Chinese actress Li Keyi (Sylph) has emerged as the most dominant figure in the short-form drama market, achieving a record-breaking year by starring as the female lead in 29 productions throughout 2025.

According to Chinese media outlet 163, while actress Guo Yuxin initially drew attention with her short drama Summer Rose, which surpassed 3 billion views within just 18 days, year-end industry rankings ultimately crowned Li Keyi as the true “queen of short dramas.” In less than two years, Li Keyi has risen from obscurity to become what many now describe as a “new force” sweeping through the short-form drama industry.

Born in 2000, Li Keyi graduated from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. Her journey into acting began unexpectedly in 2023, when a friend invited her to participate in a short drama project. That single opportunity marked the start of her meteoric rise.

Li Keyi appeared in only one short drama in 2023, followed by eight projects in 2024. However, 2025 proved to be her breakthrough year, as she took on leading roles in an astonishing 29 short dramas. Many of these productions recorded between 2 and 3 billion views each, solidifying her status as the top actress in the genre.

Her most successful project to date is the series The 18-Year-Old Grandma Arrives, Restoring Family Glory, which amassed a staggering 12 billion views. The first installment alone surpassed 5 billion views, making it the most-watched short drama in the history of the Hongguo platform. Thanks to this success, Li Keyi became the actress with the highest cumulative view count in short-form dramas in 2025, as well as the performer with the most titles exceeding 100 million views on the platform.

Li Keyi’s popularity has surged rapidly across social media and streaming platforms. She currently boasts 2.5 million followers on Hongguo, making her the most-followed actress on the platform. She was also the first to surpass both 1 million and 2 million followers. On Douyin, Li Keyi has accumulated 4.85 million fans, ranking her as the most-followed actress in the short drama category.

Her commercial success has been matched by industry recognition. Li Keyi won the Short Drama Actress of the Year award from iQIYI and was selected in November 2025 as one of the Outstanding Young Actors at the Great Sea of Stars 2025 program. Chinese media praised her performances as “a rare blend of youthful energy and mature, refined presence.”

Despite lacking formal acting training, Li Keyi has earned praise for her natural acting style and remarkable adaptability. While she is often described as having a sweet and youthful appearance, she has proven capable of portraying cold, authoritative, and even elderly characters convincingly. Notably, she impressed audiences by playing middle-aged and elderly roles in The 18-Year-Old Grandma Arrives, Restoring Family Glory, despite her young age.

According to 163, Li Keyi is known for her calm and introverted personality on set, consistently showing a strong willingness to learn and improve. At just 26 years old, her composure and professionalism set her apart from many of her peers. The fast-paced nature of short-form drama production typically filmed within 7 to 15 days requires actors to quickly immerse themselves in their characters, a challenge Li Keyi has handled with ease.

With her delicate visuals, versatile acting range, and unmatched productivity, Li Keyi is widely regarded as one of the most promising new stars in Chinese entertainment. As the short-form drama market continues to expand, her reign at the top shows no sign of slowing down.

Sources: 163