Kong Lin

Kong Lin (Chinese: 孔琳; born 5 January 1969), also known as Kong Ling (Chinese: 孔令), is a mainland Chinese actress, television series and movie producer, art director, and semi-rock-pop singer. Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang she now lives in Beijing, Jilin.

Kong is known as one of her generation's most distinguished graduates of the Beijing Film Academy, praised for her great ability and multitalented abilities. Before graduating, she was already contributing to several film projects directed by prominent filmmakers, such Zhang Yimou in his movie, Raise the Red Lantern.

Well known as a villain in many television series because of her performance in Raise the Red Lantern, she has appeared in The Proud Twins (2005), Zhen Qing Gao Bie (2003), The Raging Butterfly (2003), Lucky Zhu Bajie (2003)amongst many others.

Kong Lin grew up in a family of artists; her father was in western-style opera/theatrical works as singer and actor. She, in turn, was mentored by him in singing, dancing, acting, and also playing violoncello.

In 1987, Lin's father sent her to study acting at the Beijing Film Academy. During her teenage years, she often participated in opera/theatre performances and also took part in the school band when she was in high school, playing instruments (guitar, cello, or piano), singing, and dancing.

Movies

When Kong was still a student at the Beijing Film Academy, she began to make appearances in movies. In 1989, she was chosen by Li Shaohong, a famous mainland director, to take part in her movie named Bloody Morning. She starred as a poor village girl called Li Hong Xin. In 1991, she appeared in Zhang Yimou's acclaimed film, Raise the Red Lantern. Kong appeared alongside star Gong Li as her servant named Yan Er who acted haughty, stubborn, and full of hatred to her mistress. This role became one of her more notable roles. In the same year, Kong played as participant role in the movie Transcend Life as a Japanese girl, and Rippling Love as a pianist. In 1992, she had a female leading role in the semi-comedy film Cannot Live Without Love with some of her classmates.

After Kong graduated with her BFA degree in 1994, she produced a movie with some classmates, 頭髮亂了 (English Title: Dirt). Not only did she have a leading role in the film, Kong also served as producer of the film, directed by Guan Hu. In 1996, in Guan Hu's movie, Violoncello of the Street, Kong appeared again in a leading role, displaying one of her many talents by playing cello.

The most recent of Kong's film roles was in 2009, in the Wong Jing movie I Corrupt All Cops. She appeared as a special guest star, in the role of Tony Leung Ka-fai's character's wife.

Television Series

As in her films, Kong has not only appeared as an actress in TV projects. She has also done some behind-the-scenes work for various productions. In 2001, she produced an adventure TV series named 一路上有你 (English Title: You and Me on the Road). In that television series, she was the lead actress, producer, script supervisor, and art director. She also showed her playing cello performance again in a few scenes. The series is set in Beijing, Shanghai, Malaysia, and Canada, with a diverse cast representing mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

As a producer and script supervisor, Lin collaborated with her friends and other partners on a television series in 2003, 真情告别 Zhen Qing Gao Bie.

• Hóng Fēngzhēng 紅風箏 Red Kite,Dirt 頭髮亂了 movie insert theme song (1994)
• Fèixū 廢墟 Ruins,Memorial Arch 牌坊 TV series ending theme song (1995)
• Wǒmen Dōu Liúguò Yǎnlèi 我們都流過眼淚 We all grieve, Violoncello of the Street 浪漫街頭 movie theme song (1996)
• Cuò 錯 Wrong,Zhang Li Hong De Xian Dai Sheng Huo 張禮紅的現代生活 TV series ending theme song (2007)