One to Watch: Tang Wei

Being a major film buff, I like to keep my eyes on up-and-coming actors and actresses. There is always a new crop of entertainers each year that seep into our orbit. With talent, beauty, grace, and charisma you'd think stardom would be easy to achieve, but it happens for so few.

In this new column called, "One to Watch" we identify those who are not only beautiful, but may just have the goods to stick around for a while. Our fist pick is the breathtaking Chinese beauty, Tang Wei.

Few actors are as lucky as Ms. Wei to have her breakout role in one of the most anticipated film of the year, Ang Lee's "LUST CAUTION". If you recall, Mr. Lee launched the career of another Asian beauty...the breathtaking Zhang Ziyi in "CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON".

"LUST CAUTION" is based on a short story written in 1950, and is said to be loosely based on actual events, set in Shanghai during the World War II era. The espionage thriller follows a young woman Wang Jiazhi, played by Tang Wei, as she gets involved in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a
powerful political figure, Mr. Yee played by legendary film actor, Tony Leung.

The clothing and makeup in this film is absolutely beautiful. We're willing to bet Tang Wei is a name you'll be hearing a lot of soon.

Fun fact: Tang Wei is an aspiring writer and director in addition to being an actress. She graduated from the directing department of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Beauty with brains...love it.