[SCMP] Five actresses who could become the next Fan Bingbing: up-and-coming Chinese talents

[5201314]

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/2186920/five-actresses-who-could-become-next-fan-bingbing-and-coming

 

by Elaine Yau   

 

 

After the fall from grace of the biggest star of China’s entertainment industry, Fan Bingbing, Chinese actresses have fallen over themselves trying to replace her as the Chinese femme fatale of choice in Hollywood – and as the worldwide Chinese spokeswoman for famous fashion, jewellery and cosmetics brands.

While none measure up to Fan at the peak of her career in terms of international recognition, a long list of Chinese actresses exert a huge influence in their home market, including Angelababy Yeung Wing, Yang Mi, Zhou Dongyu, Zhou Xun and Zhao Wei.

 

While these have long been household names in China’s entertainment industry, we take a look at five lesser known Chinese actresses whose recent rise to superstardom has commentators calling them the next Fan Bingbing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Dilraba Dilmurat

 

 

Born in Urumqi in Xinjiang, the 26-year-old became a household name in China for her glowing performance in TV series Eternal Love (2017).

 

The graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy first starred in TV drama Anarhan in 2013 after actress Yang Mi scouted the stunning beauty and signed her up at Yang’s own media agency and entertainment company. While her mentor Yang Mi was listed as the first in a list of 100 most bankable Chinese entertainment stars compiled by CBNweekly last year, Dilmurat was listed in third place, with some online commentators predicting she will soon eclipse Yang, who is six years older than her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Yang Chaoyue

 

 

Yang rose to stardom after winning third place on the hit reality show Produce 101, which selected 11 out of 101 girls to form pop band Rocket Girls 101 after four months of gruelling practice. Before that, she was a member of girl band CH2.

 

The 20-year-old was featured on the cover of China Newsweek after being selected by the magazine as among the most influential Chinese people for 2018, gracing the cover alongside such people as Wang Yifang, elementary particle and accelerator physicist, and Zhu Min, chairman of the National Institute of Financial Research of Tsinghua University and former vice-president of the International Monetary Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Wu Jinyan

 

 

The Beijing Film Academy graduate is an experienced dancer, having been enrolled in the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy in 2000 and joined the National Ballet of China at the age of 17. The 28-year-old actress came to wide public attention after starring in hit TV period drama Story of Yanxi Palace last year.

 

Starring alongside the much-more famous Charmaine Sheh Sze-man and Qin Lan, the melancholic-looking actress surprised the audience, portraying a humble maid in the imperial palace who, through sheer resilience, became a beloved concubine of the emperor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Li Qin

 

 

The 28-year-old rose to prominence in 2008 after starring in television series The Dream of Red Mansions, and winning the best new actress award at the TVS Award Ceremony. Born in Kunshan in Jiangsu, the birthplace of Kunqu, the actress loves the traditional form of Chinese opera.

 

 

 

Unlike internet-age stars who shot to instant stardom, her career has risen gradually over the past few years after her performances in The Founding of an Army (2017) and Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (2018).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Zhao Liying

 

 

 

The 31-year-old actress cut her teeth in the entertainment industry in 2006 after winning a star scouting competition co-organised by Yahoo, Zhejiang TV and Huayi Brothers Media.

 

 

Her performances in period dramas have won her legions of fans, with many of the shows she appeared in, including The Journey of Flower (2015) and Princess Agents (2017), breaking viewership records in China.

 

 

 

[Jenníe Kim]

BingBing can never be replaced <3

[zella]

chaoyue?? what an insult to everyone else on that list 

[DolphinGremlin]

Chaoyue with these 4 other women? What a joke. 

[Map_Linh]

Is it too late for Ni Ni?

[say meow]

Dilraba probably

[waycrispy1]

WHAT THE HELL IS YANG CHAOYUE DOING ON THAT LIST?

[onesnowyday]

Chaoyue isn't even an actress tho

[Andrexo9]

Chao Yue?   

[5201314]

Chaoyue isn't even an actress tho

 

 

  

 

 

 

[KorAm]

The Rise of Villager Chaoyue! Wow! Never thought ...

[Liliana]

Don’t think Chaoyue is on the level of the other actresses in this list yet to really should’ve been included in this list

[haruko]

Yang Mi is a bit closer than anyone else in this list then Angelababy perhaps. But then FBB can never be replaced, each can only create a name of their own. 

[Briana]

Nah i dont think anyone could replace FBB just yet. Not even dilraba or yang mi. Dilraba and yang mi are pretty but FBB was deemed as a goddess at her peak. She might be mediocre at acting (I still dont get how she could be a judge for Cannes lol), but FBB has her own unique aura which other actresses above still couldnt suppress it except Zhao wei whom also had legal problem as well. And watch how FBB would make a comeback within months.

[onesnowyday]

  

 

 

 

 

None of those are out yet, right? 

[Drama Drama Drama]

For me Chaoyue will be better actress than idol.

So she used the idol path for being famous and gain money only.

FBB is still a wall but Dilraba has potential.

[HoneyJN]

You have these great actresses on the list and then comes Yang Chaoyue...suddenly the list seems more like a fan's bias list rather than a realistic one. 

[lumimochi]

Chaoyue surprised me, because all the articles I’ve seen of her have been very critical of her abilities as an idol? Her work ethic was criticized in P101 too iirc. So I’m assuming she must excel at being an actress rather.

[Pinky Winky]

Lol the author is a Chaoyue fan

[jeong jaehyuns boyfriend]

FBB was a modern day legend for beauty, success, and international acclaim. Now that she’s gone, she’s left a huge void in the industry for a new female top and I feel like everyone’s rushing to fill her shoes first. My bet is Angelababy or Dilraba.

[blank_stare]

FBB was a modern day legend for beauty, success, and international acclaim. Now that she’s gone, she’s left a huge void in the industry for a new female top and I feel like everyone’s rushing to fill her shoes first. My bet is Angelababy or Dilraba.

Take Angelababy and replace her with Yangmi

[jeong jaehyuns boyfriend]

Take Angelababy and replace her with Yangmi

 

tbh, actually, I don't think angelababy or yangmi are compelling enough LOL

 

i really think it's going to be dilraba. she has age on her side, she's still young and has a long career ahead of her.

[grainy]

Dilraba is likeliest, for now. But idk if she can match Fan Bingbing's it factor (at her peak).

[blank_stare]

tbh, actually, I don't think angelababy or yangmi are compelling enough LOL

 

i really think it's going to be dilraba. she has age on her side, she's still young and has a long career ahead of her.

True. I thought Zanilla would get to be one but she got married with a baby on the way. She was pretty big 2-3 years ago. You’re right about Dilireba, plus she has western features too that Asian people seems to go for when in entertainment business.

[Nectarous]

This list is a little weird because it omits Yang Mi and Angelababy. I agree with Dilraba Dilmurat being there because she’s already everywhere.

 

The other thing FBB had was international success. She had a budding Hollywood career and was about to be in a movie with Jessica Chastain and Lupita Nyong’o. Granted, given the sheer population of mainland China alone, crossover success isn’t necessary, but if we’re looking to find the next actress to accomplish what FBB has done, then we would have to look to them breaking into Hollywood.