How Chinese UFC Star Zhang Weili Is Taking on a New Challenge: Acting

China’s Zhang Weili has made a habit of defying the odds. The current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts star fought her way out of a hardscrabble life in the northern Chinese mining center of Handan to win the women’s strawweight division world title, then she lost it, and then she fought her way back to the top by winning it once again.

Along the way, the 35-year-old has become an icon in her homeland and beyond, with millions of fans drawn to her all-action style in the MMA cage, lucrative commercial deals with the likes of Estée Lauder, and the wealth that comes with a world championship, and – in total, across two stints as champion – four title defences.

China’s streaming giant iQiYi has been quick to sense an opportunity, and Wednesday news from the sidelines of the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is that a drama series charting Zhang’s life and times has just been green-lit and is soon to go into production.

There’s a buzz, also, about a new career move for Zhang – acting – and about her role in the Yu Li-directed drama After Typhoon, in which she makes her acting debut. It started screening on Monday to kick off the program at the BJIFF 32nd Beijing College Student Film Festival, one of the many sidebars used by the Beijing International Film Festival to spread films into the wider reaches of the Chinese capital’s community. The fest’s 15th edition runs through April 26.

The film is backed by Bad Rabbit Pictures and also features in small roles its founder Yao Chen (Send Me to the Clouds) along with another acclaimed Chinese star in Angelica Lee Sinje (The Eye). Zhang plays Ah Xi, a woman with a tragic past whose life is turned upside down after she meets a young stranger on a storm-threatened island.

The surprise for many has been that After Typhoon is not an action flick, but more an emotive art-house drama.

THR caught up with Zhang during a break in her busy daily training schedule, finding out how she relished the opportunity to take on the fresh challenge of acting and becoming someone “who is not Zhang Weili.”

Can we talk a little first about how your acting career came about?

Two years ago, the director [Yu Li] came to us and said he wanted to work with me. I was surprised at first, and I read the script but that movie never came about. But I did get to know the director, so I guess that started him thinking about other possibilities.

What attracted you to this character?

It’s funny, you know, because my coach [Cai Xuejun] passed the script on to me and he told me I would be playing the other lead character. So when I first read the script, I didn’t really think this was someone I could play. I just didn’t feel a connection at all. But when the director pointed out I would actually be playing Ah Xi, I was immediately interested. The role is so more suitable for me. She is a very powerful woman, and she also has the power to help people, even to help heal them, and these aspects of the character were very appealing to me.

Had you ever seriously thought about acting before?

Not at all. Never. It happened all of a sudden, and because it happened all of a sudden, I was initially against it. Especially because this isn’t a fight film, it’s not action. It’s a very emotional film, and I wasn’t really sure to start with how that might affect me. I am comfortable fighting – that is my world. But digging into drama, into emotions, is so very different from what I usually do. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of taking on this challenge.

What was the most difficult thing about the experience?

In the beginning, the biggest challenge was the psychological one of trying to forget that I am Zhang Weili. I had to forget about her, which is actually a hard thing to do for the first time. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought about how it should be natural, because everyone has different versions of themselves in their heart. There’s the gentle version, there’s the fierce one, there’s the dark one, there’s the strong one, the fragile one. There are many sides to everyone. So once I thought a lot about that, I realized I just had to find that side of me – the one that fit this character – and I had to become that person. Once I realized that, I found I was thinking and acting like the character, no like Zhang Weili anymore.

Was there anyone specific to whom you turned to for advice about acting?

My coach [Cai Xuejun] actually used to be a commercial director. So when I was training for my fight at UFC 300  fight [eventually a successful title defense against fellow Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan in April 2024], we would often talk about the script and the character. We would talk about the character’s heart, her mind, why she might be doing what she does. Later, I spent a lot of time talking with director Li Yu about motivation, about getting to the heart of her. So, I think I came in well prepared.

Was it a welcome distraction or did it hinder your preparations for that fight?

I think it was actually very helpful in terms of helping me to relax. Usually, before a fight, we’re always only talking about the tactical stuff, about the fight itself, but we could actually have a discussion about the script, and forget for a little while about everything else. It was a very interesting thing to do.

And how did you feel when you first saw yourself up there on the big screen?

Oh, it feels very different, you know. So different from seeing myself fight. It’s hard to explain. But the truth is I was able to quickly even forget it was me – which I suppose is a good sign!

Have movies played a big part in your life?

Well, of course, I have always loved action movies. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen. I think everybody grows up loving those movies, and the fact that they are so great at martial arts simply made them mean more to me. My focus is back on training now, but who’s to say what will happen in the future?! I think if a good role came along, whether it’s action or drama, I think now I’d take it.

You’ve talked often about being a role model. How might that affect your acting choices in the future?

I really think there should be more positive roles for women, and my focus would be on finding those sorts of roles. The truth is that movies have a big impact on society, so if I can play good, positive characters, that would be a great help. But, overall, I have never really thought that much about my fame. It certainly hasn’t changed me or influenced me. I am the same person I have always been. I just do everything step by step, and I think that’s a good lesson for everyone. Take everything step by step, and anything can happen – just like me being in this movie.