Kevin Lee (actor)

Last updated
Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee Headshot.jpg
Born
Cambridge, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Notable work Wolf Warrior, The Battle at Lake Changjin, Sniper, Formed Police Unit, Marco Polo, Dongji Rescue

Kevin Lee is a British actor who began his acting career in China. [1] He has played roles in films directed by Jackie Chan, Zhang Yimou, and Wu Jing, often portraying villains or military figures. His works include Wolf Warrior, The Battle at Lake Changjin, Sniper, Formed Police Unit, and playing a knight in the Netflix series Marco Polo. He also appeared in S.W.A.T. (2019) starring Robert Knepper.

Contents

In 2025, Lee made a career pivot with the historical war drama Dongji Rescue , based on the Lisbon Maru incident. He plays Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, a British POW rescued by Chinese fishermen. A role that marked his first on-screen portrayal of a heroic character. Co-directed by Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang, the film premiered in China on 8 August 2025 and is slated for international release. [2]

Following the film's release, Lee's online content—including behind-the-scenes reflections and reputation-driven storytelling—has amassed over 30 million views across social media platforms. [3]

Early life

Kevin Lee was born in Cambridge, United Kingdom. As a child, he enjoyed watching Chinese martial arts films featuring Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Jet Li. [4] [5]

He earned a degree in IT before deciding to study Chinese martial arts in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, China. He later returned to the UK, worked as a salesman [6] and financial consultant, [4] and eventually trained as an actor before returning to China in 2010. [6]

Film career

Lee says that he met director Wu Jing while renewing his work visa at the Public Security Bureau in Beijing. He went on to star in Wu Jing's Wolf Warrior (2015), the first in the patriotic Wolf Warrior franchise, and later featured in Stanley Tong's Kung Fu Yoga (2016) and Zhang Chong's Super Me (2019). Lee is widely recognized for portraying Crazy Bull in Wolf Warrior and American colonel Allan Maclean in The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021). [6] He was cast in Zhang Yimou’s Sniper (2022). [7]

His breakout heroic role came in 2025 with Dongji Rescue, playing a real-life British POW. The film marked a turning point in Lee’s public perception, with its emotional weight and historical legacy bringing him praise from international audiences and media. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "凯文·李" [Kevin Lee]. Maoyan (in Chinese). Tianjin Maoyan Weiying Culture Media . Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ↑ ""Dongji Rescue" Star Kevin Lee Is Ready for More Than Villain Roles". Variety. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Dongji Rescue: A Role That Hits Different". China Daily. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 Lee, Kevin (26 January 2022). "China's go-to English bad guy Kevin Lee: 'I'm happy to play a villain'". The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Phil Hoad. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "The British actor who makes a living getting his 'ass kicked' as the bad guy in Chinese movies". inews.co.uk. 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  6. 1 2 3 Tsoi, Grace; Wang, Yitsing (30 March 2022). "Kevin Lee: The Briton who plays the bad guy in China's patriotic movies". BBC News . Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ↑ sinocinema (13 February 2022). "Review: Snipers (2022) | Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》" . Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  8. ↑ "Exclusive Interview: Kevin Lee on Dongji Island and His Life in China". UK-China Film Collab. August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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