Astonishment as stunning actress, 33, is accused of sleeping with some of China's most powerful men including disgraced politician Bo Xilai
Extraordinary claims that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star Zhang Ziyi earned £70 million prostituting herself to disgraced politician Bo Xilai and other powerful communist officials have been met with stunned disbelief across the film industry.
The stunning 33-year-old, one of China’s highest-paid stars and a three times BAFTA nominee, has vehemently denied a string of shocking allegations which emerged in Chinese media.
According to the, as yet unsubstantiated, reports, Zhang slept with Bo, the former mayor of Chongqing, at least 10 times between 2007 and 2011 in exchange for 'huge' monetary gifts.
Chinese officials reportedly believe the pair were introduced by a close associate of Bo, a Chinese multi-millionaire businessman named Xu Ming.
Zhang who starred in Rush Hour 2, House of Flying Daggers and Memoirs of a Geisha - is alleged to have made millions more from similar deals with other rich and powerful figures, including more than £18 million from 41-year-old Xu alone.
The alleged trysts, all of which were said to have taken place in Beijing, netted the actress – whose latest film ironically is a new version of Dangerous Liaisons - around £1 million each time.
Ming has reportedly confessed to authorities that he paid Zhang £600,000 to have sex with him for the first time in 2007 and that he later negotiated a deal for a similar liaison with the married Bo.
Zhang is the most prominent name to date to be dragged into the scandal over Bo, ousted from China’s powerful politburo amid allegations he was involved in murdering Old Harrovian businessman Neil Heywood.
Investigators are also said to be looking into claims that Zhang’s illicit earnings escaped being taxed thanks to interventions by Xu and senior government officials.
Reports that the Chinese government has refused to allow Zhang to leave the country while it investigates the claims prompted speculation that it explained why she was absent from this year’s Cannes film festival to promote Dangerous Liaisons.
The actress who is currently filming in southern China denied the allegation through her publicist and wrote on her on internet blog that many people 'can take wind as rain' using their imaginations – a cryptic statement which fellow Chinese have taken as a denial.
Now living in Hong Kong, she was engaged from 2008 until 2010 to Vivi Nevo, the hugely rich Israeli-American venture capitalist who was romantically linked to Kate Moss.
Xu, estimated to be worth £444 million by Forbes magazine, is reportedly under investigation by the Beijing government over alleged corruption.
The Chinese media reported in April that Xu had introduced more than 100 women to Bo as sexual partners and that some of them were household-named celebrities.
Hong Kong lawyers Hadlanes have apparently contacted Apple Daily, stating the following: 'Your allegations concerning our client are completely untrue and constitute a grave libel upon her.
'In consequence of the publication of these statements, our client's reputation has been seriously damaged and she has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.'
Their letter demands a complete retraction and an open apology by May 30, 2012 - and states that the star reserves the right to proceed with legal action or seek damages.
Miss Zhang's team also thanked those who have taken her side against what they say is unfounded slander.
'We just want to help her get rid of this disturbance and seek justice,' they said.
'Then she will be able to shoot her films in peace and quiet and present you, her fans, with more and better films in return.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2152246/Zhang-Ziyi-sex-scandal-Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon-actress-paid-sleep-Bo-Xilai.html#ixzz1wOXrPHj2
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