位", 10 December 2007, Searchina (in Japanese)
  13. ^ "【華流】香港メディアが調査、モデル出演料No.1はチーリン", 8 April 2009, Searchina (in Japanese)
  14. ^ "【華流】台湾モデル年収ランキング、7年連続でチーリンがトップ", 10 December 2010, Searchina (in Japanese)
  15. ^ "リン・チーリン、年収が5億円超え! トップの座をキープ", 17 December 2011, Searchina (in Japanese)
  16. ^ "リン・チーリンがチャリティー基金会を設立、カレンダー発売で貢献—台湾", 12 November 2011, Record China (in Japanese)
  17. ^ "【華流】リン・チーリン、子どもたちのためにチャリティー基金設立", 13 November 2011, Searchina (in Japanese)
  18. ^ 言承旭就是敗在這點!情纏17年仍錯過林志玲
  19. ^ "言承旭承認了!談復合志玲「真誠的互相關心」". Apple Daily (Taiwan). 12 November 2017.
  20. ^ "言承旭 林志玲 真的在一起". China Press. 12 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Jerry Yan thanks mystery girlfriend at Japan fanmeet". Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  22. ^ "I'm not Jerry Yan's current girlfriend: Lin Chi-ling". Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  23. ^ Taiwan supermodel Lin Chiling marries Japanese pop band Exile member Akira
  24. ^ "Akira of Exile marries Taiwanese supermodel and actress Lin Chiling". 6 June 2019.
  25. ^ Chiang, Stephaine (31 January 2022). "Taiwanese model Lin Chi-ling welcomes first child on LNY Eve". Taiwan News. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  26. ^ Lo, James (31 January 2022). "Taiwan supermodel announces baby son". Central News Agency. Retrieved 31 January 2022. Republished as: "Actress Lin Chi-ling, Akira welcome baby boy". Taipei Times. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  27. ^ Chi-ling Lin Jay Chou Fly with Me official music video
  28. ^ Chi-ling Lin The power of beauty official music video
  29. ^ Chi-ling Lin Me and the Moon music video
  30. ^ Chi-ling Lin You and Me video
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