The year 2025 marked a major turning point for many of Chinese entertainment’s leading actresses, highlighting a clear shift in industry values and audience expectations.

The list of ten standout actresses of 2025 represents more than beauty and popularity it reflects a growing demand for strong acting skills, character depth, and lasting artistic impact. Audiences are no longer satisfied with surface-level stardom. A new generation of female stars understands that true longevity comes from ability, while fame is the result of consistent and dedicated work.

Zhao Liying stands as the most representative example of an acting breakthrough this year. Industry insiders have even dubbed 2025 “Zhao Liying’s year,” as she dominated screens with three projects across entirely different genres: What a Wonderful World, We Girls, and The City Maker.

In the fantasy-thriller short drama What a Wonderful World, Zhao Liying challenged herself with the role of Jia Xiaoduo, a character possessing seven distinct personalities. With minimal dialogue, she relied heavily on subtle eye movements and facial expressions to convey psychological shifts, delivering what critics praised as a “textbook-level acting performance.” In We Girls, she portrayed a former female inmate struggling to earn money to save her child’s life, showcasing a dramatic transformation. Her blood-streaked short hair, raw emotional scenes, and intense physical acting created a striking contrast with her previously gentle image. The film surpassed 10 million views within hours of release. In The City Maker, Zhao Liying took on the role of a civil servant in the 1990s, further demonstrating her range and adaptability.

Lan Yingying also experienced a notable career shift. Long associated with villainous roles, she impressed audiences with her portrayal of Yin Zi in This Thriving Land. Her restrained emotional delivery and quiet depiction of pain and endurance allowed her to break free from typecasting and prove her ability to handle psychologically complex characters.

The success of multiple hit television dramas in 2025 also propelled several actresses to new heights. Chen Duling emerged as a standout with The Glory, where she played Zhuang Hanyan. The role allowed her to fully explore a layered emotional journey from vulnerability to strength, from victimhood to self-determination. The drama’s popularity helped solidify her position as a sought-after leading actress, overcoming earlier criticism that she struggled to carry main roles despite her visuals and solid supporting performances.

Bai Lu was widely regarded as the “queen of the small screen” this year, thanks to an exceptionally busy schedule and remarkable genre diversity. Whether in fantasy, contemporary realism, or historical dramas, including Moonlight Mystique, Northward, and Feud, she consistently left a strong impression.

Yang Mi continued to maintain her broad influence built over years of experience. Her 2025 works This Thriving Land and The Lychee Road showcased a more mature and refined acting style, tackling roles that required emotional depth within complex historical and social contexts. She also earned praise for a small but impactful appearance in the film She’s Got No Name.

Dilraba Dilmurat remained a powerful presence in 2025, captivating audiences with her distinctive Eurasian beauty and stage presence. Her “Heavenly Girl Scattering Flowers” dance performance at Henan TV’s Mid-Autumn Festival program went viral, reintroducing her to a wider audience after a brief hiatus. Beyond acting, she continued to shape fashion trends, with every public appearance drawing significant attention from industry professionals.

In film, Dilraba starred in two crime-action projects, Sword Rose and Love on the Turquoise Land, both centered on law enforcement themes. She underwent extensive training in combat, firearms, and tactical movement to convincingly portray a police officer fighting human trafficking and fraud networks. The role demanded not only physical preparation but also psychological tension in confronting criminals.

Sources: VTV