Veteran Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing is once again at the center of public debate after appearing in a romantic kiss scene with a male co-star 30 years her junior in her latest project. The scene has sparked intense online discussion, with many viewers questioning her continued portrayal of significantly younger characters.
According to Sina, Liu Xiaoqing plays a woman in her 30s in the new production. In one pivotal moment, her character argues with the male lead before resolving their misunderstanding through an intimate kiss. However, once audiences learned the actual age gap between the two actors, criticism quickly followed. Many netizens argued that the casting created discomfort rather than romance.
Online comments ranged from sarcastic to harsh. Some questioned whether the scene could be considered an “occupational hazard” for the younger actor, joking about having to film a kiss with someone old enough to be his mother. Others suggested that while Liu Xiaoqing may enjoy playing youthful roles, romantic scenes of this intensity felt excessive and inappropriate. A number of viewers also criticized her performance style in the scene, calling it exaggerated and awkward.
The short drama, titled Jin Xiu An Ran, has also faced criticism for reportedly relying heavily on beauty filters to smooth the 76-year-old actress’s skin and create a more youthful appearance. Despite digital enhancements, viewers noted that her eyes and facial features still reveal signs of aging that special effects cannot fully conceal.
In recent years, Liu Xiaoqing has become increasingly active in short-form dramas. Prior to this project, she starred in Meng Bao Zhu Gong: Wu Shi Sui Hun Chong, where she was paired romantically with 37-year-old actor Geng Dayong. The large age gap once again became a talking point among viewers.
This is not the first time Liu Xiaoqing has drawn backlash for portraying characters far younger than her real age. In 2023, she surprised audiences by playing an 18-year-old guerrilla fighter in Ice Sniper 2. Filming reportedly began when she was already in her late 60s, yet she took on the role of a teenage girl who becomes the daughter of a notorious bandit and later leads a resistance force after her father’s death. Notably, the actor who played her father was 12 years younger than her, and she also performed romantic scenes with another co-star 17 years her junior.
The casting decisions triggered strong negative reactions. Many viewers accused both the production team and the actress of underestimating audience perception, arguing that visible cosmetic procedures and mature features made it difficult to accept her as an innocent teenage character. The film ultimately performed poorly, receiving a low rating of 3.0 out of 10 on Douban, and some critics even called for Liu Xiaoqing to step back from the spotlight.
Similar controversy occurred in 2014 when she portrayed a 16-year-old girl in Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties 3, acting opposite Zheng Guolin, who was 21 years younger than her. At the time, she was already over 60.
Despite the recent backlash, Liu Xiaoqing remains one of the most iconic figures in Chinese entertainment. According to QQ, she has starred in numerous classic productions and is widely regarded as one of the most memorable portrayals of Empress Wu Zetian in television history. However, in recent years, her reputation has increasingly been overshadowed by debates surrounding her insistence on playing youthful roles and engaging in age-gap romances on screen.
Whether audiences will eventually accept her artistic choices or continue to reject them remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Liu Xiaoqing continues to generate headlines with every new role she takes on.
Sources: K14
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