In recent years, the once semi-retired Zhang Manyu shared glimpses of her leisurely life in Europe on social media. In a video, she was seen climbing trees with a young girl in the countryside, praised for her agility.
After being away from the entertainment industry for many years, Zhang Manyu recently made her first visit to Bordeaux, France. In the video, she effortlessly climbed a tall tree with graceful movements, smiling with outstretched arms to feel the cool breeze, exclaiming, “It feels so refreshing!” Netizens praised her agility, while the young girl beside her jokingly said, “She must have climbed trees a lot when she was little.”
Later on, Zhang Manyu and the young girl took a stroll in the fields, petted rabbits, and captured the beautiful sunset glow from a local train. Zhang Manyu appeared well-preserved, maintaining her slim figure and elegant demeanor. With sunglasses on, she exuded the same star quality as in her younger years.
At 60 years old, Zhang Manyu expressed her feelings in a post, stating that her days in Bordeaux were “simple and pure,” allowing her to completely relax. She reminisced, “I loved climbing trees, holding rabbits, running on the big grass field when I was young… I never thought that this journey to Bordeaux would bring me back to my childhood.” She also hinted at editing and sharing more videos with fans, eagerly saying, “Remember to check them out!”
Netizens flooded the comments section with praises like “The comments on stars climbing trees versus ordinary people climbing trees are completely different,” “Watching your videos gives a sense of inner peace and tranquility,” and “Casual, gentle, cute, and youthful at heart.”
After stepping back from the silver screen in 2012, Zhang Manyu has been leading a low-key life, but her fans’ affection for her remains unwavering. In July 2022, she appeared as a special guest at a brand event in Central, Hong Kong, sparking speculation about a potential comeback. However, her ex-husband, French director Olivier Assayas, revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair that he had invited Zhang Manyu to act in a film but was turned down, potentially disappointing a large number of fans.
Over the years, Zhang Manyu has been repeatedly asked about a potential comeback by the media. In response, she stated, “I won’t consider it without finding a script that interests me.”
Zhang Manyu immigrated from Hong Kong to England with her family at the age of 8, spending her childhood in England. At 17, during a visit back to Hong Kong, she was discovered by talent scouts and applied to the film company Shaw Brothers. The following year, she was encouraged to enter the Miss Hong Kong pageant, where she won first runner-up and Miss Photogenic, thus beginning her journey in the entertainment industry. Some of her notable films include “Ruan Lingyu,” “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” and “In the Mood for Love.”
Having starred in over 80 films, Zhang Manyu has won 5 Hong Kong Film Awards and 4 Taiwan Golden Horse Awards for Best Actress, holding the record for receiving these prestigious honors. Additionally, she is the first and only Chinese actor to have won Best Actress awards at the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and Asia Pacific Film Festival.
In an interview, Zhang Manyu once expressed that through the trials of time, she has finally learned how to “love herself” better. Sharing her philosophy of life, she said, “Life is Not a Race. Everyone can write their own script in their own way, without fearing how others may judge.” Her transcendent attitude has inspired many fans.