Having both talent and beauty does not always guarantee a drama will become a hit. These actresses have all found themselves caught in disappointing performances at the box office or on streaming platforms despite landing major projects.
Having a popular source novel or being paired with a top male star is not necessarily a “golden ticket” to success. In reality, the drama records of actresses such as Bao Shang’en, Zhuang Dafei, and Li Yitong have fluctuated considerably, while Ren Min’s The Rise of Ning and Li Yitong’s A Dream within a Dream have delivered much stronger viewing figures. Recently, Sina compiled a list of nine actresses who have become the subject of heated discussion among Chinese netizens over whether they can truly “carry” a drama.
1. Li Yitong
Since entering the entertainment industry, Li Yitong has frequently taken leading female roles, worked with numerous popular male actors, and appeared in many high-budget productions. However, although A Dream within a Dream averaged around 25.95 million online views per episode and Sword and Beloved averaged 14.52 million, her recent projects have yet to establish her as a major breakout star. In particular, The Legend of Rosy Clouds averaged only around 3.38 million views per episode. These figures have prompted renewed questions about Li Yitong’s ability to carry a drama, as she has advantages in terms of appearance, acting ability, co-stars, and production resources but has yet to find a project capable of pushing her to another level.
2. Bao Shang’en
Bao Shang’en has recently been cast as the female lead in several adaptations of popular novels, including Never-Ending Summer, Generation to Generation, and Youthful Glory. However, the performances of these productions have not fully matched the popularity of their source material. The three dramas averaged approximately 4.42 million, 9.3 million, and 8.71 million online views per episode, respectively.
These results have led to questions about Bao Shang’en’s ability to carry a drama. Although she has been given numerous opportunities in leading roles, her performances have yet to leave a sufficiently strong impression on some viewers, particularly when compared with the enormous popularity of the original novels.
3. Zhuang Dafei
Zhuang Dafei attracted considerable attention after being chosen to star opposite Xiao Zhan in Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, while she also impressed viewers as the female lead in You Are Desire. However, her recent projects have failed to generate momentum comparable to the popularity of their source material. You Are Desire averaged approximately 8.27 million views per episode, while Eat Run Love averaged only 4.16 million. These figures suggest that Zhuang Dafei’s individual appeal and ability to carry a drama have yet to truly stand out, despite her opportunities to appear in several highly anticipated projects.
4. Zhong Chuxi
Zhong Chuxi attracted major attention after Youth, while her striking appearance, fashion credentials, and collaborations with numerous famous male actors have given her plenty of advantages. However, the performance of her television dramas has been highly inconsistent. Born to Run averaged approximately 16.79 million views per episode, while Rising with the Wind and Begin Again averaged only 6.49 million and 3.76 million, respectively. Although some of her projects have received relatively decent reviews, Zhong Chuxi has yet to maintain strong momentum over an extended period, leaving her ability to carry a drama below expectations.
5. Hu Bingqing
Hu Bingqing first attracted attention through The Whirlwind Girl and Unrequited Love, but her career subsequently failed to maintain the momentum many expected. Unrequited Love averaged around 11.75 million views per episode, while Insect Totem and Under the Moonlight recorded only 4.3 million and 1.86 million, respectively. Notably, even though Under the Moonlight received relatively positive reviews, its audience numbers remained low. This suggests that Hu Bingqing’s acting and individual appeal have not been strong enough to guarantee the commercial performance of a project.
6. Victoria Song
Victoria Song once enjoyed a period of strong popularity with Find Yourself, but her more recent projects have struggled to maintain the same level of success. Fight for Love averaged approximately 10.21 million views per episode, while Our Interpreter averaged only 5.5 million. Compared with her peak period, the popularity surrounding her newer dramas has declined noticeably. Although Victoria Song remains a recognizable star, her ability to carry a drama and generate strong screen appeal is no longer as prominent as many expected.
7. Angelababy
Angelababy once enjoyed enormous popularity and was one of the most recognizable faces in Chinese costume dramas. However, her more recent projects suggest that her ability to generate buzz has declined significantly. Twilight averaged approximately 9.33 million views per episode, while Everlasting Longing averaged 7.95 million. If her dramas once attracted considerable attention simply because of her presence, her ability to generate heat for a project now appears much weaker. This has become another sign of the challenges facing her current position in the industry.
8. Shen Yue
Shen Yue made an impressive breakthrough with A Love So Beautiful, quickly becoming one of the most recognizable young actresses of her generation. However, none of her subsequent projects has surpassed the impact of her debut hit. Smile Code averaged approximately 8.25 million views per episode, while The Comic Bang reportedly averaged only around 370,000. The huge gap between the two performances suggests that Shen Yue has struggled to maintain consistent audience appeal and has yet to meet the expectations created by her early success.
9. Ren Min
Ren Min has long been praised for her emotional acting and attracted attention through Serenade of Peaceful Joy and The Longest Promise. Most notably, The Rise of Ning averaged as many as 26.49 million views per episode, proving that she is capable of starring in a commercially successful drama. However, strong viewing numbers do not necessarily translate into equivalent levels of discussion or star power. Despite repeatedly appearing in adaptations of popular novels, Ren Min has yet to establish a sufficiently distinctive presence to firmly prove herself as a leading actress capable of consistently carrying major dramas.
Sources: K14