Gao Fei (), also known as Gao Ying (), is a Chinese actor and singer. She has been called a "small Carina Lau" and the "number 1 rebellious actress" by the press for her performances.
Her first leading role was in Grieved Gunfighter (1994), using Gao Ying as her screen name. She has acted in more than 20 films and over 300 television episodes. Since 2004, she has been using Gao Fei as her stage name. A a singer, her album, Extraordinary Fei, sold over 100,000 copies.
Gao Fei was born and raised in Beijing, China. Her parents are professors in computer science. They initially did not approve her idea to study acting. She achieved the highest score in the entrance exam for Shanghai Theatre Academy. Her parents continued to disapprove of her decision to study acting and her mother attempted to stop having a relationship with Gao Fei. Gao wrote her mother letters and eventually, after three months, her family approved of her studies.
While she was a student, she started acting as leading actresses in several movies including âÂÂGrieved Gunfighterâ (1994), âÂÂRomantic Interlude of Red Hatsâ (1994), and âÂÂRiver of No Returnâ (1995). She also played in Shanghai Triad (1995) directed by Zhang Yimou.
In 1996, about the same time as she graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy, she started her acting as leading actresses in several TV series: âÂÂShanghai Romance,â âÂÂCountryside Sister,â âÂÂRumbling in Shanghai,â âÂÂMajestic Presence,â and âÂÂThe Interests of the Family.âÂÂ
In 2002, she took a break from TV series and played as leading actresses in two movies âÂÂI Am Here for Youâ and âÂÂSeducing Mr.âÂÂ
After taking a break from acting, she started using the stage name Gao Fei, and started acting as rebellious or villainous characters, earning the nickname âÂÂthe number one rebellious actress.â She appeared in many TV series including âÂÂMy Career as an Agentâ (2004), âÂÂEvil Fireâ (2005), âÂÂMarriage Codeâ (2006), â Would Like to Flyâ (2007), âÂÂAn Epic of A Womanâ (2008), and âÂÂAgent Zero: The Secret Agentâ (2009).
During this period, she worked with musicians Chris Babida, Michael Lai and Pang Long, to produce her debut solo album Extraordinary Fei. The album sold over 100,000 copies. She won the Best New Talent Award at Sprite Music Awards.
In 2001, she wrote and worked as an associate producer and a leading actress for the movie âÂÂYou Deserve to Be Single.â The movie won seven nominations including the best picture of the China Movie Channel Media Awards at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2010.