Chinese actress Li Yitong is once again facing criticism following the disappointing reception of her latest historical drama, The Legend of Rosy Clouds. Despite consistently landing leading roles in major productions over the past decade, the actress has struggled to translate those opportunities into lasting popularity.
According to Chinese media outlet QQ, Li Yitong has become one of the entertainment industry’s most well-supported actresses whose career has yet to produce a true breakout success.
Although The Legend of Rosy Clouds features a recognizable cast, including Li Yitong, Deng Wei, and Zeng Shunxi, the drama has failed to generate significant buzz among viewers. The series currently holds a 3.8/10 rating on Douban, surprising many fans given the anticipation surrounding its release. Critics have pointed to its predictable storyline, arguing that the plot repeats familiar tropes commonly found in historical romance dramas without offering anything fresh.
Li Yitong has also become a focal point of the criticism. Many viewers feel that both her styling and acting resemble performances from her previous projects, making the character feel repetitive rather than distinctive. Some also believe the 36-year-old actress has outgrown the type of bubbly, innocent heroine she continues to portray. They argue that her exaggerated facial expressions and cute mannerisms now appear forced and formulaic instead of natural.
As a result, many online comments have attributed part of the drama’s disappointing performance to its leading actress.
QQ noted that Li Yitong began acting in 2015 and was immediately cast as the female lead in her debut drama, Demon Girl. Since then, she has accumulated an impressive list of starring roles in major productions, including The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Bloody Romance, Royal Nirvana, Sword Dynasty, Go Go Squid 2: Dt.Appledog’s Time, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Knock Out, The Knockout, A Dream Within a Dream, Heroic Legend and numerous other adaptations of popular novels.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with many of China’s biggest stars, including Yang Yang, Li Xian, Deng Lun, Chen Jianbin, and Lu Yi. However, as the commercial performance of her recent dramas has declined, her co-stars have gradually shifted from top-tier A-list actors to rising younger performers such as Deng Wei and Liu Yuning.
Chinese media pointed to The Knockout (2023) as the clearest example of Li Yitong’s unusual career trajectory. The crime drama became China’s biggest television phenomenon of 2023, dominating ratings, generating enormous online discussion, and reportedly averaging around 200 million views per episode. It is widely regarded as one of the country’s most successful television dramas in recent years.
The series significantly boosted the careers of several supporting cast members, with some becoming overnight stars thanks to the show’s popularity. However, according to QQ, Li Yitong failed to experience the same career breakthrough despite serving as the female lead. The outlet bluntly commented: “If even The Knockout couldn’t make audiences truly remember Li Yitong, perhaps she’ll never become an A-list star.”
Despite the harsh criticism, Li Yitong remains one of China’s busiest actresses, with numerous leading roles and upcoming projects still on her schedule.
Whether she can eventually find the defining role that changes public perception remains to be seen. For now, however, The Legend of Rosy Clouds has reignited discussions about why an actress with abundant resources, major productions, and high-profile co-stars has yet to establish herself among the industry’s biggest stars.
Sources: Znews
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