Here’s a hodge-podge of Cannes photos that I thought you’d enjoy. They’re from various events over the past few days. Let’s start with the current Cannes Girl of the Moment, Zhang Ziyi. Zhang has been everywhere in Cannes so far, and she’s part of the jury for Un Certain Regard. Zhang started out at The Great Gatsby premiere wearing a short, spiky (gross) wig and a pants-ensemble by Christian Dior. I hate the outfit, and I loathe the wig. The short green dress is from the jury photocall, and it’s Giambattista Valli. The black-and-grey Carolina Herrera ball gown is from a premiere last night

Berenice Bejo in Louis Vuitton at the Le Passe photocall today. I’m sorry, but this ensemble looks like a (fug) pair of pajamas.

Freida Pinto in Sanchita at a premiere last night. Bad color for her, I think, but the design is okay.

Sonam Kapoor in Dolce & Gabbana at The Bling ring premiere. I’m sorry, but I hate this.

Liya Kebede in Alberta Ferretti. Doily fug.

Robin Wright at the Cannes premiere of her new film, The Congress. The dress is meh and I really wish she would just grow out her hair a little. She can still keep it short, that’s fine with me, but it’s TOO short.

Fan Bingbing in Elie Saab. Everything this chick wears is SO saccharine.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Here are some lovely new photos of Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday, where they premiered their new Wong Kar Wai film, The Grandmaster. We haven’t discussed Zhang since last year’s major “Seriously, is she the most expensive call girl in the world?” scandal, and we rarely (if ever?) discuss Tony Leung, who is arguably one of the biggest and most beloved movie stars in the world. You can read more about the film here – European critics are getting their first look at it now, in Berlin.

First, let’s talk about Zhang. Did she survive last year’s scandal? I think she did, but then again, I wasn’t paying close attention. I think the fact that she’s at the Berlin Film Festival in support of a film with Tony Leung and Wong Kar Wai is probably proof enough that her career hasn’t taken a hit. As for her style… well… I like Zhang. A lot. I think she’s ridiculously pretty, with a ballerina-like figure, small, strong and athletic. She usually wears an interesting blend of high-end, established designers and up-and-coming labels. The green tie-dyed looking dress is Christian Dior. Shocker, right? I kind of hate it. I kind of hate the black dress she wore to the photocall too.

As for Tony Leung… so handsome. So ageless! He’s 50 years old. Crazy. I wish he would stop making weird faces on the red carpet though. And I wish he wouldn’t roll up his pant legs! WTF? You’re at the Berlin Film Festival, you’re not going clam digging.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Many of you wanted to discuss Lainey’s take on the Zhang Ziyi (alleged) prostitution scandal – go here to read Lainey’s post and alternate theories on what’s really going on there, including some interesting insights in the Communist Party’s power and what kind of illicit deals they can make. Lainey suggests that perhaps Zhang is not really a prostitute, but she was “made” to give sexual favors to powerful men under threat. Whether Zhang’s career was threatened, or whether she or her family were threatened with bodily harm… it’s an interesting theory. I do think the Bo Xilai situation is much more complicated than we know, and I think this Zhang Ziyi-prostitution storyline is probably a distraction from a larger, more important story about murder, government corruption in Beijing, a larger cover-up and the top-down disorganization of the Communist Party.

For now, though, Zhang Ziyi is being very careful to avoid all of the conspiracy theories involving important people. According to Page Six, Zhang is prepared to believe the prostitution story was spread by a rival actress:

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has strongly denied reports she earned $100 million by having sex with disgraced politician Bo Xilai — and astonishingly, sources close to the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star blame the reports on a smear campaign by a rival actress.

It was reported that Zhang earned a fortune by prostituting herself to powerful Chinese men between 2007 and 2011, including to Xilai, who was recently removed from power following allegations he was involved in a murder plot. At the time, Zhang was dating financier Vivi Nevo. They were engaged in 2008, but split in 2010.

Last night, reps for Zhang said she was consulting lawyers to sue for libel. Her rep said, “The accusations made against [Zhang] are completely false and defamatory. There is no truth in any of the allegations that have come forth, which are a result of calculated, cruel intentions against a well-respected, established actress. Legal repercussions are ensuing, and these slanderous reports will not be tolerated in any way.”

Sources told us that Zhang believes the allegations were spread by a “jealous rival.” One said, “This isn’t the first time vicious rumors have been spread about her in the Chinese media by somebody who wants her roles and her success.” The source declined to name the rival, but added, “We will not put up with this, and will take every action necessary.”

[From Page Six]

Side-eye at Gong Li? Yeah… perhaps. I think Zhang Ziyi WISHES and HOPES this was all just girl-on-girl hate, but I think this is probably just a cover story, an alternate-universe theory that might become the “official” storyline. It will be interesting to see if Zhang actually follows through on her threats to sue, and if she does, it will be interesting to see that play out.

I have to admit…I’m not sure if I’m sold on seeing Zhang as a total victim of powerful, corrupt individuals. After I read Lainey’s take, I was reminded of a recent episode of Frontline which documented China’s most famous artist/activist, Ai Weiwei – go here to watch the Frontline piece. The Communists, it seems, are terrified of Ai Weiwei, and they’ve even gone so far as to destroy his Beijing studio, throw him off of his government-sanctioned 2008 Olympic projects. They’ve surrounded his compound with surveillance cameras and he was once beaten up by local police officers. Last year he was arrested and held for several months, only to be released. But you know what? Ai Weiwei is still alive. He’s still an activist/artist, and one of the most beloved and respected people in China. He’s still allowed to exist and create and speak. So… while I think the China’s Communist Party are corrupt and powerful, they are not all-powerful monsters who can do whatever they please. I don’t know though… I still think there’s a good chance Zhang was actually a high-class hooker who got some serious money for her time.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

From what I know of Zhang Ziyi, I like her. She’s one of the most famous and talented Chinese actresses in the world – she is a renowned international beauty, and she’s one of the biggest gossip targets in China. Back in 2009, Zhang got a lot of bad press because she was A) engaged to an Israeli billionaire and living an international life of luxury and B) caught sunbathing topless, which some claimed was “shameful”. Zhang and the Israeli (Vivi Nevo) broke up at some point, and I don’t know who or what Zhang is doing at this point. But there’s a really scandalous theory floating around! According to reports out of China, Zhang has just been implicated in a HUGE prostitution scandal. Some say Zhang was charging around $1 million per night. OMG.

Zhang Ziyi, star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has been forced to deny lurid claims that she earned £64million by prostituting herself to a string of powerful Chinese men. Among those with whom the actress was alleged to have had sex for money is disgraced politician Bo Xilai, ousted from China’s powerful politburo amid allegations he and his wife were involved in the murder of Old Harrovian businessman Neil Heywood.

Miss Zhang, 33, one of China’s biggest film stars and a three-times Bafta nominee, is the most prominent name to date to be dragged into the scandal over Bo. According to reports in China, she slept with Bo at least ten times between 2007 and 2011 in exchange for ‘huge’ monetary gifts. The secret trysts are alleged to have taken place in Beijing and to have netted the actress around £1million each time.

The pair are said to have been introduced by Xu Ming, a Chinese businessman who is said to be worth £444million but is reportedly under investigation by the Beijing government over alleged corruption.

Mr Xu, 41, has reportedly claimed to authorities that he paid Zhang £600,000 to have sex with him for the first time in 2007 and that he later negotiated a deal for a similar liaison with Bo.

Mr Xu is said to have paid Miss Zhang a total of £18million and it is alleged that the actress – who also starred in Rush Hour 2, House Of Flying Daggers and Memoirs Of A Geisha – made millions more from similar deals with other rich and powerful figures.

Investigators are said to be looking into claims that her supposedly illicit earnings escaped tax thanks to interventions by Mr Xu and senior government officials.

It was reported that the Chinese government has refused to allow Miss Zhang to leave the country while it investigates the claims, prompting claims that this was why she was absent from this year’s Cannes film festival to promote her latest film, a new version of Dangerous Liaisons.

The actress cryptically wrote on her internet blog that many people ‘can take wind as rain’ using their imaginations.

Her Chinese publicist described the claims as ‘outrageous’, adding: ‘It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a feeling of deep sadness. Why should this devoted and responsible actress have to suffer this kind of slander and defamation?’

Now living in Hong Kong, Miss Zhang was engaged from 2008 until 2010 to Vivi Nevo, the Israeli-American venture capitalist who was romantically linked to Kate Moss.

[From The Mail]

The number floating around for all of Zhang’s sexual performances over the years: 700 million yuan, which is… um… my currency calculator is broken, because there is no way Zhang made THAT MUCH. One of my favorite parts of this (completely alleged!) story? Allegedly, Zhang didn’t even have to pay TAXES on her ho money!! Because she was boning all of the rich oligarchs who run China, and they gave her a “tax-free” pass or something.

Anyway, Zhang is denying all of it, of course. Perhaps those Chinese higher-ups who paid for her services can help a sister out? Probably not – they’re too busy covering their own asses right about now. Zhang’s lawyers are demanding a retraction and apology from the Chinese paper that first asserted the prostitution story. Zhang’s publicist also told media outlets, “Friends have advised us to release a short statement and not take this seriously. The more you argue, the more you will stir up. It would be better to step aside until people lose interest and the lies disappear. The innocent will always be innocent.” Girl… if any of the ho story is true, I hope she just takes the money and runs.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

GAH! If you’re going to do a gigantic ball gown, this is really the way to do. This is Zhang Ziyi at the Rome Film Festival premiere of Love for Life. The dress is Elie Saab Couture, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. My only concern is that I feel like I’m looking through the bodice of the gown…? Is the bustier lined? Am I looking at her skin or some flesh-toned fabric? No matter.

Massive sidenote: whenever a Fashion Girl wears some really great, show-stopping dress to one of these lower-tier events – no offense to the Rome Film Festival, but it’s not really Cannes, is it? – I always wonder if the designer is a little pissed that his or her gown didn’t debut in a better event. Like, this dress should have been at the Oscars or the Golden Globes. Instead, no one will wear now because Zhang Ziyi wore it in Rome.

We should cover Zhang Ziyi more often, shouldn’t we? She’s so pretty. She’s one of the most famous Chinese actresses in the world too, and she’s had a varied career in Hollywood and China, and she’s a big international star. She had a longterm relationship with an Israeli billionaire, Vivi Nevo, who I was just reading about in Vanity Fair (he lives in an enormous Malibu property that sounds awesome- you can read the VF piece here).

UPDATE: Red Carpet Fashion Awards IDs the dress as Christian Dior. I don’t know.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Zhang Ziyi is one of the most famous Chinese actresses in the world. She has appeared in films like Rush Hour 2 and Memoirs of a Geisha, exposing a strong, athletic yet delicate build and a quiet, determined presence on the screen. People are looking at her in a new light, however, after paparazzi pictures came online of a topless Zhang and her amorous Israeli fiance. It is unknown whether Zhang knew she was being photographed (doubtful), but that hasn’t stopped everyone from her worldwide fans to the Chinese government from having a massive hissy fit.

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has been chastised by her fellow countrymen after topless photos of the star cavorting on a beach with her Israeli fiance surfaced online.

The Memoirs of a Geisha beauty, 29, was recently snapped sunbathing on a Caribbean beach wearing just a pair of bikini bottoms as her billionaire lover Vivi Nevo touched her intimately.

The holiday images have sparked outrage in conservative China, with some detractors branding her “shameless”.

One critic writes on an internet forum, “Zhang Ziyi is really shameless. She is with a foreigner, but should remember certain conduct is expected of Chinese women.”

The pictures have since been censored by China’s internet authorities and have been removed from many websites.

[From New Magazine]

What’s so shameful again? Nudity? Sunbathing? Cavorting? Being amorous with your fiance? Is there some kind of book on ‘the most shameful things to the Chinese government’? I looked at a couple of the pictures, and I’ve seen more shameful beach cavorting with celebrities and their dogs. So what’s with the massive over-reaction by the Chinese people and the government? Can’t a girl get some at the beach? She’s on vacation!

Zhang Ziyi and her boyfriend are shown at Fashion Week on 7/1/08, in Cannes on 5/22/08, and at a Time event on 5/8/08. Credit: WENN