The invention relates to a new microbe strain Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CCZU-G5 and application of the Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in preparation of (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl ethyl butyrate through biological catalysis of 2-oxo-4-phenyl ethyl butyrate. The Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CCZU-G5 is preserved in the Chinese common microbe bacterial preservation administration center, and the preservation number is 6328. The method comprises the following steps of: carrying out microbial asymmetric catalytic reduction in a water/organic solvent two-phase system based on 2-oxo-4-phenyl-butyrate as a substrate and the whole Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CCZU-G5 cell as a biocatalyst; after the reaction, separating and purifying a transfer solution to obtain the (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl ethyl butyrate. Compared with the traditional method, the method disclosed by the invention has the advantages that the molar conversion rate of the substrate is improved while ensuring high yield and high stereoselectivity, no coenzyme is needed in the whole reaction process, reaction condition is mild, operation is simple, no by-product is generated, environment-friendly performance is good, cost is low, and the product is easy to separate, and therefore, the method is a new method capable of improving the production benefits in the industry.