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| Yang Mi (Photo: iQIYI Screaming Night) |
Big news in China’s entertainment world: Yang Mi, one of the country's top actresses, has been confirmed to star in veteran director Zhang Yimou’s upcoming film Silent Awakening. Sounds like a huge step, right?
But here’s the twist: despite Yang Mi’s massive popularity and reputation as a “ratings queen” in Chinese television, she’ll be playing only a supporting role.
Fans were taken aback, given her commercial pull, especially when you consider her past in leading roles.
This isn’t the first time Yang Mi’s found herself in the supporting lane for film projects, and it raises the question of whether there's an unspoken hierarchy at play within China’s entertainment industry.
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| Silent Awakening (Weibo) |
Drama Stars: Big TV Success, Smaller Film Impact
Yang Mi isn’t the only drama star facing this kind of struggle. Zhao Liying, another highly popular actress who made waves in dramas like Princess Agents and Legend of Shenli, also hit a bump when transitioning to film.
Her movie We Girls may have briefly topped the box office, but it ultimately grossed a mere 6.33 million yuan, far short of its 1.8 billion yuan target. Critics pointed to her character being “flat” and “emotionally lacking.”
A similar fate befell Xiao Zhan, the breakout star from The Untamed. His film The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants saw a promising 100 million yuan in pre-sales, but its final box office tally came to 667 million yuan.
Despite his popularity, some viewers felt his idol image overshadowed his acting, and critics slammed the movie’s underdeveloped characters.
Traffic Stars vs. Film Actors
So, what’s going on here? Popular drama stars like Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, and Xiao Zhan are often labelled as “traffic stars”—celebrities who gained fame more for their social media presence and online popularity than their acting chops.
While many of these stars possess undeniable talent, they’re often viewed by the more conservative circles of the film industry as nothing more than box-office draws.
On the flip side, veteran film actors like Zhang Jiayi, Yu Hewei, and Wang Qianyuan are revered within the film world for their nuanced roles in socially-driven or festival-type films.
But when they try their hand at mainstream dramas or online series, they often come across as "too theatrical" for the format, receiving criticism for overacting.
For instance, Wang Qianyuan, winner of the prestigious Golden Horse Award, faced backlash for his performance in the TV series The Knockout.
Viewers argued his film-style acting was too intense for a small-screen drama, showcasing just how different the expectations are across these platforms.
Short Drama Stars: The New Divide
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Recently, short dramas—quick vertical series that run for brief episodes—have exploded on platforms like Kuaishou, Douyin, and WeTV.
These quick-hit shows attract younger audiences and go viral in the blink of an eye. However, the actors involved in these series rarely gain recognition in mainstream media.
Despite amassing millions of views and followers, their acting credentials are often dismissed due to their “lack of stage experience.”
The stigma against short drama actors is real. Even though these performers work just as hard to build characters, they are seen as more like content creators than seasoned actors, struggling to break into long-form dramas or films.
Meanwhile, short drama productions are often neglected by award bodies, leaving these actors stuck in a content creation cycle with no clear path to mainstream recognition.
The Role of Market Forces and Viewing Habits
Interestingly, despite the dominance of streaming platforms like iQIYI and Tencent Video, most Chinese viewers still tune in to TV dramas on traditional channels.
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| Weibo/iQIYI/Xiahongshu |
This is why an actor's success on digital platforms doesn’t always translate into broad recognition. National audiences are far more familiar with stars who appear on prime-time TV, not just on their phones or tablets.
On the other hand, international viewers watching Chinese dramas on platforms like Netflix, Viki, or YouTube tend to favour actors from genres like fantasy, xianxia, and idol dramas, which often create a gap in recognition between domestic and international markets.
This, in turn, affects these actors’ opportunities in the film industry.
A Divide That’s Changing Slowly
The gap between TV drama stars, film actors, and even short drama stars is beginning to shift, though slowly.
Streaming platforms are now producing exclusive films where drama stars and film directors collaborate more closely.
Younger viewers are also more willing to accept diverse acting styles, provided the story is strong and well-produced.
Independent filmmakers are now tapping into talent from the short drama world, thanks to the digital age’s rise.
With proper support from agencies and producers, short drama stars could eventually earn their place in the wider film and television landscape. But it’ll take time to overcome the deep-rooted stigma.
Is This Divide Unique to China?
It’s not just China dealing with this hierarchy. South Korea, India, and even Hollywood have had their own battles between television and film actors.
In the US, TV actors often struggle to secure major film roles despite stellar performances in series. South Korea is starting to blur the lines between drama and film, but there's still a perception that film is the ultimate acting destination.
That said, China’s entertainment industry is unique in its intensity and stratification, with a marked divide between traditional TV stars, movie actors, and the rapidly emerging short drama scene.
The increasing dominance of social media, along with the growing appeal of digital platforms, has only made this divide more noticeable.
Conclusion: Let’s Move Beyond Labels
At the end of the day, acting is acting. Whether you’re in a TV drama, a film, or a short series, the skill to bring a character to life should be recognised across all mediums.
The Chinese entertainment industry, and the global industry at large, needs to start evaluating talent on merit, not on platform or format.
Otherwise, countless talented actors will remain confined to the labels of their current success, unable to break through to broader recognition simply because of outdated industry expectations. It’s time to tear down those walls and let talent shine through – no matter where they come from.