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| Wang Ziwen’s Top 5 Dramas That Prove She’s Got Range for Days |
Whether you know her as Wang Ziwen, Ava Wang or Olivia Wang, one thing’s for sure — she’s a scene-stealer. Born 28 February 1987, Wang made her acting debut nearly two decades ago in Cold Autumn (2006). Since then, she’s dipped her toes into just about every genre out there — from emotionally-charged family dramas to urban romance and even sci-fi madness.
In 2025, she’s still going strong, with a filmography that proves she’s not just sticking to one lane. If you’ve ever wondered where to start (or what to rewatch), here are five dramas that show off her acting chops across the board.
Never Too Late (2024)
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In this gem of a slice-of-life drama, Wang Ziwen plays Jiang Tian — a career woman who ends up demoted and sent back to her hometown Suzhou after ruffling the wrong feathers at work. She’s not thrilled, but things take a turn when she finds her family home’s been rented out… to a 60-year-old divorcee named Wu Jingfang (played by Deng Jie) who’s desperately trying to land a job in her golden years.
They end up working at the same design firm, and thanks to a twist of fate (and a bossy manager), Jiang Tian becomes Wu Jingfang’s mentor. What follows is a heartfelt, often humorous journey of two women from wildly different generations learning from each other — through shared grief, late-life dreams and second chances. A proper healing watch.
For the First Time in My Life (2023)
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Talk about generational drama! This multi-era tale explores motherhood and womanhood across three timelines — 1990, 2008 and 2020. Wang Ziwen stars as Lu Yuanfang in the present-day arc, a fierce career woman who discovers she’s pregnant just after her divorce. The catch? Her job is cutthroat, and she’s not sure if she can juggle ambition with motherhood.
Meanwhile, past storylines show Myolie Wu’s character Dai Sijin rebuilding her life from scratch after being abandoned in debt, and Tang Yixin as Chen Lanqing, who’s struggling with her overbearing mother-in-law. Each arc shows how women are constantly made to “choose” between family and self — and how they push back. Wang’s performance as a vulnerable yet resilient Yuanfang really sticks with you.
Healer of Children (2020)
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If medical dramas are your jam, Healer of Children gives you all the high-stakes hospital chaos — but with heart. Wang plays Jiao Jiaren, a woman who survived childhood thanks to a miracle doctor and decided to become one herself. Years later, she lands a job under that very doctor (Gu Lifeng, now hospital director), but it’s not exactly smooth sailing.
Surrounded by elite paediatric specialists, Jiaren struggles to find her footing. The drama doesn’t shy away from the hard realities of healthcare — the emotional toll, the ethical lines, the competition — but it’s also full of small victories and found family energy. Wang shines as the scrappy underdog who earns respect one patient at a time.
Three-Body (2023)
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Sci-fi stans, this one’s for you. Based on the world-renowned novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, this adaptation dives into cosmic conspiracies, alien contact and underground scientific cults. Wang Ziwen takes on the role of young Ye Wenjie — a complex character who holds secrets that could change the course of human history.
The drama centres around physicist Wang Miao (Zhang Luyi) and detective Shi Qiang (Yu Hewei) as they unravel the enigma of an organisation called Science Boundary. Turns out, Wenjie might’ve had more to do with Earth’s impending doom than anyone expected. Wang’s portrayal of Ye’s early life adds emotional weight to a show packed with mind-bending twists and existential dread.
Sweet and Cold (2025)
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Wang Ziwen returns to the urban romance scene in this low-key but emotionally layered drama. She plays Meng Haotian, a powerhouse entrepreneur with a sharp suit and even sharper tongue. But behind the polished façade is a woman still carrying scars from the past — both personal and professional.
Enter Leng Siming (played by Jin Han), the aloof but charming CTO of Lingzhi Group, who keeps bumping into her in the worst (and best) ways. A workplace romance with age gaps, emotional baggage, and plenty of misunderstandings? Sign us up. The chemistry’s electric, the banter’s top-notch, and the character growth makes it worth the ride. Streaming now on Youku.
From hospitals to heartbreak, space mysteries to second chances, Wang Ziwen’s shown time and time again that she can mould herself into any role — without ever feeling like a copy-paste heroine. Whether you’re after something deep and dramatic or light and lovely, there’s bound to be a Wang drama that’ll hit the spot.
So, which one’s going in your watchlist?