Chinese actress Li Bingbing has credited her younger sister, Li Xue, with helping build her decades-long career, describing her sibling as both her manager and confidante.
The 53-year-old actress said her success would not have been possible without Li Xue, who left journalism to manage her career in 2000.
“Without my sister, I would not be where I am today,” she said.
The sisters later co-founded Hesong Entertainment, a talent company that has represented performers across generations. Their partnership has made them one of China’s most prominent sibling teams in the entertainment industry.
Li Bingbing and Li Xue grew up in a modest working-class family in Wuchang, Heilongjiang province. Their parents worked as factory labourers, and the family once rented a home from neighbours.
When Li Bingbing enrolled at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, her family faced financial pressure after their mother underwent surgery. Li Bingbing took on advertising work and minor acting roles to help support Li Xue’s education.
“I can endure hardship myself, but I could not bear to see my sister suffer.”
When Li Xue became her manager, Li Bingbing was still trying to establish herself in China’s competitive film industry. Fellow actresses including Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun had already gained prominence.
Li Xue began selecting projects that could raise her sister’s profile, guiding her towards Feng Xiaogang’s A World Without Thieves in 2004 and The Knot in 2006.
Li Bingbing’s breakthrough culminated in her winning Best Actress at the 2009 Golden Horse Awards for The Message.
Li Xue later encouraged her to pursue opportunities outside mainland China, including the Chinese-American production Snow Flower and the Secret Fan in 2011.
The move helped Li Bingbing secure international projects such as Resident Evil: Retribution, Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Meg. She also began working with international luxury brands.
Li Xue’s role extended beyond career management. In 2015, when Li Bingbing became seriously ill while filming in Australia, her sister halted production and brought her home for treatment.
The decision came as online speculation portrayed Li Bingbing as a “diva” on set.
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The sisters have acknowledged that their close working relationship has sometimes led to clashes. One major disagreement reportedly resulted in them losing contact for more than three months.
However, Li Bingbing said their conflicts did not weaken their bond. She has also spoken about the sacrifices Li Xue made for her career, describing her as a confidante.
“I could die for her, because she is my sister.”
Li Bingbing remains unmarried and has no children. The Paper reported that she plans to leave her assets to Li Xue’s two children.
Li Bingbing has more than 42 million followers on Weibo. Sohu News has estimated her personal wealth at more than 1 billion yuan (US$150 million), although the figure has not been independently verified.
Li Xue, meanwhile, has said that she finds fulfilment in the work and views their partnership as a way to realise her own worth.
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Their relationship has also attracted attention on mainland Chinese social media.
“They truly complement each other. The elder sister stands in the spotlight, while the younger sister maps out the broader vision. Sisters are natural allies,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “A healthy relationship isn’t devoid of conflict, but rather one that can recover and progress. They exemplify how partners can support each other over time.”
