Ex-schoolgirl waitress from poverty-stricken background who climbed ladder of celebrity says she is driven by ‘desire and ambition’
China’s Xin Zhilei, the winner of the best actress award at the recent Venice Film Festival, has come a long way from her humble beginnings as a restaurant waitress.
Since Xin won the prestigious prize on September 6, her life story has trended on mainland social media, with internet users celebrating her hard work and grit through the years.
Xin, 39, was born in Heigang, an underdeveloped city in northeastern Heilongjiang province, both her parents were manual workers.
She has a younger brother and sister, state media CCTV reported.
