Zheng Zhenyao was born in 1936 and is originally from Anhui. She was admitted to the Children's Theater Troupe of the China Welfare Association when she was just 12 years old.
She has starred in many classic dramas, including Katerina in the drama "Great Thunderstorm" In 1983, she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the <>rd Chinese Film Golden Rooster Awards for her role as Song Ma in "Old Things in the South of the City"