Twenty-seven-year-old Zhang Ziyi ison the verge ofwinning a number of major acting awards in the United States but until recently could not speak a word of English.
on the verge of ~の寸前で
Theprotagonistin Rob Marshall's film version of best-selling novel Memoirs of a Geisha, she was introduced to audiences outside Asia thanks to the global success of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
In that film, the Chinese actress's voice was dubbed for English-speaking audiences while a year later she was seen speaking English in Hollywood action adventure Rush Hour 2.
But even then she was not an English speaker and had her part translated for herphoneticallyby co-star Jackie Chan.
phonetically 発音通りに
In a recent interview she said: "Jackie is a wonderful man and a very big star, but I was sort of lost, you know? Jackie had to translate everything the director said to me."
spurto speak English was being cast in the title role of Geisha. Zhang admitted she had to "finally get serious" with her language lessons if she was going to carry the role successfully.
spur 励まし
She trained as both a dancer and actress, entering the Beijing Dance Academy at the age of 11, and at 15 she entered China'sprestigiousCentral Academy of Drama.
prestigious 評判がよい、名高い
Herambitionswere to be a teacher of young children but aged 19 she was offered her first role in renowned director Zhang Yimou's The Road Home, which won the Silver Bear award in the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.
ambition 向上心、大望 renowned 有名な、名高い
Her dance training helped her enormously as she filmed theballeticfight scenes for Lee's Crouching Tiger, which won four Oscars and a nomination for best director.
balletic バレエのような、バレエ的な
Her performance in the film also earned her a nomination fromBaftafor a best supporting actress award.
Bafta BAFTAによって与えられる優秀映画・テレビ作品賞(UK)
Last year she was made a member of the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, allowing her to vote in the Oscars.
Time magazine last year called her "China's gift to Hollywood".
Since Crouching Tiger Zhang has mixed her roles between US productions and Chinese films such as Geisha and House of Flying Daggers.
She is currently filming a chinese production, The NightBanquet, a loose reworking of Hamlet.
banquet 晩餐会、ごちそう
She told the Detroit Free Press newspaper: "Everyone tells me, 'Oh Ziyi, you are so lucky to have worked with all these great filmmakers while you are so young,' and that is true, I know.
"But sometimes, I also think, well, they also want to work with me, so maybe I have something to offer they like."