Wang Baoqiang

Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
name = Wang Baoqiang


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chinesename =
tradchinesename = 王寶強
simpchinesename = 王宝强
pinyinchinesename = Wang Baoqiang
birthname = Wang Yongqiang
ancestry = Xingtai, Hebei
origin = China
birthdate = birth date and age|1984|5|29
birthplace = Xingtai, Nanhe
deathdate =
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occupation = Actor,Singer
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yearsactive = 2000–present
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goldenhorseawards = The Best New Performer
2003 "Blind Shaft"
goldenroosterawards =
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Wang Baoqiang (Chinese: 王宝强; Pinyin: Wáng Bǎoqiáng; born May 29, 1984) is a Chinese actor. His debut role was that of Yuan Fengming in the movie "Blind Shaft", for which he shared the Best New Performer prize at the 2003 Golden Horse Awards with Megan Tzengwon. [cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/03/05/2003101288|date=2004-03-05|accessdate=2007-08-16|publisher=Taipei Times|title='Blind Shaft' plumbs the depths of China and hits a rich vein of film talent|last=Yu|first=Sen-lun] [cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2003/12/14/2003079594/print|publisher=Taipei Times|date=2003-12-14|accessdate=2007-08-16|title=Again, Hong Kong tames the Golden Horse|last=Yu|first=Sen-lun] The same role also won him the Best Actor prize at the 2003 Deauville Asian Film Festival and 2004 Golden Kinnaree Award (Bangkok International Film Festival).

The Dream From Childhood

When Wang was 8 years old, his village showed a movie called " The Shaolin Temple" acted by Jet Lee, which made him have a dream to be a martial arts star in movies like Jet Lee or Jackie Chan. After that, Wang insisted to go to a Shaolin Temple although its family's against in the same year. He believed that once he enter in it he could be a martial arts star. However, there's no film but hard training. 6 years passed, Wang Baoqiang never starring in a movie but got excellent Kung Fu skills. When he was 14, he planned to go to Beijing, because many people told him that only in Beijing may have opportunity to become a star. Only 500 RMB (about 70 US dollars) with him, Wang said goodbey to his family and go to Beijing on his own.

As an Extra

In the front gate of Beijing Film Studio there are always a group of people there to wait for a job as extras.That's the same for Wang after he arrived Beijing, every early morning he woke up from the room which shared by several persons who do the same job with the cheapest rent (100RMB per month, about 13 US dollars) and went to Beijing film Studio through a far way with his feet. If there was some films to be produced, he could get a extra job with 20 - 25 RMB per day (about 3 dollars), By contrast, he got nothing and even worried about survival. When 500 RMB almost out, Wang had to go to construction fields to take a temporary job. On Spring Festival Eve one year, Wang even needed to borrow money to buy some steamed bread, and just went to bed early. It's the hardest time for him during the period he strive in Beijing. Recalling the days waiting for a role outside the film studio, Wang says he wants to tell those still holding on: "This is what I have been through."

Blind Shaft

One day when Wang was working on a construction field, one of the workers' pager serveral people shared rang. The man looked at it and shouted: "Wang! Some people called on you!"That's the story Wang was selected as a leading role in "Blind Shaft". This is the first character with a name for Wang. In the beginning, Wang was disappointing about that because it was not a martial arts movie, but it is an good opportunity for him. Once he entered the playstaff he got 500 RMB as earnest money, that was an astronomical figures for him at that time. During the filming period, its condition was terrible, even some accident happened. The worst was, some employers left the playstaff. Some people suggested that Wang should left too, but he didn't do that. His natural color without any acting vestige got a favourable reception from the critics. He was prized as the Best New Performer prize by Golden Horse Award and two other prizes as the Best Actor in Thailand and France separately. The playstaff gave him another 1000 RMB based on the original salary for his performance. The only pity was, the film wasn't released on Mainland China.

A World Without Thieves

After "Blind Shaft", however, Wang Baoqiang didn't attract much attention. But his confidence made him strong enough to continue to fight for his dream.In 2004, Feng Xiaogang was selesting actors for "A World Without Thieves" . Nevertheless, the leading role of the movie, "Sha gen" was still uncertainty. Once Feng watched Blind Shaft, he directly decided Wang Baoqiang as "Sha gen". When the film was released, Feng said:" the only one people who will become a new star will be Wang Baoqiang!"He appeared as Shagen in Feng Xiaogang's 2004 film "A World Without Thieves" as a naïve village boy who is carrying his life savings in cash home with him on a train, loudly professing that he does not believe in thieves, while oblivious to the fact that one team of professional pickpockets are competing to steal his money while another two thieves seek to protect him. The two Thieves, who actd by "Andy Lau" and "Rene Liu", become his best friends through this film, even Rene Liu called him "younger brother" friendly.

He isn't a blind person!

After "A World Without Thieves" He appeared as "A Bing" in TV Series "An Suan" as a blind intelligence agents who has extraordinary hearing abilities. "An Suan" was the most popular TV Series of 2006 in China. It's a hard work for Wang to act as a blind person, he was arranged to live with real blind people and then had a good performance in the series. In 2007 when he was filming the movie "The Assembly", people who lived near their playstaff saw him and screamed surprisingly: "He is A Bing in An Suan! But he isn't a blind person?"

Everybody loves Xu Sanduo

Although "Blind Shaft""A World Without Thieves" and "An Suan" had achevied great success but it was only a beginning for Wang. Year 2007 The TV Series "Soldiers Sortie" had unprecedented influence in many aspects of chinese people's lives. Its value goes far beyond just a piece of art work. Wang's character Xu Sanduo is a young soldier who is not intelligent but very devoted to whatever he does. With his own efforts and some companions' help, the simple man wins respect and confidence.

The drama was a quick hit on China's small screens. Almost every main actor now has his own group of fans. Wang as the leading actor has hit headlines of almost all major newspapers, and his signature smile is seen on one magazine's cover after another. He is also planning to release his first song.

The main character "Xu Sanduo" which acted by Wang became a household name overnight. Wang baoqiang became one of the most influential people of 2007 in China

The Chicago Tribune reported on Sunday the fondness by the Chinese people of a dramatic series Soldier Sortie, saying the hero captures a spirit of innocence.

Xu Sanduo, the hero in the TV dramatic series, is a "character whose mix of laws and charms has made him an unlikely television phenomenon who seems perfectly crafted for his time". Xu, a shy, simple son of a poor farmer, is the subject of complaints by his father for his lack of skill about planting crops. After his father forces Xu to show off his physical strength by climbing a tree, the army recruiter takes pity on Xu and signs him up just to get him away from the father. The drama shows how the country boy becomes a special forces star through training such as carrying heavy logs. He also fights valiantly against unnamed foreign foes with his companions. "The pyrotechnics are impressively lifelike and modern," Chicago Tribune said."Xu's flaw is dimness. But his determination to succeed through hard work seems refreshing in today's China, in which connections and canny strategy seem to guarantee success more often than simple perseverance."

Top Chinese search engine Baidu.com has put a character sketch of Xu Sanduo, the hero of a popular TV series, at its logo on Wednesday, declaring they will pick a person in the spotlight every month starting from November. Beijing Daily Messenger reported that the website will chose the logo person based on search rankings by netizens on their engine, like Time Magazine's Person of the Year. The person should have been in the public arena during the latest month and he or she will represent a current trend, spiritually or practically speaking, an officer from Baidu told the newspaper. For example, Xu Sanduo, this month's person, is a devoted soldier. He is an ordinary person but he possesses an optimistic and persistent spirit, which is greatly applauded by audiences, the officer said.

The move has been welcomed by netizens. "Whenever I log on to the website and am greeted by Xu Sanduo's smiling face, I feel encouraged and full of energy," one user was quoted as saying.

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