Editing Gong Li (section)

==Acting career==
===1987–1989: Career beginnings===
In 1987, while at college, Gong was discovered by [[Zhang Yimou]], who cast her for the lead role in ''[[Red Sorghum (film)|Red Sorghum]],'' his first film as a director.<ref name="asiaweek1">Ghahremani, Yasmin; Stanmeyer, Anastacia (24 September 1999), "Nation builders". ''Asiaweek''. '''25''' (38):74</ref> The film won the [[Golden Bear]] at the [[38th Berlin International Film Festival]], becoming the first Chinese film to win this award.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.berlinale.de/en/archive/jahresarchive/1988/01_jahresblatt_1988/01_jahresblatt_1988.html|title=Berlinale 1988}}</ref> It also won the [[Golden Rooster Awards]] and the [[Hundred Flowers Awards]] for Best Picture in 1988.

In 1989, Gong starred in [[Zhang Yimou]]’s second counterterrorism film, ''[[Codename Cougar]]'', for which she won the [[Hundred Flowers Awards]] for Best Supporting Actress, ushering in a new stage of exploring acting skills and style. On the same year, she took part in the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests]] and according to her, Tiananmen taught her that she should have her own opinion, "not just follow blindly."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/apr/06/1|title='I don't go to Hollywood. Hollywood goes to China'|first=Jonathan|last=Watts|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2007-04-06|access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref>

===1990–1999: Fifth generation filmmakers and international spotlight===
[[File:Gong Li Andie MacDowell 1998 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Gong at the [[1998 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
Over the several years following her 1987 acting debut in ''Red Sorghum'', Gong received international acclaim for her roles in several more Zhang Yimou films.<ref name=NYT2>Dargis, Manohla (5 December 2004), "Glamour's New Orientation". ''New York Times''. '''154''' (53054):Arts & Leisure 1</ref><ref name=blossom>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/11/movies/film-a-chinese-actress-blossoms-on-the-screen.html|title=FILM; A Chinese Actress Blossoms on the Screen|work=The New York Times|date=11 April 1993|last1=Feinstein|first1=Howard}}</ref>

In 1990, Gong Continued to cooperate with [[Zhang Yimou]] and starred in his family ethics movie ''[[Ju Dou]]'', which won the Luis Buñuel Special Award at the [[1990 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref name="awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1990/allAward.html |title=Awards 1990: All Awards |work=festival-cannes.fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011001632/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/1990/allAward.html |archive-date=11 October 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref> and was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the [[63rd Academy Awards]], becoming the first Chinese film to be nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]].<ref name="Oscars1991">{{cite web | title =The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners | date = 4 October 2014 | publisher = [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] | url =http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991 | access-date =12 September 2015}}</ref> Gong also won the Best Actress award at the Varna International Film Festival.

In 1991, Gong starred in Zhang Yimou's film ''[[Raise the Red Lantern]]'', which won the [[Silver Lion|Silver Lion award]] at the [[48th Venice International Film Festival|48th Venice Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.yesasia.com/us/yumcha/venice-international-film-festival/0-0-0-aeid.1014_aey.1991_sb.155-en/film-awards.html| title=1991 Venice Film Festival| publisher=[[YesAsia]]| archive-date=16 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316145302/http://www.yesasia.com/us/yumcha/venice-international-film-festival/0-0-0-aeid.1014_aey.1991_sb.155-en/film-awards.html}}</ref> and was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the [[64th Academy Awards]]. Gong, playing a rebellious mistress in the film, won the [[Hundred Flowers Awards]] for Best Actress and was nominated for the [[David di Donatello Awards]] and the [[National Society of Film Critics|NSFC]] for Best Actress.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://ent.news.cn/2008-09/09/content_9867438.htm| title=历届大众电影百花奖获奖名单 (Best Actress Winners)| publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]]| language=zh| date=9 September 2008| access-date=16 March 2016}}</ref> Her performance in the ''[[Raise the Red Lantern]]'' (1991) put her in the international spotlight again.<ref name=asiaweek1/>

In 1992, Gong starred in the rural drama ''[[The Story of Qiu Ju]]'', which won the [[Golden Lion|Golden Lion award]] at the 49th Venice International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cineplex.com/Movie/the-story-of-qiu-ju|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106004838/https://www.cineplex.com/Movie/the-story-of-qiu-ju|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2018|title=The Story of Qiu Ju|website=Cineplex|access-date=2017-06-26}}</ref> Gong's portrayal of rural woman Qiu Ju not only won the [[Golden Rooster Awards]] and the [[Japanese Movie Critics Awards]] for Best Actress, but also helped her named Best Actress at the [[49th Venice Film Festival]].

In 1993, she received a [[New York Film Critics Circle]] award for her role in ''[[Farewell My Concubine (film)|Farewell My Concubine]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-16-ca-2547-story.html|title=N.Y. Writers Pick 'List' but Bypass Spielberg : Movies: Film Critics Circle echoes its L.A. counterpart by naming 'Schindler's List' the best work of 1993 and 'The Piano's' Jane Campion best director.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=16 December 1993 }}</ref> Directed by [[Chen Kaige]], the film was her first major role with a director other than Zhang Yimou.<ref name=blossom /> In the same year, she was awarded with the Berlinale Camera at the [[43rd Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1993/03_preistr_ger_1993/03_Preistraeger_1993.html |title=Berlinale: 1993 Prize Winners |access-date=29 May 2011 |work=berlinale.de}}</ref> ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]'' ranked her performance in ''Farewell My Concubine'' as the 89th greatest performance of all time. She also worked with renowned director [[Stephen Chow]] in comedy films ''[[God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai]]'' (1991) and ''[[Flirting Scholar]]'' (1993).<ref name=chow /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/gong-li-wants-better-chow-heung-082400825.html|title=Gong Li wants to be a better Chow Heung|work=Yahoo News|date=11 November 2013 }}</ref>

Immune to political repercussions because of her fame, Gong Li began criticizing the censorship policy in China. Her films ''Farewell My Concubine'' and ''The Story of Qiu Ju'' were initially banned in China for being thinly-veiled critiques of the Chinese government.<ref name=asiaweek2>No byline (25 February 2000), "First lady of film". ''Asiaweek''. '''26''' (7):34</ref> Regarding the sexual content in ''[[Ju Dou]]'', Chinese censorship deemed the film "a bad influence on the physical and spiritual health of young people."<ref name=NYT2/>

In 1994, Gong played Jia Zhen, the wife of Xu Fugui, in the drama [[To Live (1994 film)|''To Live'']], which won the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]] at the [[1994 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cannes-fest.com/pr1994.htm |title=1994 - Le Jury, Les Prix |work=cannes-fest.com |language=fr |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> She was also nominated for the [[Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film|Chlotrudis Awards]] for Best Actress.

In 1995, Gong starred in ''[[Shanghai Triad]]'', during her breakup with [[Zhang Yimou]], in which she played a seductive stage queen. The film won the Technical Grand Prize of [[Cannes Film Festival]], the [[National Board of Review]] for Best Foreign Language film, and was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3372/year/1995.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Shanghai Triad |access-date=2009-09-05|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>

These roles established her reputation, according to ''[[Asiaweek]]'', as {{blockquote|"one of the world's most glamorous movie stars and an elegant throwback to Hollywood's golden era".<ref name=asiaweek1/>}}

In 1996, Gong and [[Chen Kaige]] collaborated again in the romantic film ''[[Temptress Moon]]'', which was in competition for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]]. Gong has been nominated for her second best Actress at the [[Hong Kong Film Awards]] for her role as rebellious teenage girl Ru Yi. She also appeared on the cover of [[Time magazine|''Time'']].{{cn|date=February 2025}}

In 1997, Gong worked with [[Jeremy Irons]] on the romantic drama ''[[Chinese Box]]'', which won the Best Original Music award at the [[Venice Film Festival]]. In the same year, Gong was invited to be a jury at the [[1997 Cannes Film Festival]], becoming the first Chinese to be a jury at the festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americancinemapapers.com/files/VENICE_1997.htm|title=VENICE FILM FESTIVAL – 1997|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

In June 1998, Gong Li became a recipient of France's [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]].

In 1999, Gong and [[Chen Kaige]] collaborated for the third film ''[[The Emperor and the Assassin]]'', which won the Technical Grand Prize at the [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="cinemafr">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinema-francais.fr/cannes/cannes_1999.htm |title=52ème Festival International du Film – Cannes |work=cinema-francais.fr |language=fr |access-date=13 June 2017}}</ref>

In many of her early movies, Gong represents a tragic victim and an abused soul (physically or emotionally), trying to release herself from an impossible maze of corruption, violence and suppression. In ''[[Raise the Red Lantern]]'' and ''[[Shanghai Triad]]'', an additional tragic element is added to her being as she unintentionally becomes the executioner of new innocent victims, making her realize that she has assisted the dark cynical system.<ref>[http://thinkingchinese.com/index.php?page_id=69 Gong Li in ‘Raise the Red Lantern’ and ‘Shanghai Triad’ – The Tragedy of a Victim who Reinforces the system] – ''ThinkingChinese.com''</ref>

===2000–2004: Worldwide recognition===
In 2000, Gong won her second international Best Actress trophy for her performance as a struggling single mother in ''[[Breaking the Silence (film)|Breaking the Silence]]'' (2000) directed by Sun Zhou at the [[Montreal World Film Festival]]. She attended the [[Montreal World Film Festival]] that year, where she was awarded a [[Montreal World Film Festival|special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement]] for her outstanding achievement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/montreal-fest-dawns-an-age-of-innocence-1117785966/|title=Montreal fest dawns an age of 'Innocence'|last=Kelly|first=Brendan|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=5 September 2000|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> In the same year, Gong was invited by the [[Berlin Film Festival]] to be the president of its international jury for the festival's 50th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2000/04_jury_2000/04_Jury_2000.html |title=JURIES 2000 |access-date=9 June 2014 |work=berlinale.de | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023083300/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2000/04_jury_2000/04_Jury_2000.html| archive-date=23 October 2013 | url-status= live}}</ref> Gong was nominated [[FAO Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador]] of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gong Li |url=http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/ambassadors/ambassadors/ambassadors-gongli/en/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807120437/http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/ambassadors/ambassadors/ambassadors-gongli/en/ |archive-date=7 August 2009 |access-date=16 September 2009 |work=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]]}}</ref>

In 2002, Gong was invited to head the jury of the [[Venice Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jul/29/news.venicefilmfestival2002|title=Gong Li heads Venice festival jury|work=The Guardian|date=29 July 2002}}</ref>

In 2003, Gong served as the president of the jury of the 16th [[Tokyo International Film Festival]], the first woman to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/gong-li-named-tokyo-jury-head/4014149.article|title= Gong Li named Tokyo jury head|work=SCREEN}}</ref>

In the early 2000s, Gong also starred in two films directed by [[Wong Kar-wai]], ''[[2046 (film)|2046]]'' and ''[[Eros (film)|Eros]]'' (both in 2004),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-05/28/content_881766.htm|title=Gong Li says she is a versatile actress|work=China Daily}}</ref> which were seen as "an important opportunity to get rid of the influence of Zhang Yimou".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ent.163.com/ent/editor/movie/040913/040913_317607.html|title=巩俐：给她一个放荡的机会|language= zh|access-date=13 September 2004}}</ref> She also attended the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]], where she was awarded the Festival Trophy for her contributions to film industry.

===2005–2018: Hollywood and Chinese cinema===
[[File:Gong Li Cannes 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|Gong at the [[2011 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
Despite her popularity, Gong avoided Hollywood for years, due to a lack of confidence in speaking English.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1138891_3,00.html |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |title=The Women of Geisha – EW.com |access-date=19 August 2007 |archive-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221143036/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1138891_3,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She made her English speaking debut in 2005 when she starred as Hatsumomo in ''[[Memoirs of a Geisha (film)|Memoirs of a Geisha]]''. Her performance was met with generally positive reviews.<ref>Lyttle, John (16 January 2006), "The eastern affront". ''New Statesman'', '''135''' (4775):47</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s Richard Corliss to describe her as {{blockquote|"gloriously channeling Bette Davis"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/our-thoughts-on-gong-li-in-miami-vice-104226|title=Our thoughts on Gong Li in Miami Vice}}</ref>}} Gong also won the [[National Board of Review]] for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Hatsumomo. Her other English-language roles to date included the [[Chinese Cuban]] Isabella of ''[[Miami Vice (film)|Miami Vice]]'' in 2006 and [[Lady Murasaki (Hannibal)|Lady Murasaki]] of ''[[Hannibal Rising (film)|Hannibal Rising]]'' in 2007. In all three films, she learned her English lines [[Phonetic language learning|phonetically]].

Through three English-language films, Gong has gradually established herself in [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]]. Speaking of the Hollywood experience, Gong said it broadened her horizons, gave her a better idea of what she liked and allowed her to experiment with different acting styles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E5%B7%A9%E4%BF%90%E8%AE%BF%E8%B0%88%E8%A6%81%E6%8A%8A%E6%8C%A3%E6%89%8E%E7%9A%84%E8%9A%8A%E5%AD%90%E7%BF%85%E8%86%80%E4%B8%80%E5%8F%AA%E5%8F%AA%E6%8B%94%E6%8E%89/a-2371710|title=要把挣扎的蚊子翅膀一只只拔掉}}</ref>

In 2006, Gong worked again with Yimou for historical epic ''[[Curse of the Golden Flower]]'', for which She won the best Actress at the [[26th Hong Kong Film Awards]].<ref name="HKFA">{{cite web|title=List of Awardees of The 26th Hong Kong Film Awards|url=http://www.hkfaa.com/winnerlist26.html|publisher=[[Hong Kong Film Awards]] |language=zh |access-date=18 March 2017}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named her performance as the Empress as the seventh greatest performance of the year. In the same year, she was voted No.1 in the poll of "Most Beautiful Persons in China" held by The Beijing News.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=23 May 2006 |title=Gong Li voted China's Most Beautiful Person |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/lifestyle/2006-05/23/content_597722.htm |access-date=17 March 2007 |work=China Daily}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Min |first=Shen |date=22 May 2006 |title=Gong Li Voted China's Most Beautiful Star |url=http://english.cri.cn/349/2006/05/22/44@92879.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518085655/http://english.cri.cn/349/2006/05/22/44@92879.htm |archive-date=18 May 2007 |access-date=17 March 2007}}</ref>

She narrated ''Beijing'' (2008), an audio walking tour by [[Louis Vuitton]] and Soundwalk,<ref>[http://www.soundwalk.com Soundwalk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628124913/http://www.soundwalk.com/ |date=28 June 2018 }}. Retrieved 17 September 2009.</ref> which won an Audie Award for Best Original Work in 2009.<ref>[http://www.audiopub.org Audio Publishers Association]. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref>

[[File:巩俐 (2013).jpg|thumb|upright|Gong in 2013]]
In 2010, Gong starred in the [[World War II]]-era thriller ''[[Shanghai (2010 film)|Shanghai]]'' as a spy who is disguised as the wife of a triad boss (played by Chow Yun-fat). She turned to documentaries and photographs about World War II, besides taking dancing classes three times a week, to ensure an accurate portrayal of the character.<ref name=chow>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/11/content_9964831.htm|title='I don't fear mistakes': Gong Li|work=China Daily}}</ref> During a press junket for the film, she stated that she was becoming more selective with the Chinese language projects offered to her.

She also emphasized in the interview: {{blockquote|It takes time to create a good role, and it is not easy to meet a good role and one you like, so I am not in a hurry, nor need I be in such a hurry.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://cul.sina.cn/2014-05-29/detail-iavxeafr5758323.d.html|title=Interview with Gong Li|date=29 May 2014}}</ref>}}

''Shanghai'' was not a hit with critics, with critic Nick Allen writing that "Gong Li is put to a great amount of work as the most active member in the ensemble, but she has scant character aside from his intricate allegiances."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shanghai-2015|title= Shanghai movie review & film summary (2015)|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> That year, she was named by [[CNN]] as one of "Asia's 25 Greatest Actors of All Time."<ref>{{cite web |title=Asia's 25 greatest actors of all time |url=http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/none/asias-25-greatest-actors-all-time-223697/ |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

In 2014, Gong was the president of the jury for the [[2014 Shanghai International Film Festival|17th Shanghai International Film Festival]], becoming the first woman jury president in the festival’s history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinese-actress-gong-li-chair-701171|title=Chinese Actress Gong Li to Chair Jury at Shanghai Film Festival|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=5 May 2014}}</ref> Later that same year, she reunited with Yimou for the film ''[[Coming Home (2014 film)|Coming Home]]'', which is set during the throes of the [[Cultural Revolution]]; this film was their first collaboration since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-i-hwang/gong-li-and-zhang-yimou-r_b_6922980.html|title=Gong Li and Zhang Yimou Reunite in Coming Home|work=The Huffington Post|date=24 March 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Gong took on her first action role in ''[[The Monkey King 2]]'', playing the [[White Bone Demon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/gong-li-gets-a-kick-out-of-playing-evil-in-the-monkey-king-2|title=Gong Li gets a kick out of playing evil in The Monkey King 2|work=The Straits Times|date=6 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, Gong served as the jury president of the [[55th Golden Horse Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/news/detail/993?r=en|title= Gong Li Leads the Jury for the 55th Golden Horse Awards|work= Golden Horse Awards}}</ref>

===2019–present===
In 2019, Gong was cast in [[Lou Ye]]'s period drama ''[[Saturday Fiction]]'', where she plays an actress who is working undercover gathering intelligence for the Allies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/first-look-lou-yes-period-drama-saturday-fiction-exclusive/5126663.article|title=First look: Lou Ye's period drama 'Saturday Fiction' (exclusive)|date=16 February 2018|website=Screen Daily}}</ref> The film was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/venice-film-festival-lineup-the-truth-ad-astra-marriage-story-1203277662/|title=Joker, Ad Astra, The Laundromat, Marriage Story to Compete in Venice|last=Vivarelli|first=Nick|work=Variety|date=25 July 2019|access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref> Gong learned shooting and hypnosis for the film.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.1905.com/m/news/touch/1407112.shtml|title=《兰心大剧院》亮相多伦多 巩俐现场调侃赵又廷|work=1905|date=9 September 2019|access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> ''Saturday Fiction'' was a box office failure due to the delayed release, but the artistic value of the film and Gong's performance gained rave reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/saturday-fiction-review-lou-ye-gong-li-venice-1202170839/|title= 'Saturday Fiction' Review: Gong Li Shines in a Gorgeous but Frustrating Spy Thriller|work=Indie Wire|date=4 September 2019|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> That year, she was also cast in the [[Mulan (2020 film)|live-action adaptation]] of the 1998 Disney animated film ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'', as a powerful witch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disneys-live-action-mulan-lands-gong-li-jet-li-1101994|title=Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan' Lands Gong Li, Jet Li (Exclusive)|date=12 April 2018|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> While the film, released in 2020, had a mixed reception, Gong's performance was widely praised by critics. [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|''Vanity Fair'']]'s chief critic, [[Richard Lawson (writer)|Richard Lawson]], wrote in his review: "It is a pleasure as ever to watch Gong do her thing, slinking and thrashing around in a fabulous black witch’s cloak."<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/09/review-disneys-new-mulan-is-a-dull-reflection-of-the-original/amp|title=Disney's New Mulan Is a Dull Reflection of the Original|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=3 September 2020|access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref>
 
''The Hollywood Reporter'' commented: {{blockquote|the Chinese superstar marks her return to the spotlight with a pair of high-profile films: Lou Ye's period drama and Disney's live-action 'Mulan' remake.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gong-li-celebrates-global-comeback-saturday-fiction-1237655|title=Gong Li Celebrates Global Comeback With 'Saturday Fiction'|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=8 September 2019|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>}}

In 2020, Gong was cast in [[Peter Chan]]'s biographical film ''[[Leap (film)|Leap]]'', where she plays the hard-driving, real-life head coach of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team [[Lang Ping]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2020/film/news/peter-chan-leap-disney-mulan-china-box-office-1234784447/|title= Gong Li Drama 'Leap' Opens to $8.2 Million in China|date=25 September 2020|website= Variety}}</ref> ''Leap'' grossed more than $100 million at the worldwide box office, and while the film received mixed reviews from critics, Gong's performance in the film was highly recognized. The performance swept all the major Hong Kong film industry awards in 2021, including the [[Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards]] and the [[Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild|HKFDG Awards]]. She was also nominated for best actress at the [[40th Hong Kong Film Awards|Hong Kong Film Awards]] for the fourth time. The Hong Kong Film Critics Society described her performance as having an "astonishing aura" and wrote that "She fights with conviction in the face of a conservative educational establishment, former teammates and a new generation of young athletes."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.filmcritics.org.hk/zh-hant/node/2842|title= The 27th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards|date=18 January 2021|website= HKFCS}}</ref>

In 2021, Gong was invited to be the jury president of the 11th [[Beijing International Film Festival]], becoming the first female jury president in the festival‘s history.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2021/film/news/gong-li-beijing-international-film-festival-1235012646/|title= 'Mulan' Star Gong Li Set as Chairman of Beijing Film Festival Jury|date=6 July 2021|website= Variety}}</ref>

In 2022, Gong was invited to serve as the Art Chairman of the 12th Beijing Film Festival, responsible for the selected films, assisting in the invitation and recommendation of outstanding films and guests.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://menafn.com/1104617765/Movie-Actress-Gong-Li-As-The-Art-Chairman-Of-The-Beijing-International-Film-Festival-The-First-Such-Post-In-The-Festivals-History|title= Movie Actress Gong Li As The Art Chairman Of The Beijing International Film Festival, The First Such Post In The Festival's History|date=30 July 2022|website= Menafn}}</ref>