While some people find themselves idle because of the global economic slowdown, Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu has a full workload to keep her busy in 2009. She starred in John Rabe, which premiered recently at Berlinale, cinemas around the country will soon show Red River, in which Zhang plays and sings, and the stage is embracing Zhang Jingchu in Taiwan director Stan Lai's new play, Light Years. Steadily and quietly, Zhang has come back into the limelight.

As a directing student at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, Zhang Jingchu used to think of acting as simply a way to finance her studies. Her debut in cinema may have been a matter of chance, but her success is not.

In 2005, international audiences glimpsed Zhang in Peacock, a coming-of-age tale that captured a silver bear at 55th Berlin Film Festival. Zhang played the "Sister", a 20-something girl as slender as a willow in physique, but as resolute and firm as a rock in the pursuit of her dream. The doe-eyed actress performed with a seasoned intelligence that sets her apart from other stars.