Who's next after Zhang Ziyi? Zhou Xun, Zhang Jingchu likely candidates

Zhang Ziyi wowed Western audiences with her feisty fighting moves in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Gong Li starred in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and seduced Colin Farrell in "Miami Heat."
Chinese actresses are making their mark on the world stage as Hollywood turns to Asia for fresh faces. The tide likely won't stop with Zhang and Gong.
Two more Chinese stars worth watching are Zhou Xun and Zhang Jingchu.
Zhou dominated the Hong Kong movie awards circuit this year on the strength of her performance in director Peter Chan's musical "Perhaps Love." Her portrayal of a movie star caught between past and present romances earned best actress honors from the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.
Zhang Jingchu emerged after starring in "Peacock," which won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2005. She followed up with a solid delivery in Tsui Hark's kung fu epic "Seven Swords."
Zhou, who studied dance, not acting, is known for her versatility and an instinctive approach to acting. A pair of soulful eyes, carrying a tinge of sadness, enhance the allure of the slender actress.
"She doesn't act with technique. She acts from the heart, so she can be very sincere. Many formally trained actors can complete their jobs perfunctorily, but their flaw is that they're not sincere," director Feng Xiaogang said.
If Zhou lacks academic training in drama, it doesn't show. In "Perhaps Love," she skillfully handles her character's transformation from a desperate, struggling dancer and aspiring actress to a cold, callous star. She's a playful cafe owner who consults an imaginary friend about her love life in "A West Lake Moment."
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