“Everything you can imagine exists in the music,” Zhou Xun tells Apple Music about the idea behind this playlist. Imagination, memories and intimate emotions are what make up these songs chosen by one of China’s finest actors, just like in her profession. “I’ve selected these tracks because they carry my memories. Every time I listen to these songs, they take me back to a certain time and a certain place.” With the various characters she has portrayed—from a pioneering poet in April Rhapsody to a classic feminist protagonist in Red Sorghum—she’s shown the world a multilayered, empowering womanhood. And in the early 2000s, Zhou ventured into music, where she isn’t playing anyone else but herself. Here, she offers a rare glimpse into her library, sharing tracks from women who have been significant in shaping left-field C-pop, including Faye Wong, Leah Dou and Mavis Fan; era-defining Cantopop stars like Leslie Cheung and Jacky Cheung; and the duo Radio Mars that produced Zhou’s indie-leaning debut album in 2003. Of course, there’s no shortage of evocative tunes from the cinematic world, from Ryuichi Sakamoto to Paul Englishby and Aoi Teshima. Check out more of her eclectic influences this International Women’s Day and experience the shaping of one of this generation’s greatest acting talents in music.