When Divorce Becomes a Career Turning Point
Many Chinese celebrity couples once stood at the peak of fame, enjoying stable careers and public admiration. However, divorce often marks a moment where their professional trajectories begin to diverge sharply. While marital breakdown may briefly draw public attention, it does not determine an artist’s long-term relevance. For those who seize the moment to reinvent themselves and commit to stronger projects, divorce can become a turning point rather than a setback.
Michelle Chen and Chen Xiao: A Return Shaped by Role Choices
After marrying in 2016, Michelle Chen significantly reduced her acting workload to focus on family life, causing her career to stall for several years. It was only after the couple announced their divorce in February 2025 that she made a determined return to the screen with renewed ambition.
Her late-2025 drama Sniper Butterfly marked a notable comeback. Despite initial curiosity surrounding her pairing with a 19-year-younger co-star, Daniel Zhou, audiences ultimately stayed for her steady performance and a clearly defined character arc.
Chen Xiao, on the other hand, maintained relatively consistent momentum over the years with acclaimed projects such as A Dream of Splendor and Nothing Gold Can Stay. His more recent male-centric business drama, however, tackled a niche subject that struggled to attract mainstream viewers, resulting in weaker broadcast performance and limited public response.
Yang Mi and Hawick Lau: A Struggle to Reclaim Lost Ground
Since their divorce in 2018, Yang Mi has faced fluctuating evaluations of her career. A series of underperforming projects and three box-office disappointments in 2024 led to criticism of her declining form. Rather than retreating, she continued to experiment across genres.
Her 2025 historical drama This Thriving Land is widely seen as a turning point. With solid ratings and a more restrained, character-driven performance, Yang Mi regained audience goodwill and demonstrated clear improvement in acting depth.
Hawick Lau chose a more cautious path after divorce, focusing primarily on work in Hong Kong and appearing less frequently in major mainland productions. His last television drama aired in 2020, and reduced visibility gradually cooled his public profile. Past rumors involving Wang Ou also continued to shadow his career, accelerating his fade from the mainstream spotlight.
Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng: Different Speeds of Growth
Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng ended their short-lived marriage in 2021. Following the separation, Zhao Liying devoted herself almost entirely to work, selecting high-quality projects and expanding her role into production.
Dramas such as Wild Bloom and The Story of Xing Fu signaled her shift away from purely commercial “idol drama” roles toward socially grounded, complex characters. This transition helped her maintain strong industry standing in an increasingly demanding market.
Feng Shaofeng continued acting steadily across genres including war, modern drama, costume series, and mystery. However, his projects failed to generate strong public impact. His 2025 war drama Zhen Di was considered niche, further widening the gap in influence between the former spouses.
Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming: Stability Versus Setbacks
After divorce, Angelababy actively pursued television projects in an effort to reaffirm her acting credentials. While some roles reflected noticeable effort and growth, a series of controversies including her appearance at a controversial Paris performance by BLACKPINK’s Lisa negatively affected her public image.
With acting ability still a topic of debate and reduced industry support compared to earlier years, Angelababy has faced increasing difficulty securing new projects, leading to a noticeable slowdown in her career.
Huang Xiaoming opted for a safer route, maintaining visibility through variety shows while appearing in films at a moderate pace. Though he has not delivered major artistic breakthroughs, this strategy helped preserve name recognition. Rumors of remarriage and fatherhood with model Ye Ke drew attention, but Huang has refrained from public confirmation, choosing to focus on work while occasionally co-parenting with his ex-wife.
Wu Qian and Zhang Yujian: Public Opinion and Career Consequences
The case of Wu Qian and Zhang Yujian highlights how personal image can directly affect professional outcomes. The two met while filming Le Coup de Foudre and kept their relationship private until 2021, when they revealed they were married with a daughter. Their marriage ended shortly afterward.
Public reaction to the divorce was deeply divided, with Zhang Yujian facing heavy criticism over how he handled his private life during the marriage. The backlash severely damaged his public image, resulting in a prolonged absence from major television projects and no notable new works in recent years.
Wu Qian, by contrast, received widespread public support and continued to secure acting opportunities. Friends in the industry helped introduce her to variety shows for income stability while awaiting new roles. In 2025, the drama Liu Zi Mei proved successful both in ratings and critical reception, helping her reestablish momentum.
Sources: VTV