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| China’s Top Drama Schools Just Picked Three Unknown Fresh Faces as No.1 — And the Internet Is Already Casting Them in Future Hit Series. (Credits: Weibo) |
China’s toughest acting entrance season has delivered a plot twist of its own. Three relatively unknown candidates — Li Xinyi, Lu Junhao, and Zeng Zi’ang — have each taken the top spot at the country’s most prestigious performance academies in 2026, instantly turning academic score sheets into entertainment headlines.
With looks already causing chatter online and no famous surnames attached, many viewers are calling it the rare moment talent may have beaten connections.
The results from Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy quickly spread across Chinese social platforms this week, where netizens examined every name, every photo, and naturally, every jawline. In an industry where people often debate access and fairness, three fresh names appearing at the very top has sparked curiosity, praise, suspicion, admiration, and the usual internet detective work.
At Central Academy of Drama, Li Xinyi finished No.1 in the Acting Department, ending a five-year run of male students topping the intake rankings.
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| Weibo/Lin Xinyi |
That alone was enough to grab attention, but her visuals also sent social media into overdrive.
With little public background available so far, users are now trying to piece together who she is, where she trained, and whether agencies are already hovering nearby like seagulls near chips.
On social media, Li Xinyi kept things calm and classy. In a short post thanking supporters, she reportedly said she was grateful for the opportunity, thankful to teachers and family, and hoped to keep learning.
In other words: while the internet was launching fan clubs, she was speaking like someone who still has homework due.
Then came Lu Junhao, who earned the title of this year’s overachiever after becoming what many online called the “double top scorer.”
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| Weibo/Lu Junhao |
He ranked first in the Acting Department at Beijing Film Academy, while also taking the top position in Musical Theatre at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Some people struggle choosing one course. He apparently chose two and topped both.
Originally from Wuhan and with no known entertainment background, Lu Junhao has become a talking point for another reason: he represents the possibility that newcomers without industry ties can still break through.
His reported social media message was modest, thanking examiners, teachers and supporters, while promising to work harder in the future.
A sensible response, though many netizens joked he should first explain how one person manages that timetable.
At Shanghai Theatre Academy, Zeng Zi’ang secured No.1 in the Acting Department, completing the trio now dominating trending searches.
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| Weibo/Zeng Zi'ang |
Official score details remain limited, but his name has repeatedly appeared on circulated admission lists, giving him immediate recognition before a single scene has been filmed.
Zeng Zi’ang also kept his online remarks brief, thanking those who encouraged him and saying he hoped to justify the trust placed in him.
It was measured, mature, and probably wise. The internet had already begun debating which historical drama costume would suit him best.
Fan reactions have been lively and split in every direction. Many praised the three students as proof that fresh talent still exists outside established circles. Others said the results were refreshing because none arrived with overwhelming fame or heavy publicity.
Some viewers simply focused on visuals, declaring that China’s next generation of screen stars has already entered the classroom. Meanwhile, sceptics asked for fuller score transparency, because no Chinese online discussion is complete without at least one spreadsheet.
Another recurring reaction was that all three top scorers looked “too camera-ready” to remain ordinary students for long. Comments joked that casting directors should wait outside campus gates, while others said drama schools may soon need security from producers arriving with scripts in hand.
Beyond the jokes, the 2026 results have reopened a serious conversation about fairness in arts admissions. If unknown candidates can genuinely rise to the top, it offers hope to thousands of applicants who train quietly without family connections or industry backing. That narrative matters just as much as any viral photo.
For now, Li Xinyi, Lu Junhao, and Zeng Zi’ang have not acted in a breakout series, walked a red carpet, or led a ratings smash.
Yet they are already being discussed like future stars. Sometimes the first episode begins with an entrance exam. Which of the three do you think will become the biggest name first — and who has main character energy already?