Fan Bingbing was born in Qingdao but was raised in Yantai. She graduated from Shanghai Xie Jin Film and Television Art College and Shanghai Theatre Academy.Fan rose to stardom in 1999 for her supporting role as Jinsuo in the first two seasons of the Chinese television series My Fair Princess, which were adapted from Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao's novels. Before My Fair Princess, she had played minor roles in some projects for almost two years. She was recommended by Taiwanese actress Leanne Liu to join the cast of My Fair Princess. After that, Fan signed an eight-year contract with Chiung Yao's company, which produced My Fair Princess. However, as the company had yet to establish any branches in mainland China, many mainland Chinese television advertising firms had to make calls to Taiwan for negotiations, resulting in a waste of time and effort. When Fan and her mother wanted to end the contract, Chiung Yao's company asked for ¥1 million in compensation, but eventually the court ordered Fan to pay ¥200,000 because the contract was illegal due to her age. was born in Qingdao but was raised in Yantai. She graduated from Shanghai Xie Jin Film and Television Art College and