As the heroine of the legendary director Zhang Yimou’s acclaimed film The Flowers of War, Chinese actress Ni Ni embarked on her career from an impressive vantage point. She continues to radiate in the entertainment industry and is widely recognised as an “It girl” - 14 years after her debut. When Zhang’s film The Flowers of War premiered in 2011, the enigmatic leading actress who portrayed Yu Mo, the vibrant leader of a group of prostitutes engaged in an affair with an American priest played by Christian Bale, captivated the audience completely. It was during this moment that the new “Mou girl”, a fresh-faced 23-year-old Ni, stepped into the spotlight. The term “Mou girls” refers to actresses who are plucked from obscurity by the esteemed director Zhang Yimou. A complete novice prior to the film, she had no formal acting training and was a recent graduate from the Communication University of China Nanjing, located in the Jiangsu province of eastern China. Ni confessed that she had little interest in subjects beyond English, her dream being to become an office lady in a foreign enterprise, much like her aunt, whom she had admired since childhood. When Zhang sought new actresses for the film, he specified a requirement for English and Nanjing dialect skills, leading to local Ni being recommended by her teacher. Alongside other newly cast actresses portraying prostitutes, Ni underwent two years of rigorous, secret training, transforming her from a diligent student into a seductive lady of the night. Their acting teacher noted that Ni excelled in uncovering the beauty of her body. That innate talent has persisted to this day. Now at 36, Ni is celebrated as an “It girl” with a remarkable sense of style. Her photoshoots - ranging from fashion magazine covers to candid daily snapshots - are often lauded by the public, with many followers eager to emulate her outfits, make-up, and hairstyles. However, Ni’s success in the fashion realm was largely unintentional; it was a crucial avenue when she faced sidelining by her company shortly after her debut, due to a rift between Zhang Yimou and his long-time collaborator Zhang Weiping, who was also her employer. With a spirited and non-competitive disposition, Ni has navigated her career development step by step. She explored various roles in films and TV series, including Shock Wave 2, the Chinese adaptation of Bride Wars, and My Best Friend’s Story. In 2019, she made her stage debut in Stan Lai’s acclaimed piece, One One Eight Zero, a renowned Taiwanese playwright and director. Humbly, she remarked that “the title of ‘Mou girl’ acknowledges director Zhang, not my performance.” Ni remains focused on honing her craft, aspiring to achieve the level where “as long as the role moves me, it will move the audience.” She has earned accolades, including the Best Actress award at the Asian Film Awards and the Changchun Film Festival. Her influence extends to social media, where she boasts 25 million followers on a major Chinese platform.