Zhang Ziyi, with a role as a “cold beauty”  in Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grand Master一代宗师”, recently posed for the February issue of Marie Claire. Some pictures under the cut, and the rest of the photo shoot can be seen here.

Zhang Ziyi will be working alongside Tong Leung Chiu Wai, who will play the title character. “The Grand Master”will be Tong Leung’s first kungfu flick and tells the story of martial artist Yip Man. To prepare for the role, Tony Leung underwent extensive training in the “Wing Chun Fist” (this was the fighting style that Yip Man used).  Zhang Ziyi and Song Hye-Kyo also participated in martial arts training for their roles in the film.

See why Leung’s Yip Man has been called the Chinese “Dark Knight” by watching a teaser for the film.

Actress Dong Jie recently did a graceful but quirky photoshoot for Self magazine. Her new drama Allure Snow is expected to air soon on Anhui TV.

Thoughts on the eyebrows?

Four pairs of stars shoot for Sohu's 2046 - themed photoshoot

Following the absolutely stunning Sohu Tribute photoshoots from last year, Sohu strikes again, this time with a 2046 tribute. Featuring four pairs of actors, including Yang Mi, Hawick Lau, Ying’er, Lu Fangshan, Gan Tingting, Wang Lei, Michelle Chen and Ke Zhendong, the photoshoot and  video series depict four different relationships frozen in time.  I don’t really get the videos this time, but you can watch them on Sohu here.

As a sidenote, wow Sohu is good at predicting news. I remember last year when the photoshoot series came, they put out Yao Chen’s photoshoot as soon as news of her divorce came out. This year, they released it right after Yang Mi and Hawick announced they were dating.

Hawick Lau and Ying’er- Chains of Love

Yang Mi and Lu Fangsheng – Crime and Punishment

Gan Tingting and Wang Lei – Midnight in Paris

Michelle Chen and Ke Zhendong- Love Letter

With several movies and a first album, 2012 is set to be a happy year for Yang Mi and fans.

Along with Yang Mi’s debut album came an adorable set of photos for her 2012 calendar.   More pictures below and click on the pictures to see larger ones.

Happy New Year!

More cuteness on topcombinest here

New My Fair Princess couple Li Jiahang and Hai Lu recently did a Happy New Year shoot for Sohu.  The pair is currently filming  a new modern remake of the Famous Princesses called 老白有喜 togehter. In the series, Hai Lu plays the troublemaker younger sister who steals Li Jiahang from her older sister, who is paired with fellow My Fair Princess actor Gao Ziqi.

More of their sohu shoot here. What do you think of Hai Lu’s hair?

EE-Media singer Jiang Yingrong did a beautiful shot in the “snow”  for magazine Scawaii. The picture above the cut reminds me of a jean commercial, but a gorgeous one at that.

The brotherhood of Huayi males remains strong, but where did all the girls go?

Huayi Brothers President Wang Zhonglei (center above) brought twelve of the hundred artists of Huayi Brothers for an Esquire photoshoot. Featuring actors (L-R above) Lu Yi, Alec Su, Zhang Hanyun, Deng Chao, Duan Yihong, Du CHun, Li Chen, Feng Shaofeng and Liao Fan opposite female stars (L-R  below) Yao Chen, Huo Siyan, Xu Fan and Ady An.

An interesting note is how few major female stars they have.  After Fan Bingbing, Zhou Xun and Li Bingbing have subsequently left in recent years, Huayi is left without any major film star.  While Yao Chen and Ady An Yixuan have remained largely successful, the female side of Huayi is still missing the star power it once had.  Unlike previous years, this year haven’t seen any major Huayi films starring its own female leads.

More group pictures below the cut.

As actors come and go, Huayi President Wang Zhonglei is the only one left smiling.