Fan Bingbing tries to break into the international arena, hot on the heels of Zhang Ziyi.

While Zhang Ziyi is taking a little time out to study English and cozy up to an American cowboy, gossip circles are buzzing with speculation on who the next China darling will be. One of the contenders is Fan Bingbing, a favorite among Chinese movie goers. She has a model’s slender figure, fair skin, tiny face and big eyes, giving her an innocent yet slightly foxy mystique on screen. She is also the one, among local Chinese actresses, who receives the most acting opportunities in major productions. One day she may succeed like Zhang Ziyi, but I doubt that day will come if she doesn’t choose to work harder on her acting and stop fooling around with film tycoons and agents.

Recently Fan announced that she is ready to leave her well-known agent at Huayi Brothers, who she’s been with for six years. Rumor has it this split may be due to the “special relationship” she has with the company’s leading men—the Wang brothers themselves. Tabloids speculate that Fan will join Huayi’s rival company Chengtian Entertainment, as the company’s president has already personally invested money in Fan’s new album, as well as her upcoming film. But Fan told the media that she is going to manage herself: “It’s time for me to explore my own path.”

I find it hard to believe that this spoiled actress will become a completely independent woman. Fan has a history of clawing her way up by canoodling with various entertainment tycoons. First it was the head of a TV production company in Guangdong, who successfully landed her a role in a TV drama. Then it was another TV giant in Zhejiang, then a Hong Kong actor/producer and then the Huayi Brothers. The brothers made her the leading lady of many mega budget films of 2006. In just a few years’ time, Fan went from a virtually unknown extra to an A-list actress.

And the story doesn’t stop there. Just a few months ago I wrote about her platic surgery scandal. The 25-year-old intensified the lines on her eyelids (making them look deeper), padded her nose and made her chin even sharper. Some time before that, it was reported she had a violet encounter with a shutterbug ala Cameron Diaz. And just last month a picture of her wearing fur triggered a sea of criticism from animal protection groups.

The gossip mills are reporting that the main reason behind Fan’s recent break with the Huayi Brothers is that she feels her position in the company has been threatened. The Wang brothers once promised her that she would always have first dibs on any Huayi film production. But soon after issuing the promise, the brothers signed Zhou Xun, an actress whose looks match those of Fan, but who just happens to be a more talented actress (she won numerous awards for “Perhaps Love”). In less than three months, the brothers also signed Taiwanese actress Lin Xinru, who is obviously another threat to Fan’s dominance.

Zhang Ziyi may be equally lucky and spoiled like Fan, but at least her acting has impressed both the directors who worked with her and audiences. In Fan’s recent films, including “Cell Phone” and “Battle of Wisdom,” I haven’t even sniffed a hint of talent. All she has are her looks, which are most likely not real.

Nonetheless, it appears Fan has taken on an English tutor to prepare for international opportunities. But Fan, please listen up, before you hire an English teacher think about enrolling in some acting lessons and for the love of God stop depending on the power of entertainment tycoons and believing their empty promises. Listen to this advice and your move to represent yourself won’t be such a bad thing after all.