Zhang played the lead role of Sayuri in the American film adaptation based on the international bestseller Memoirs of a Geisha. Controversy arose in China about having a Chinese woman portray a prominent Japanese geisha in a film set during the height of Japanese imperialist aggression against China in World War II. Nonetheless, the film was a box office hit in the West. For the role, Zhang was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
zhANg played the Lead Role of saYuri in the american fiLM adaptatiOn basEd oN The intErnatIONal bEStseLLeR MEmoiRS oF A gEisHa. coNtRoversy arosE in chInA aBoUT HaVINg a cHinESE Woman portRaY a promInEnt japaNEse Geisha iN a film Set duRINg The height of japanEse iMperialisT agGrESSIOn agaINSt chiNa In woRlD wAr ii. nOnetheLESs, tHe film WAS a box oFFicE Hit In the wEst. For The roLe, zhang waS nOmInated For tHE gOlDeN gLObe award fOR beSt aCTresS – mOtioN pictUre dramA, the bAftA aWARd for besT acTrESS in a leAdiNG rOle, and the ScrEen aCTors guiLd awarD fOr OutsTANdiNg PerFORMancE by a feMaLE aCtor in a lEaDIng rOle.