Portraying women of resilience
Popular Chinese actress gets to know her characters through performing, prompting her to seek more diverse roles, Xing Wen reports.


"Crosscurrent made me feel for the first time that I could act, that I was slowly finding a place where I belonged. Acting became enjoyable," Xin recalls.
Since then, she has gained wider recognition through her roles in notable productions, including the film Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield (2017), the hit costume drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018), Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed TV series Blossoms Shanghai (2023), and the suspense film The Unseen Sister (2024).
Xin has always been perceived by her fans as a daring, ambitious, and powerful woman. She actively seeks out acting opportunities and never hides her desire for fame because she believes that it grants actors more choices in their careers.
"With more choices, I hope to take on a wider range of roles," she says.
In Blossoms Shanghai, she plays a mysterious and beautiful restaurant owner. Although not a native, she builds the most successful restaurant on Shanghai's Huanghe Road, deftly managing relationships with the local elite.
In the film Upstream (2024), she portrays a full-time housewife who, after her husband loses his job, suppresses her panic and despair to support her family.
In the recently aired TV series Good Will Society, she plays a neurosurgeon who is calm and professional in the operating room and also humorous and straightforward in her personal life.
Through these diverse roles, Xin has deepened her understanding of women's strength and resilience.
"Through the process of shaping a character, I gradually bring the role to life with every small effort I make. It's only when I complete the role and present it to the audience that I understand who she is. This process is like building with Lego blocks: piece by piece, the character takes shape. Over the past two or three years, I've enjoyed it more," says Xin.
In the Chinese adaptation of Prima Facie, Xin has a favorite line that resonates deeply with her: "In my heart, there has always been a courageous girl. If I were to shrink back, I would lose her."
When asked what characteristics she values the most in herself, she answers without hesitation: "Courage, perseverance, and kindness."
