Actress and free spirit Bai Ling (1970–) embodies sensuality and creative independence. Born on this day in Sichuan, China, she once entertained soldiers in Tibet as part of a performing troupe before discovering her true calling on the world’s stage.

“I had heard about how people struggle and how hard it is to get into acting,” she said. “But I did not care, because it’s something I love.” That passion carried her to New York in 1991 and into international acclaim with films like The Crow, Red Corner, and Anna and the King.

“I think people misunderstand me because I’m so different,” she said. “I don’t like to be defined. I don’t like to be a type.” She embraces her individuality with joy.

For Bai Ling, expression is not rebellion, it’s authenticity. “I don’t think you can have freedom if you’re not allowed to express who you are,” she said, drawn to roles that explore mystery and transformation. In creating depth, she turns each new project into an act of discovery.

“I don’t like to think about the future, the future belongs to the future,” she once said. “That way, you appreciate more. You live every day. In life, every step is important. It is a journey.”

Whether in blockbuster fantasies or intimate indie films, Bai Ling creates from the heart, with fearless honesty and confidence, guided by her own definition of love.