Cast member Jing Tian attends a press conference for the new film "Warring States" in Beijing on March 14, 2010. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Acting newcomer Jing Tian will play the female lead in the Chinese historical epic "Warring States", the film's producers announced when filming began on Sunday.

The 20-year-old actress secured the role for which the media was expecting an A-lister such as Zhang Ziyi or Liu Yifei.

Director Jin Chen told the "Straits News" that "casting a new face could avoid aesthetic fatigue."

Jing Tian's acting credits include the lead role in a stage rendition of Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution".

"Warring States", with its story set in ancient China's Warring States Period (475-221 BC), revolves around the confrontation of military strategists Sun Bin (played by Sun Honglei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng).

Jing Tian plays Sun Bin's love interest. South Korean superstar Kim Hee-Sun plays Pang Juan's younger sister.

The movie also features Chinese actor Jiang Wu and Japanese star Kiichi Nakai.