Vic Zhou

Birth name 周育民 (pinyin: Zhōu Yùmín)
Also known as 仔仔 (pinyin: Zàizài)
Born June 9, 1981 (1981-06-09) (age 25)
Origin Flag of Republic of China Republic of China
Genre(s) Pop
Occupation(s) actor, singer
Years active 2001-present (F4)
2001-present (acting)
2002-present (solo)
Label(s) Sony Music Entertainment

Vic Zhou (Traditional Chinese: 周渝民; pinyin: Zhōu Yúmín) is an actor, singer and commercial model from Taiwan. He is a member of the famous Taiwanese boy band F4, and he has starred in many Taiwanese dramas. His stage name, 周渝民, literally means “a completely changed person”. It had a variation only in the middle character (from 育 to 渝) from his birth name, 周育民 (pinyin: Zhōu Yùmín), which literally means “a completely nourished or reared person”.
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Biography

Childhood

Zhou was born on June 9, 1981, making him the youngest of all the F4 members. He is considered the baby of F4, being treated the best by other F4 members. It was his grandmother who gave him the nickname 仔仔 (pinyin: Zàizài), meaning "little child", the other name in which he is known to his fans.

Education

* Department of Business Administration,Hsing Wu College(Traditional Chinese: 醒吾技術學院企業管理科; pinyin: Xǐng Wú Jì Shù Xué Yuàn Qì Yè Guǎn Lǐ Kē)
* Department of Industrial Management,China University of Technology|Chung Kuo Institute of Technology (Traditional Chinese: 中國技術學院工業管理科; pinyin: Zhōng Guó Jì Shù Xué Yuàn, Gōng Yè Guǎn Lǐ Kē)
* Department of Machinery,National LoTung Industrial Vocational High School (Traditional Chinese: 羅東高工機械科; pinyin: Luó Dōng Gāo Gōng Jī Xiè Kē)
* Luodong Junior High School (Traditional Chinese: 羅東國民中學; pinyin: Luó Dōng Guó Mín Zhōng Xué)
* Gong Zeng Elementary School (Traditional Chinese: 公正國民小學; pinyin: Gōng Zhèng Guó Mín Xiǎo Xué)

At first, he tried to finish his degree in machinery technical school (NOT mechanical engineering). But persistent fans prompted him to transfer school twice. Eventually, he quit schooling due to his very hectic schedule. Now, he is studying business administration at Hsing Wu College.

Entering the Industry

He was discovered when he accompanied a friend auditioning for a role in "Meteor Garden" (Traditional Chinese: 流星花園; pinyin: Liú Xíng Huā Yuán). While waiting for a friend at their auditions, he was huddled in a corner near one of the Meteor Garden staff's office, which said he looked like a 花澤類 (pinyin: Huā Zé Lèi) and was asked to audition. Meteor Garden was adopted from a Japanese manga, "Boys Over Flowers" (花より男子, Japanese romanization: Hana Yori Dango). He was slated to play the role of 花澤類 (pinyin: Huā Zé Lèi), a very silent and sensitive guy who was friends with the female protagonist "杉菜" (pinyin: Shān Cài) played by Barbie Xu (Traditional Chinese: 徐熙媛; pinyin: Xú Xí Yuán). It was in this particular role that many fans admired him and continued supporting him on his subsequent roles.

Individual Success as Singer and Actor

Recording Career

He was the first F4 member to release his own album when Make a Wish was released in January of 2002. It was followed by "Remember, I Love You" (記得我愛你, pinyin: Jì De Wǒ Ài Nǐ) which was released in January of 2004. He also sang some solo songs included in F4’s albums like 2 songs in "Meteor Rain", released in March of 2002 and 2 songs in "Fantasy 4ever", released in January of 2003. His and the F4’s albums were all released under Sony Music Taiwan.

Acting Career

Aside from "Meteor Garden", he appeared in many Taiwanese series such as the four-episode "Meteor Rain" (流星雨, pinyin: Liú Xīng Yǔ), "Poor Prince" (貧窮貴公子, pinyin: Píng Qióng Guì Gōng Zǐ) which is an adaptation of another Japanese manga "山田太郎物語" (Japanese romanization: Yamada Taro Monogatari , "The Story of Taro Yamada" in English, "Meteor Garden II" (sequel of "Meteor Garden I"), "Come To My Place" (来我家吧, pinyin: Lái Wǒ Jiā Bǎ) and "Love Storm" (抂愛龍捲風, pinyin: Kuáng Ài Lǒng Juǎn Fēng). He then starred in series entitled "Mars" (戰神Mars, pinyin: Zhàn Shén Mars), co-starring Barbie Hsu for third time. He also appeared in the Taiwanese television program "ABCDEF4", with the other three F4 members. Vic Zhou is the lead in another Taiwanese series entitled Silence (深情密碼, Shen Qing Mi Ma) with Korean actress Park Eun-Hye and Hong Kong actor/singer, Andy Hui. In the series, Vic Zhou plays a terminally-ill businessman who falls in love with a mute girl played by Eun-Hye. Currently, Vic Zhou is filming a new drama "Delicious Relationship"(美味關係, pinyin; Mei Wei Guan Xi) with Patty Hou. This drama is about cooking and also an adaptation of a Japanese manga "Delicious Relationship". In August 2006, he will star in his first movie to be produced in Hong Kong.

Personal Life

* He was previously linked with Angela Zhang due to the fact they both released their albums at the same time and also with Tammy Chen.
* He was supposed to have been in a relationship with the late actress Xu Wei Lun which ended towards the second half of 2005 although the two never admitted to having had any relationship.
* He had a crush on Dee Hsu before dating Barbie Hsu.
* He was said to have five girlfriends in the past.
* Barbie Hsu had adopted him as a younger brother during the filming of Meteor Garden.
* He is currently dating Barbie Hsu.

Filmography

2001 Meteor Garden
2001 Poor Prince
2001 Come to my Place
2002 Meteor Garden II
2002 Meteor Dream Garden also known as Meteor Rain
2003 ABCDEF4
2003 Love Storm
2004 Mars (TV series)
2006 Silence
2007 Delicious Relationship

Release of photographic album

He also released a photographic album in October of 2002, entitled "Travel Dream" (流浪夢, pinyin: Liú Làng Mèng) which contains his pictures shot during one of his trips to Hokkaidō, Japan.

His second photobook entitled 4Faces: Taipei & Tokyo was released in October 2006. It showcased ZaiZai's flexibility in front of the camera. There are 4 themes: Natural Face, Cool Face, Stylish Face and Fashionable Face. The first 2 themes were shot in Taipei while the last 2 themes were shot in Tokyo. This photobook is one of the bestsellers in HMV, a leading music and book store.

Vic Zhou's Quotes

* "The saddest thing in my life was when my parents divorced. They are also the people I want to say sorry to. When they broke up, I was 8 or 9 years old and stayed with my mother in Taiwan. My dad was living at Luo Dong and even had a new family. Despite the far distance, I will always find time to visit him to do my part as a son. Also, I have never thought about becoming a star or becoming famous. However, I cannot deny that I am popular. Yes, it is a happy matter, but I really hate it as it affected my family a lot. Reporters knocked and took photos at my dad’s house, scaring him and he dared not go out. I never expected my rise to fame to harm them…"

* "Without F4, I wouldn't be where I am today."

* "Even though we (F4) are doing our own stuff, it is so our strength is greater when we're united together."
source:www.wikipedia.org