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| Li Landi's Glow-Up in Coroner’s Diary Wows Netizens: From Criticism to Comeback Queen |
Chinese historical drama Coroner’s Diary (朝雪录) has only just dropped, but it’s already climbing charts—shooting up to No. 3 on Maoyan’s mainland drama rankings, just behind Flourished Peony and The Narcotic Operation. But while the crime-solving plot is keeping viewers glued, it’s lead actress Li Landi who’s truly stealing the spotlight.
Playing a brainy, sharp-eyed ancient coroner (think forensic doctor in hanfu), Li Landi blends intelligence with elegance—and fans can’t stop raving about how good she looks. Beyond her performance, it’s her physical transformation that’s turning heads online. Yep, we’re talking full-blown glow-up.
From Criticism to Comeback Queen
It hasn’t always been this smooth for the 24-year-old actress. Rewind to 2019, and Li Landi was battling online nastiness after starring in Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty (梦回). Netizens were brutal about her looks—mocking her fuller cheeks and dubbing her “the meat bun face of costume dramas.” Some even gave her the cruel nickname “chubby actress,” as if weight alone defined her.
One infamous BTS clip made things worse. During a romantic scene with co-star Xin Yunlai, the classic “princess carry” failed multiple times. The actor couldn’t lift her, so the crew resorted to props and ladders. That moment went viral—and not in a kind way.
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But instead of retreating, Li Landi faced it head-on. She wasn’t overweight by real-world standards (reportedly 162 cm tall and 55 kg at the time), but she knew how the camera could exaggerate. Determined to flip the script, she quietly got to work.
The 18kg Drop That Changed Everything
Fast-forward to 2021, and Li Landi unveiled a brand new look in Starry Love (星落凝成糖) opposite Chen Xingxu. Reports say she shed a whopping 18 kilograms for the role. Fans were floored by her sharper jawline, refined bone structure, and the way her features just… lit up on screen.
It wasn’t just the slimmer face—her acting had matured, too. The combination of talent and transformation earned her a fresh wave of fans who admired both her dedication and artistry.
“All Natural, Plastic Surgery-Level Beautiful”
Now in Coroner’s Diary, Li Landi is on a different level. Viewers say her face looks “palm-sized,” with delicate contours, clear porcelain skin, and barely-there makeup that still glows under the period costume lighting.
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Her styling in the drama is minimal on purpose—simple robes, soft brows, a no-fuss bun—but the effect is timeless. Classic beauty with quiet strength. Netizens couldn’t get enough, with some even saying she looks “plastic surgery-level pretty, but all natural.”
And it’s not just about the looks. Her character—a calm, clever coroner solving gruesome cases in ancient China—is layered and compelling. She delivers a steady performance that proves she's not just a pretty face.
What’s also impressive? Li Landi’s transformation hasn’t been a one-hit wonder. She’s kept up the look across her other recent works—Love of Nirvana (流水迢迢) with Ren Jialun, and Filter (滤镜) with Tan Jianci. No yo-yo visuals here. Just consistent, healthy elegance that screams self-discipline and confidence.