Tong Yao

Tong Yao (; born 11 August 1985), also known as Tanya Tong, is a Chinese actress, best known in film for portraying Chen Shu in A Big Deal, May in Snowfall in Taipei (2012) and Annie Yang in To Love Somebody (2014), and has received critical acclaim for her television work, particularly as Meng Xizi in Militia Ge Erdan (2012), Zhou Xiaobei in Three Bosom Girls (2014), Song Renping in Like a Flowing River (2018) and Gu Jia in Nothing But Thirty (2020).

Early life and education On August 11, 1985, Tong was born in Kunming, Yunnan.

Career In 2002, Tong made her television debut in Tracks In The Snowy Forest, playing a health worker in the Northeast Democratic United Army named Bai Ru.

In 2006, Tong amassed a member of television credits namely My Sun, Walking Duster, and Life of Dragon and Tiger. She had a minor role as Pan Ying in The Young Warriors, a historical television series.

Tong had a cameo appearance in Moonlight Lady (2007), a historical television series based on the real life on Song dynasty poet Li Qingzhao. That same year, she also appeared in Repeat an Error and I Want to Understand You.

In 2008, she co-starred with Lin Shen in the romantic comedy film Afraid to Say Love You, which is her film debut. In the following year, Tong appeared in the film Nine Dragon Jade, in which she played You Erjie.

Her 2010 work includes Simple Dish, Lei Feng, Military Honour, Wind Up the First Pass and Qiao Longbiao. That same year, she starred with Xu Shaoyang in the thriller horror film Snapper.

In 2011, Tong was cast in comedy film A Big Deal.

As lead actress, she co-starred Liu Wei and Ni Ping in the romantic comedy film Wings (2012). And she starred as May, reuniting her with co-star Chen Bolin, who played her romantic interest, in Snowfall in Taipei, a film adaptation based on the Japanese novel of the same name. That same year, she was cast in war drama Militia Ge Erdan, playing the wife of Huang Bo's character.

In 2013, Tong played the female lead role in a business-themed romantic drama film Day of Redemption.

Tong played Annie Yang, the lead role in Francis Sung's directed film To Love Somebody. She had a supporting role in The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom, a fantasy wuxia film. She co-starred with Zhang Xinyi and Jiang Xin in the television series Three Bosom Girls.

In 2015, she played the love interest of Li Chen's character in the television series Boys to Men.

In 2016, three television work she headlined, Stepmother Xu Duoduo, My Spicy Girlfriend and Customize Happiness premiered.

In 2018, Tong starred as a key supporting role in the historical drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, alongside Wallace Huo and Zhou Xun. She gained popularity for her portrayal of the role as Gao Xiyue. The same year, she starred in the period drama Like a Flowing River. Her performance garnered her the Best Supporting Actress at the Magnolia Awards.

In 2020, Tong began filming the spy drama The Rebel.

Endorsements In September 2020, Tong became the Chinese ambassador for Estée Lauder. From April 2021, she selected as a Giorgio Armani Crossroads brand ambassador, and become brand ambassador for Giorgio Armani in China since August 2022.

On September 21, 2020, lingerie and lifestyle brand NEIWAI officially announced that Tong Yao would become its brand ambassador.

On November 30, 2021, she was announced as a brand ambassador for American luxury jewelry brand Tiffany & Co.

On February 21, 2021, she has been announced as the Giorgio Armani Beauty ambassador in China.

In May 2024, Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller Piaget SA announced that Tong has officially joined the Piaget family and become Piaget's brand ambassador in China.

Personal life On October 1, 2019, Tong and Wang Ran, CEO of private investment bank CEC Capital, married in an ancient castle in Italy.

Filmography Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2008 Afraid to Say Love You Lan Xin 2009 Nine Dragon Jade You Erjie 2009 Snowfall in Taipei May 2010 Snapper Xiao Bai 2011 A Big Deal Chen Shu 2012 Wings Xiao Bei 2013 Day of Redemption Zhou Ting 2014 To Love Somebody Annie Yang The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom Ke Pingting 2016 The New Year's Eve of Old Lee Cameo 2022 Face's A Verb

Television series

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Results 2018 10th China TV Drama Awards Media Recommended Actor Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 20194th China Quality Television Drama CeremonyOutstanding Performance Quality Star 25th Shanghai Television Festival Best Supporting Actress Like a Flowing River 7th WenRong TV Awards Best Supporting Actress 6th The Actors of China Awards Ceremony Best Actress (Emerald Category) Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best Actress 2020 32nd Flying Apsaras Award Outstanding Actress 30th China TV Golden Eagle Award Best Actress 7th The Actors of China Awards CeremonyBest Actress (Emerald) 12th China TV Drama Awards Outstanding Actress of the YearNothing But Thirty Get Married or Not 3rd Sir Movie Cultural And Entertainment Industry Awards Best Actress Nothing But Thirty 29th Huading Awards Best Actress 5th Tencent Video TV And Movie Awards Quality TV Actor of the Year 1st iFeng Film and TV Awards Best Actress (TV) 2021 27th Shanghai Television Festival Best Actress 2022 33rd Flying Apsaras Award Outstanding Actress The Rebel 2023 6th Television Series of China Quality Ceremony Quality Charismatic Actor Life Is a Long Quiet River Beyond