--- description: Chinese film fans are expressing alarm at the disappearance of superstar Fan Bingbing, who has gone silent after being last seen on July 1. title: Chinese Actress Fan Bingbing Is Missing. Here’s What to Know image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt245eaaa08eacb1d0/69893a24096a94b7306a36fc/gettyimages-957446234.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [China](/tag/china/) ## China Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # China's Leading Actress Fan Bingbing Has Vanished. Here’s What to Know by [Eli Meixler / Hong Kong](/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler / Hong Kong Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 17, 2018 4:39 AM CUT  Chinese actress Fan Bingbing arrives at a screening of the film 'Ash Is Purest White' at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in France on May 11, 2018. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing arrives at a screening of the film 'Ash Is Purest White' at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in France on May 11, 2018.Mustafa Yalcin—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images by [Eli Meixler / Hong Kong](/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler / Hong Kong Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 17, 2018 4:39 AM CUT In past years, actress Fan Bingbing was a regular presence on film festival red carpets and fashion catwalks from Barcelona to Busan. And then, suddenly, she wasn’t. Film fans are [expressing alarm](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45034392 "undefined") at Fan’s disquieting recent disappearance from public life: she was last seen on July 1, while visiting a children’s hospital. Her [account](https://www.weibo.com/fbb0916?is%5Fall=1 "undefined") on China’s popular Sina Weibo social media network, where she has 63 million followers, has been silent since July 23. Speculation is linking the disappearance of Fan, one of cinema’s top-earners, to an alleged tax evasion scandal at a time when China’s state-controlled film industry is cutting back on bloated budgets and star-driven blockbusters. If so, it would be a swift reversal for the celluloid superstar, whose rapid ascent as an actress and fashion icon seemed eclipsed only by her potential. A Chinese state news report assured readers last week that matters surrounding the actress—who featured in [2017’s TIME 100](http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736259/fan-bingbing/ "undefined")—were “under control.” But like its subject, the report quickly disappeared. Here’s what we know: ## A rising star Not long ago, Fan, 36, seemed poised to become one of the biggest crossover stars in the world: a China-born, English-speaking workaholic [armed with](http://time.com/3972014/fan-bingbing/ "undefined") a formidable combination of acting, singing, and modeling skills. Fan became a Chinese household name in 1999 with the TV series [_My Fair Princess_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My%5FFair%5FPrincess "undefined"), but broke into stardom in 2003’s _Cell Phone_, the year’s highest-grossing Chinese film, for which she won [Best Actress honors](http://english.sohu.com/20040920/n222138832.shtml "undefined") at the Hundred Flowers Awards, China’s equivalent of the Golden Globes. Fan won again in 2008, and began to pick up leading roles and international festival awards from Taiwan, Tokyo, and San Sebastián. In 2016, she earned $17 million, according to _Forbes_, making her the world’s [fifth-highest paid](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45efgmh/5-fan-bingbing/#3a9e36bd2959 "undefined") actress. The following year, she sat on the Cannes Film Festival Official Competition Jury, where she promised to assess films “[from an Asian perspective](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/69-editions/retrospective/2017/actualites/articles/interview-with-fan-bingbing-member-of-the-feature-films-jury "undefined").” She also logged side roles American films like _X-Men: Days of Future Past_ and _Ironman 3_ after, as she told TIME last year, “\[Hollywood\] wanted to add Asian faces [and found me.](http://time.com/magazine/asia/4650870/february-6th-2017-vol-189-no-4-asia/ "undefined")” It was effective: her brief role as “Blink” helped propel _X-Men_ to a [$39.35 million opening weekend](http://time.com/117994/x-men-china-days-of-future-past-china/ "undefined") in China. Earlier this year, she was [cast in _355_](https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo-marion-cottilard-spy-thriller-355-1202793675/ "undefined"), an espionage thriller, among a multinational ensemble that included Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o, and Marion Cotillard. Her place in the pantheon of leading actors seemed secure. “In 10 years’ time…I’m sure I will be the heroine of X-Men,” she [predicted](http://time.com/magazine/asia/4650870/february-6th-2017-vol-189-no-4-asia/ "undefined") to TIME last February. **Read more**: [_How China Is Remaking the Global Film Industry_](http://time.com/magazine/asia/4650870/february-6th-2017-vol-189-no-4-asia/ "undefined") ## A hint of scandal But her once certain ascension was jeopardized in May, when CCTV presenter Cui Yongyuan [leaked a pair of contracts](https://www.weibo.com/1496852380/GiRQzBMoY?from=page%5F1003061496852380%5Fprofile&wvr=6&mod=weibotime&type=comment#%5Frnd1536439546074 "undefined") that allegedly showed Fan double-billing an unidentified production, first for 10 million renminbi ($1.6 million), and then for 50 million renminbi ($7.8 million) for the same work. The documents appeared to reveal an arrangement, known as “[yin-yang](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45034392 "undefined")” contracts, wherein one contract reflects an actor’s actual earnings while a second, lower figure is submitted to tax authorities, the BBC reported. According to the _South China Morning Post_, Cui then called for the Chinese authorities to “[step up regulations](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2149102/chinas-x-men-actress-fan-bingbing-denies-tax-evasion-accusations "undefined") on show business.” In June, the Jiangsu Province State Administration of Taxation [opened a tax evasion investigation](http://finance.sina.com.cn/china/2018-06-03/doc-ihcmurvh0845157.shtml "undefined") focusing on the entertainment industry. Fan’s film studio, which [denied](http://finance.sina.com.cn/china/2018-06-03/doc-ihcmurvh0845157.shtml "undefined") the allegations, is based in Jiangsu, according to the _Post_. The lack of an official statement on her whereabouts has [spurred tabloid speculation](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/fan-bingbing-under-house-arrest-095900130.html "undefined") that Fan was banned from acting or placed under house arrest. Last week, according to the Guardian, [a report](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/12/concerns-missing-chinese-actor-fan-bingbing-has-fallen-foul-of-authorities "undefined") in China’s state-run _Securities Journal_ claimed that Fan would “accept legal judgement,” though the article did not specify her offense, and was removed shortly after publication. The whiff of impropriety has already impacted her cachet: Australian vitamin brand Swisse [suspended use](https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/mysterious-disappearance-of-actress-throws-swisse-vitamins-into-disarray-20180912-p503bp.html "undefined") of Fan’s image in advertisements, while her name was [removed from promotional materials](http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1114416.shtml "undefined") for the upcoming _Unbreakable Spirit_, starring Bruce Willis. Adding insult to financial and professional injury, the BBC reports that Fan has been [rated last](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45426882 "undefined") in a ranking of Chinese celebrities’ personal integrity and charitable work, [scoring zero out of 100](http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201809/11/WS5b9735daa31033b4f4655608.html "undefined") in the _2017-2018 China Film and Television Star Social Responsibility Report_ published Tuesday by a Chinese university. That’s despite the fact that Fan [co-founded a charity](http://en.people.cn/90001/90782/7116611.html "undefined") to provide surgery for children with congenital heart disease in rural Tibet, which she called her “[greatest achievement](https://www.ft.com/content/f1aa5bb2-0bd8-11e3-8f77-00144feabdc0#axzz2faWPhCNQ "undefined")” in a 2003 interview with the _Financial Times_. In 2015, she also [donated](https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/outpouring-of-donations-from-stars-such-as-jackie-chan-and-fan-bingbing "undefined") a million renminbi ($146,000) to relatives of firemen killed in the [Tianjin chemical warehouse disaster](http://time.com/3999985/china-tianjin-pollution-corruption-toxic-chemicals-sodium-cyanide-censorship/ "undefined"); the following year a [different index](http://m.chinadaily.com.cn/en/2016-02/01/content%5F23336373.htm "undefined") listed Fan among the 10 most philanthropic Chinese celebrities. **Read more**: [_Inside the Life of China’s Most Famous Actress_](http://time.com/3972014/fan-bingbing/ "undefined") ## A cautionary tale Other, more salacious theories have claimed to account for Fan’s fall from grace. Last year, she [filed a defamation lawsuit](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2102550/x-men-actress-fan-bingbing-hits-back-fugitive-tycoon-us "undefined") against exiled Chinese billionaire [Guo Wengui](http://time.com/4930960/guo-wengui-china-us-politcal-asylum/ "undefined"), who alleged sexual affairs between celebrities, including Fan, and top Chinese Communist Party officials. And when the yin-yang contracts came to light, Fan was shooting a sequel to _Cell Phone_ that Cui, her CCTV accuser, [complained](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2149102/chinas-x-men-actress-fan-bingbing-denies-tax-evasion-accusations "undefined") bore an uncomfortable resemblance to his own life, the _Post_ reports. Actor Jackie Chan has meanwhile [dispelled rumors](https://sg.style.yahoo.com/jackie-chan-denies-helping-fan-075000886.html "undefined") that he recommended Fan seek asylum in the U.S. She may also be the victim of industry belt-tightening, following a series of costly flops. Last year, the $150 million, Matt Damon-led _The Great Wall_, China’s [most expensive film ever](http://time.com/4676339/lego-batman-movie-the-great-wall-box-office/ "undefined"), recouped just [$18.4 million](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatwall.htm "undefined") in its North American opening. In July, the blockbuster _Asura_ was [promptly pulled](https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-china-film/china-big-budget-fantasy-epic-pulled-after-box-office-flop-idUKKBN1K708O "undefined") from Chinese box offices after generating just $7.4 million. In June, the government [instituted new salary ceilings](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-44641582 "undefined") on film and TV actors, blaming “sky-high” salaries and yin-yang contracts for creating a “distorted” culture of “money worship,” according to the BBC. Fan’s plight also underscores fundamental divisions between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry, where state censors still [exert considerable control](http://time.com/5358437/china-blocks-christopher-robin-release/ "undefined") over content and [celebrate](http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1074461.shtml "undefined") stars who advocate fealty to the Communist Party. But Fan’s supporters have remain loyal, yearning for news or sight of the absent actress. “I have a [hunch](https://weibo.com/3645346474/Gz9yBumBu "undefined") that you will be back, right?,” one posted on Weibo. “We’ll wait for you” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5394782/fan-bingbing-missing-china-chinese-actress/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5394782/fan-bingbing-missing-china-chinese-actress/"},"headline":"China's Leading Actress Fan Bingbing Has Vanished. 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