Chinese actress Zhao Liying is reportedly facing one of the quietest periods of her career despite recently winning two of China’s most prestigious television honors the Feitian Award and the Golden Eagle Award.
According to Chinese media outlet QQ, the actress chose to take an extended break after her award-winning success instead of capitalizing on her heightened popularity with new drama projects.
Industry observers believe Zhao Liying’s situation reflects a broader challenge facing many actresses approaching their 40s: transitioning from romance and idol dramas to more serious, realistic productions while navigating a shrinking television market.
Zhao Liying’s remaining unreleased project, The Belief, has reportedly postponed its planned late-July premiere. However, the historical production features Zhao Liying only in a special guest appearance, meaning she currently has no confirmed leading projects expected to air over the next two years. The prolonged absence has fueled concerns that the lack of screen exposure could affect her popularity despite her acclaimed acting career.
The actress recently experienced back-to-back disappointments with two television dramas.
- In Human World was an experimental short-form drama that struggled to attract mainstream audiences due to its unconventional and difficult-to-follow narrative.
- Her subsequent drama, The Dream Maker, was one of the most ambitious productions of Zhao Liying’s career, backed by a substantial budget and an acclaimed production team. Despite the high expectations, the series failed to gain momentum. Television ratings steadily declined, while online viewership remained far below expectations.
The disappointing performance has led some viewers to question whether Zhao Liying still possesses the same commercial drawing power that once made her one of China’s most bankable television stars.
Now approaching 40, Zhao Liying faces the same career crossroads as many established Chinese actresses. The historical romance and idol dramas that helped launch her career offer fewer opportunities for actresses in their late 30s and beyond, increasing pressure to successfully transition into prestige dramas centered on social issues and realistic storytelling.
At the same time, Zhao reportedly faces heightened expectations from both fans and the public, making it increasingly difficult to select her next project.
Industry insiders note that Zhao Liying’s hiatus cannot be viewed separately from the broader downturn affecting China’s film and television industry. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 20 productions reportedly began filming every day at Hengdian World Studios, China’s largest filming base.
Today, production has slowed dramatically. Reports indicate that only three new projects began filming during June, reflecting reduced investment as production companies become increasingly cautious after a series of commercial disappointments.
The industry’s financial difficulties have also changed how dramas are promoted. According to reports, directors, actors, and production teams are now expected to shoulder greater responsibility for a drama’s commercial performance. In some cases, production teams reportedly purchase advance screenings or platform memberships to help streaming services recover part of their investment after a series premieres.
The challenging market conditions have made it harder for many planned productions including projects Zhao Liying has reportedly considered to move forward. Rather than accepting roles she finds creatively unsatisfying, Zhao Liying is said to be waiting patiently for a stronger script and a more promising opportunity.
The lack of quality roles for middle-aged actresses has become an increasingly discussed issue within China’s entertainment industry.
Veteran actress Hai Qing previously drew widespread attention at the Golden Eagle Awards when she publicly appealed to producers to create more opportunities for established actresses. She remarked that actresses in her age group often receive lower pay than their male counterparts despite delivering performances of comparable quality, highlighting the industry’s ongoing imbalance.
For many observers, Zhao Liying’s current situation reflects not only an individual career transition but also the broader structural challenges facing China’s television industry.
Sources: K14
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