Zhou Dongyu is a celebrated Chinese actress, born on January 31, 1992, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. She gained prominence for her role in Zhang Yimou's film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" (2010), which marked her debut in acting despite having no prior experience. Her performance earned her critical acclaim and several awards, establishing her as a rising star in Chinese cinema.

Zhou has since starred in numerous successful films, including "Soul Mate" (2016), which won her the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress, and "Better Days" (2019), which earned her both the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress. She is recognized as one of the "Four Dan Actresses of the Post-90s Generation" in China, alongside Zheng Shuang, Guan Xiaotong, and Yang Zi.