In this era of turbulence in the entertainment industry, there is an unknown history of struggle hidden behind every name. Xin Zhilei's role as Li Li seemed to open a door to the past, allowing us to glimpse those figures who once desperately tried to squeeze into Jiangyuan Lane.
Zhao Liying and Yang Mi, these two outstanding figures in the entertainment industry today, their names are closely connected with Jiangyuan Lane, as if there are some unknown secrets hidden in them. Why are they trying so hard to squeeze into this seemingly ordinary place? What kind of inside story does Xin Zhilei's Li Li reveal?
Northeastern tiger girl Xin Zhilei stunned Shanghai in "Flowers"
When "Flowers", a drama series that brought together many Shanghai actors, was broadcast, the audience was fascinated by one of the actresses from the Northeast - she It’s Xin Zhilei. In the play, her every smile, every move exudes a bright and charming atmosphere, and she fully interprets the style of the landlady of Zhenyuan.
The strong woman "Li Li" played by Xin Zhilei seems to have walked out of the screen, vivid and three-dimensional. Netizens praised her for not only bringing her character to life, but also for bringing out the Hong Kong-style charm of the 1990s captured by Wong Kar-Wai's lens. That kind of aura with a tiger at heart makes people look at him with suspicion.
However, the efforts behind this momentum are rarely known. Xin Zhilei put in a lot of effort to play the role of "Li Li" well. Let’s talk about walking posture. You may not imagine that she actually learned it for three whole years!
Because Director Wong Kar-Wai likes to take back shots, he requires the actors to walk energetically and their waists and buttocks to coordinate perfectly. In order to achieve this effect, Xin Zhilei practiced walking in high heels every day, until she later felt that the high heels seemed to have grown on her feet.
In addition to walking posture, body posture cannot be ignored. Director Wong Kar-Wai suggested that Xin Zhilei learn dance, especially Latin tango, because this dance best reflects the feminine figure of a woman. So, Xin Zhilei started her dance journey again.
These seemingly simple exercises and efforts are actually not easy. However, after the TV series was broadcast, the audience spoke highly of Xin Zhilei's beauty and acting skills. At this moment, all the hard work and sweat paid off. Xin Zhilei was also surprised to find that she could be so beautiful.
In terms of acting skills, Xin Zhilei is not from a professional background. However, she relied on her in-depth understanding of the role and her full devotion to interpret the role to perfection.
This "experiential" performance method also allowed her to establish a deep emotional connection with the character. Zhao Liying has a similar acting style to Xin Zhilei. They both proved in their own way that actors with non-major backgrounds can also shine in the entertainment industry.
From sweet girl to white lotus in the shopping mall, the road of acting in the dark
On the screen last year, Zhao Liying transformed into Xu Banxia in "The Wind Blowing Pinellia", and she made people shine as soon as she appeared on the screen. That kind of big sister temperament is really different from the sweet girl image she created before. But you know what? Zhao Liying's ability to play Xu Banxia was all due to her own efforts and persistence.
I think back then, this drama was a hot potato, and no one dared to take it on or film it. But Zhao Liying had the spirit of refusing to admit defeat. She took the initiative to approach the director and impressed him with her firm words: "Even if the filming is not good, you can't let others not do it well." As soon as she said these words, she knew that she had already Be prepared to go all out.
In fact, Zhao Liying’s acting career was not smooth. As a non-major, she was left out in the early stages of her career. But she did not give up, but relied on her own efforts and step by step to get where she is today.
The role of Xu Banxia is more like a microcosm of her life. She saw her own shadow in this role, and also saw the hardships she had gone through in the dark.
In order to play Xu Banxia well, Zhao Liying put in a lot of effort. She deliberately gained weight to get closer to the character's image and completely bring herself into the character itself.
During that time, she attended events and even after finishing filming, she still had the domineering and cool feeling of Banxia. This "immersive" way of filming makes people have to admire her professionalism.
Although the production team, cast, and post-production of "Wind Blowing Pinellia" are not as good as those of some major productions, its influence, ratings and topicality after the broadcast are not inferior at all. Zhao Liying was also nominated for Magnolia's Best Actress for this drama.
Lost Magnolia, Xin Zhilei’s prosperous choice and Zhao Liying’s path of perseverance
When the curtain of "Flowers" came to an end and Xin Zhilei's Li Li image was deeply rooted in people's hearts, I suddenly realized why she chose this one among many roles. At the same time, Zhao Liying experienced another disappointment on the stage of the Magnolia Awards.
Zhao Liying, this actress has long been recognized as a powerful actress in the hearts of the audience. Her outstanding performance in "Wind Blowing Pinellia" has made her name closely connected with the Magnolia Award. Before the lottery, countless viewers were sweating for her, hoping that she could win the crown this time and make up for the regrets of the previous two times.
However, when the award list was announced, Zhao Liying's name did not appear on the list. At that moment, her loss seemed to penetrate the screen and reach people's hearts. Running with him three times and missing the trophy three times is a cruel experience for any actor.
But Zhao Liying did not indulge in the loss. She said calmly: "Keep running." These three words, like her tenacity and unyielding along the way, make people feel both distressed and admired.
At this time, Xin Zhilei suddenly became the focus of attention with her outstanding performance in "Flowers". This high-quality drama directed by Wong Kar-Wai and created by a top-notch production team has undoubtedly opened a new chapter for her career.
The battle for the screen, the battle between movie dreams and mainstream awards
At the beginning of the preparations for the movie "Jiangyuan Lane", the names of Zhao Liying and Yang Mi seemed to be closely bound together. According to rumors, in order to appear in this film, the two actresses would not hesitate to appear as a guest star or as the second female lead. Why are they so persistent? It turns out that behind this is not only a desire for the film industry, but also a deep yearning for mainstream awards.
The movie industry always has an indescribable attraction for TV stars. It represents a higher art palace, a broader audience group, and those dazzling mainstream awards. Zhao Liying and Yang Mi, these two actresses who have infinite fame on the TV screen, are naturally no exception.
However, just like a war without smoke, their "battle" has also attracted a lot of attention and discussion. Some praised their courage and determination, while others questioned their choices and motives. But in any case, this reflects from the side the desire of TV stars for the film industry and the recognition of mainstream awards.
Speaking of this, people can't help but think of the old artist-Li Xuejian. At that time, he received numerous praises for his drama "Hey Old Man", but he was unexpectedly defeated in the Magnolia Awards.
Faced with such a result, Li Xuejian showed extraordinary indifference and calmness. He admitted that awards are not the most important to him, but the recognition of the audience is the greatest honor.
Now, Zhao Liying has encountered a similar situation. After missing Magnolia, she may have a deeper understanding of Li Xuejian's state of mind at that time. Awards are, after all, a bonus rather than a necessity; the recognition and support of the audience is her biggest motivation to move forward.
In this battle for the screen, there are no losers and no winners. Because for Zhao Liying and Yang Mi, they have won the love and support of countless audiences with their efforts and talents. And this love and support is more precious and meaningful than any award.
