NING Li
editBIOGRAPHY
editNing Li (or Li Ning); (宁 理 ; born in Beijing 3 March 1968) is a Chinese actor, screenwriter and director from China. After graduating from Shanghai Drama Institute, he joined the Shanghai People’s Art Theater where he worked both on stage and in film and TV. He studied filmmaking with the University of Minnesota’s MCTC Film program. Beyond his capacity as an accomplished actor, he has also written screenplays and directed film projects in China over his long career in China’s film industry.
CAREER
editNing Li is best recognized for his recent role in the iQiYi production of Burning Ice (2017; Wu Zheng Zhi Zui, directed by Lu Xing, now available on Netflix). Taking a creative approach to interpreting the dark psychology behind a cold killer, Li provided signature elements to his character that have become cultural references since the production’s debut. The role brought him the honored title of “Most Memorable Performance of 2017."
He has also been listed #33 in China’s Top 100 male TV actors of all time, according to the widely held publication “Xin Ju Guan Cha”, a popular critic and rating outlet for Chinese media.
Throughout his career he received praise for his various roles. His first major role in a film, A Confucius Family (1989; Que Li Ren Jia, directed by Wu Yigong) landed him an award for Best Actor. Shortly after graduating from Shanghai Theater Academy he was offered the namesake role in a popular television series about the exponential growth and opportunities China was facing in the early 1990’s. The TV show, Little Pu Dong, was a well-loved sensation and brought him notoriety, fame and nominations for his performance.
During the slow-down in the industry in the late 1990’s he relocated to the USA to study film at the University of Minnesota’s associated film program at MCTC, widely touted as the best kept secret of filmmaking programs in the US.
While living in Minnesota, he took a small comedic role in the New Line Cinema production of Sugar and Spice (2001; directed by Francine McDougall, starring James Marsden, Mena Suvari, Marla Sokoloff).
Moving back to China after film school, Li took on two monumental roles of real-life modern heroes portraying the renowned Chinese chief of the UN Peacekeepers in Papua New Guinea (2005; Peackeepers) and as Dan Inisanto, Bruce Lee’s dear friend and nunchuk teacher (2008; The Legend of Bruce Lee). Both shows were very successful with high viewership and further syndication.
He continued to work on various films and television series over the years, and then in 2012 Li was invited to take a lead role in a unique theater experience with Border Crossing Theater in London. The project was an intensive workshop which lead 4 actors – all with different linguistic abilities - to the creation of their own multi-media production which was performed in both China and England to much acclaim. Li was the only bilingual actor and provided the link between the other 3 actors on the project throughout the production.
PERSONAL
editLi married an American woman who is fluent in Chinese and a student of Chinese literature and film. They have two children and move frequently between China and the US.
CAREER
edit| THEATER | ||
|---|---|---|
| Consumed | Tong Zheng (lead) | BorderCrossing Theater London dir. M. Walling |
| Blood Relative | Shen Xiaoming (lead) | Shanghai People’s Art Theater dir. Shu Leci |
| Much Ado about Nothing | Don John (support) | Shanghai People’s Art Theater dir. Yu Luosheng |
| Beijing Man | Jiang Tai (lead) | Shanghai Drama Institute dir. Zhang Yingxiang |
| FILM/TV | ||
| Wu Zhu Zhi Chang | Liu Zhengyi (lead) | iQiYi Production dir. Zhao Tianyu |
| My Robot Boyfriend | Lin Sitan (lead) | Hunan Cable TV dir. Zeng Lizhen |
| My Huckleberry Friends | Wu Wenlu (lead) | iQiYi Production dir. Sha Mo |
| Burning Ice | Li Fengtian (lead) | iQiYi Production dir. Lu Xing |
| Vein of the Motherland | Qiu Jianshe (lead) | China Central TV 1 dir. Wen Shenghua |
| Sound of Thunder | Ji Yingtian (lead) | Shanxi TV Network dir. Zhangqian |
| Red Tiger Stings | Sen Tianhao (support) | Anhui TV Production dir. Lei Xianhe |
| Revolt of the Fisherman | Ding Zixie (lead) | Yan Film Production dir. Fan Dongyu |
| The Swordsmith | King (lead) | Tianhe Film Production dir. Fan Dongyu |
| A Roll of the Dice | Ma Kui (lead) | Xinyue Film Production dir. Fan Dongyu |
| Hotelier | Jack Lee (support) | Zhongshi Hezhan Production dir. Jiang |
| The Brotherhood | Yie Peng (lead) | Hairun Shanghai TV Production dir. Yu Ding |
| The Legend of Bruce Lee | Dan Inosanto (support) | China Central TV Network dir. Li Wenqi |
| The Last One Stand | Ono (lead) | China Central TV Network dir. Li Wenqi |
| Peace Keepers | Shao Guodong (lead) | China Central TV Network dir. Li Wenqi |
| Love Season | Sun Qi (support) | China Central TV Network dir. Xiong Zao |
| Sugar and Spice | Dim Sum Charlie (support) | Newline Cinema dir. Francine McDougall |
| Brother Qiao | Brother Qiao (lead) | Guangxi TV Production dir. Cai Kan |
| Little Pudong | Little Pudong (lead) | Shanghai TV Network dir. Wang Shenghua |