2008–2014: Beginnings and rising popularity In 2008, Zhang was invited by South Korean director Woody Han to star in Korean short film
Cherry Blossom alongside Korean actor
Kim Soo-hyun. After which, she continued to appear in minor supporting roles whilst working as an advertisement model. Zhang made her official acting debut in the drama
The Second Life of My Husband, which aired in 2013. Zhang first gained attention in 2014 when she acted alongside
Sun Honglei in spy drama
The Legendary Sniper. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2nd Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China for her performance. Following her fame, Zhang was cast in bigger projects. In 2016, Zhang starred in the romance film
I Belonged to You alongside
Deng Chao. The film was a commercial success and earned more than 800 million yuan ($118 million) at the box office. She also featured in the war film
The Founding of an Army as
Soong Mei-ling, as well as fantasy-mystery film
Legend of the Demon Cat directed by
Chen Kaige. Zhang was nominated at the
Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress with her performance as Soong. The same year, she starred as the female lead Ying Huanhuan in fantasy-action drama
Martial Universe alongside
Yang Yang. In 2019, Zhang starred in the aviation disaster film
The Captain as a flight attendant. The same year she starred in the workplace romance drama
Crocodile and Plover Bird as an aspiring environmentalist. In 2020, Zhang appeared in
CCTV New Year's Gala for the first time, performing a dance number titled "Quan". She is set to star in the historical film ''A'mai Joins the Army
as the titular character. The same year, she was cast in the wuxia drama Sword Snow Stride'' written by Wang Juan. From May 20 to August 5, 2022, Zhang participated in the third season of
Sisters Who Make Waves, a Chinese survival reality television show where female celebrities over 30 years old competes to debut in a ten-member girl group. She eventually placed tenth in the finals and debuted in X-Sister. == Filmography ==