Zhao Shu-zhen

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhao.

Zhao Shu-zhen (Chinese: 趙淑珍; born c. 1944)^[1] is a Chinese film, stage and television actress. She is best known internationally for her portrayal of the grandmother (Nai Nai 奶奶 Nǎinai, which means paternal grandmother in Mandarin) in Lulu Wang's film The Farewell (2019), which earned her many accolades including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.^[2]

Zhao Shu-zhen
趙淑珍
Born	1944 (age 80–81) Harbin, Heilongjiang, Manchukuo
Occupation	Actress

Zhao Shu-zhen
Simplified Chinese	赵淑珍
Traditional Chinese	趙淑珍
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhào Shūzhēn

Career

Zhao has appeared in over 100 plays for the Harbin Grand Theatre.^[3]

Zhao's role as Nai Nai in The Farewell has received critical acclaim and numerous awards.^[4][5] For the role, she won Best Supporting Actress from the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2019, the Houston Film Critics Society Awards 2019, and the 2019 Chicago Indie Critics Awards^[6] and a 2020 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.^[7]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2019	The Farewell	Nai Nai (奶奶)

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018–2019	The Story of Ming Lan	Wang Lao Tai Tai

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2018	The Actors of China	Best Performance by an Actress-Red Team	The Story of Ming Lan	Nominated
2019	Detroit Film Critics Society Awards	Best Supporting Actress	The Farewell	Won
	Los Angeles Film Critics Association	Best Supporting Actress		Runner-up
	24th Satellite Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
2020	25th Critics' Choice Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	35th Independent Spirit Awards	Best Supporting Female		Won
	Hollywood Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Chicago Film Critics Association	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Won
	Houston Film Critics Society Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Won
	Central Ohio Film Critics Association	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Georgia Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Florida Film Critics Circle	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	AARP Movies For Grownups	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Gold Derby Awards	Supporting Actress		Won
		Breakthrough Performer		Nominated
	Online Film Critics Society Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	San Diego Film Critics Society Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Won
	Seattle Film Critics Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Won
	San Francisco Film Critics Circle	Best Supporting Actress		Nominated
	Alliance of Women Film Journalists	Actress Defying Age and Ageism		Won
		Best Supporting Actress		Won