Chinese actress Tang Wei is seen in this July 10, 2012 photo. [Photo/CFP]

Actress Tang Wei has been cast to play the lead role in Ann Hui's new film about a tragic Chinese writer living in the early 20th century, the Shenzhen Evening News reports.

The film "The Golden Age" will be a biopic of the life of Xiao Hong who was born in 1911 but died at the age of 30.

Xiao Hong, whose real name was Zhang Naiying, had an eventful life. She experienced an unhappy childhood, ran away from an arranged marriage, was abandoned when she was pregnant and narrowly escaped from being sold to a brothel. When she started to write professionally, she was influenced by authors such as Lu Xun and Mao Dun, as well as American novelist Upton Sinclair.

Director Ann Hui, who is known for portraying female characters in her films, plans to begin shooting the film in January 2013.