Recommendations for all Genres
Inspired by an article from @Wandering_Queen titled Rising Stars: Actors/Actresses of 2020, we've created an updated list of rising actors who have made a significant impact this year. Our list includes some of the most talented newcomers who have caught our attention. Since this list is not very long, we would be grateful if you could suggest any deserving actors we may have missed. Please leave your recommendations in the comments below, and we hope you have fun reading our article. |
JOLIN JIN |
Mon: I first discovered Jin Jing in the drama Remembrance of Things Past, which has become one of my favorites. Her acting skills seriously impressed me. Later, I saw her hosting Youth With You Season 2. This girl is not only a talented actress but also hilarious. It was so much fun watching her on the show. Recommended works: Remembrance of Things Past, My Journey to You, AI, Born to Fly |  |
DAI GAO ZHENG |
 | Mon: This man is seriously the king of short dramas. He has already acted in almost ten mini dramas, which has gained him some popularity. But he deserves to be the main character in a full-length drama. His acting skills are too good to be limited to just mini dramas. Recommended works: |
ZHOU YE |
Mon: Zhou Ye is a promising actress that we all need to keep an eye on. She made her drama debut in Word of Honor (which I still haven't finished) in 2021. Her acting in the show impressed everyone. But I only got to know her this year from her latest drama, Everyone Loves Me. Her acting style feels natural, and she's definitely on a roll. Recommended works: Everyone Loves Me, Scent of Time, Love Me, Love My Voice, Word of Honor |  |
CHENG LEI |
 | awkward potato: I have to admit that Cheng Lei stole the thunder from Zhang Linghe in My Journey to You. As the second male lead, his portrayal of the cynical Gong Shangjue got me truly annoyed and yet fascinated with his character. Can't wait to watch him in the upcoming Legend of the Female General as he does have a knack for playing cold, powerful characters. Recommended works: |
LI LAN DI |
Mon: Li Lan Di's an adorable fluffball full of talent. Though she made her debut in 2011, it wasn't until her role in The Starry Love that she gained much popularity. For me, it was also the drama where I first discovered her. I enjoyed her performance in that show and thought she did an excellent job portraying her character. She has a new drama with Lin Yi, but I haven't watched it yet because I'm scared of the tearjerker tag. Recommended works: Angels Fall Sometimes, The Starry Love, Don't Disturb My Study |  |
ZHANG WAN YI |
 | awkward potato: I have to thank the casting staff of Lost You Forever for selecting Zhang Wanyi to play the main male lead because otherwise, I wouldn't have discovered such a brilliant actor! Truly a hidden gem, this man blew me away with his expressive acting. I'm glad he is receiving the recognition he's getting now. Definitely an actor to look out for. Recommended works: |
ZHANG JING YI |
awkward potato: This beauty is a natural at acting, portraying her roles effortlessly and making viewers fall for her (and become her fan). She may be a newcomer in the industry, but she gives off the aura of an "experienced" actress who's been working for years and years. Recommended works: |  |
WANG XING YUE |
 | awkward potato: Honestly speaking, I was taken aback at how young Wang Xingyue was when I first got to know his age. A fine, talented actor, I feel that his acting skill is pretty much on par with actors older than him. The way he carries a role shows the maturity in him, and I hope to see him grow into an even more amazing actor in the future. Recommended works: |
TIAN XI WEI |
awkward potato: I chanced upon Tian Xiwei in the drama Miss Cupid in Love. Initially, I was watching it for the second male lead, so I didn't pay too much attention to her. When I saw her again in New Life Begins opposite Bai Jingting, I adored her chemistry with him. I feel that she's able to create chemistry with her co-stars because when I watched Romance on the Farm, I couldn't help falling for her relationship with Zeng Shunxi. Recommended works: |  |
ZHANG JIONG MIN |
 | Mon: Jiong Min's a cute hidden gem that deserves more love and recognition. The first time I saw him was in Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me (which was not a great drama), but even though it was his debut, his performance stood out to me. Later, I saw him in Hidden Love and was impressed by his acting there. But his real breakthrough was Stay With Me, an adaption of Addicted. It showcased his talent and gained him a lot of new fans. Recommended works: |
SHENG WEI |
Mon: Like @Winchime once said, she's the empress of GL queendom. If you watch short Chinese GL dramas, you might have seen Sheng Wei in some of them. She's a fantastic actress, so good that I've even watched all her short ad films. I doubt we'd be able to see her play a lesbian female lead in a full-length drama, but let's keep our fingers crossed. Recommended works: A Tale of Yearning, The Vampires, Ye Mu, A Flower for Three Lifetimes |  |
THANK YOU FOR READING! SEE YOU IN PART 2! ᥫ᭡
A little hug before you go
Acknowledgments: Everything taken from outside of MDL is linked to its respective source. Source of the feature image can be found here. Special thanks to the editors! | Edited by: devitto (1st editor) |
