“She smiles just to keep the peace, but her mood says otherwise,” remarked QQ about actress Wang Churan, whose facial expressions have become a hot topic across Chinese entertainment forums.
The year 2023 marked perhaps the darkest chapter in Wang Churan’s career, once celebrated as the “perfect replica of Liu Yifei.” Her highly anticipated collaboration with Yang Yang in the drama Fireworks of My Heart was expected to elevate her to top-tier status. Instead, it turned into a career mishap that triggered a landslide in public opinion.
The drama faced backlash for its outdated plot, and Wang’s character Xu Qin was condemned for being blindly in love and ungrateful to her adoptive family. Viewers didn’t just dislike the character they extended that disdain toward Wang herself, a painful yet common occurrence when audiences get too emotionally involved.
Things spiraled further as Wang Churan was accused of having diva-like behavior, acting arrogant despite being relatively new to fame. She was often caught rolling her eyes or glaring at co-stars, fueling rumors that she believed the spotlight was hers alone. Brands began severing ties, and she vanished from many year-end events—perhaps avoiding the cameras to escape further criticism of her now-infamous “death glare.”
Fortunately, 2024 brought signs of recovery. With roles in dramas like Joy of Life 2 and Are You the One, Wang began reclaiming her position. In Joy of Life 2, her portrayal of the beauty Sang Wen went viral not for her performance, but for a single unnaturally awkward smile that left netizens unsure whether to laugh or worry about her facial muscles. In contrast, Are You the One earned her praise for fitting seamlessly into period costume, embodying the ethereal “fairy-like beauty” often idealized in Chinese historical dramas.
According to QQ, following her string of image-related scandals, Wang Churan has made a conscious effort to change: less eye-rolling, more smiling. She explained that many of the photos people interpreted as her being upset were taken during moments when she was simply… spacing out. A hilariously candid excuse that, oddly enough, worked. Now, when she’s caught looking blank, fans joke, “She’s probably just empty inside.”
Since then, Wang has embraced a new rule: smile at all times. Cameras on? She’s smiling—albeit stiffly. QQ even described her current smile as “the fakest in the entertainment industry”, the type that says “I’m smiling so you’ll leave me alone.”
Still, Wang Churan remains one of the most visually striking actresses born post-1999. Her red carpet presence is undeniable, and her acting skills—though debated—aren’t outright poor, especially when the role doesn’t demand excessive emotional expression.
Up next, Wang Churan will return in two upcoming dramas: Hidden Shadow and Overdo. Here’s hoping this time, she’ll smile not to appease the audience, but because the character is genuinely loved.
Sources: K14