Jet Li's Wife: The Actor Once Confessed He Would Give Up Everything to Be with Nina LI Chi

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Saturday, May 18, 2024

Actor Jet Li's martial arts mastery has secured his place in Hollywood. When it comes to matters of the heart, his wife, Nina Li Chi, rightfully holds her spot in his life.

Nina Li Chi is the longtime wife of renowned actor Jet Li, with whom he has two daughters. The couple's love story extends beyond traditional beliefs, with Li noting that he was "willing to die" for her.

The Chinese superstar was married to another actress and had two kids. Li's life as a husband and father and his martial arts prowess in movies have captivated fans.

Jet Li attends the World Premiere of Disney's 'MULAN' at the Dolby Theatre on March 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Li was born as Li Lian Jie in Beijing, China, on April 26, 1963. Martial arts have been his passion since he was young, and he trained in wushu and even competed in the style in various Chinese championships.

When the Chinese superstar's health worsened, his godmother, a medium, told him to get married to improve his luck.

Li starred in his first movie, Shaolin Temple, in 1982 before he turned 20, which launched his career as an actor in China and Hong Kong, and later in the United States of America.

He has appeared in several Hollywood films, including notable movies such as "Lethal Weapon," "Romeo Must Die," "Cradle 2 the Grave," and "The Expendables." His most recent film is Disney's live-action "Mulan."

Besides his extensive career, Li is married to Nina Li Chi, who played an instrumental role in Li's life by instilling in him the importance of love, a lesson that continues to shape and inspire him today.

Jet Li Learned the Meaning of Love in His Second Marriage

Before marrying Chi, Li was previously married to actress Qiuyan Huang, whom he married "out of obligation" and also according to the advice of his superstitious family relative.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner in 2005, Li admitted he only married Huang out of duty. Huang, who came from a wealthy family, took care of Li, who came from a financially disadvantaged background.

When the Chinese superstar's health worsened, his godmother, a medium, told him to get married to improve his luck. She believed a positive event like a wedding could bring positive energy and change his fortunes.

Although Huang appeared to have dedicated most of her affection to him, Li was unsure how much of his commitment as a husband he had to Huang. They amicably parted ways in 1990.

Shortly after his split from Huang, Li has since discovered the true meaning of love with his current spouse, Chi, with whom he eventually tied the knot in Los Angeles, California. He said of Chi:

"You realise: 'I put myself out there. I can give up my fame and success, give up my status, give up my money. I'm even willing to die for her.' You realise this is love."

Jet Li and his wife Nina Li Chi attend "The Hulk" World Premiere at the Universal Amphitheatre June 17, 2003, in Universal City, California. | Source: Getty Images

Jet Li's Wife Nina Li Chi Is a Star in Her Own Right

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chi was one of China's notable leading ladies. A captivating woman, she became known as the "Marilyn of the East."

Chi's career began in 1986 when she won the Miss Asia Pacific pageant in Hong Kong, but she earned criticism for speaking Cantonese with a Singaporean accent. Still, this turned out to be a turning point in her career.

Chi became the hardest-working actress in Hong Kong with the help of celebrities like actor Jackie Chan and Raymond Chow. In just two years, the former beauty queen became the fifth highest-paid actress in the country.

Despite having a brief career that lasted from 1987 to 1992, Chi was able to work with established actors such as Chow Yun-Fat, Samuel Hui, and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, aside from Chan.

After retiring from acting, Chi ventured into business in China. Unfortunately, her business collapsed in 1996, prompting her to withdraw from public life. As a result, her husband, Li, has never shared any photos of her, respecting her privacy.

Jet Li Is a Proud Father of Four - All We Know About His Daughters

Li has four daughters. He has two daughters, Si and Taimi, with Huang, and two girls, Jane and Jada, with Chi. Not much is known about Li's two oldest kids from his first wife.

Although Li's older daughters are private, his younger daughters have become quite popular on social media and in the press. Jada, who is studying at Barnard College, boasts over 22,800 followers on Instagram.

On the other hand, Jane, who is enrolled at Harvard University, has 22,000 Instagram followers, but her fame extends beyond that. She gained fame as a debutante in the 2019 Les Bal des Débutantes, the most prestigious debutante ball in the world.

Li's overall respectfulness has demonstrated by the fact that he gets along well with his ex-wife and has a fantastic marriage with his current wife —no wonder his fans' admiration is deep and timeless.

Like many other celebrity couples, Li and Chi prefer to keep their marriage private. Famous pairs who prefer to keep their relationship under wraps include Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn and Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz.

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