Yang Zi Criticized for Acting as High School Student
Yang Zi (楊紫), 30, and Fan Chengcheng (范丞丞), 22, started filming their new drama 199 Love <199 愛/又名十七歲你喜歡誰>. It is a coming-of-age story that follows a group of seven friends who meet during high school and experience separation and reunion throughout the years.
Since the drama announced the casting on December 29, Yang Zi and Chengcheng’s age differences have been a hot topic. Both will portray 17-year-old students at the start of the drama. Besides their obvious age differences, netizens find Yang Zi’s maturity to be unbelievable as a high school student.
Big stars such as like Liu Xiaoqing (劉曉慶), Zhang Ziyi (章子怡), and Carina Lau (劉嘉玲) have also been criticized for portraying drastically younger roles before. Netizens were annoyed that Yang Zi did not learn from their past mistakes and still agreed to the unsuitable casting. However, there are also some netizens who see Yang Zi as the perfect fit with her sweet and pure appearance–they believe that 30-year-old actresses are still capable in portraying many different roles.
Making her debut as a child actress in 1999, Yang Zi transitioned into adult roles smoothly and is considered one of China’s four leading fadans born in the 1990s. During her 24-year career, she starred in countless popular dramas, including Battle of Changsha <戰長沙>, Ode to Joy <歡樂頌>, Noble Aspirations <誅仙‧青雲志>, Ashes of Love <香蜜沉沉燼如霜>, and The Oath of Love <餘生，請多指教>. Her charisma led to her soaring status, and her acting has always been held in high regard. She is often paired with sold male costars, so her new dramas are always highly anticipated. Yang Zi has two other dramas waiting to air, Lost You Forever <長相思> and The Drug Hunter <獵毒>.
Source: [1]
This article is written by Kiki for JayneStars.com.
On one hand I shouldn’t be jumping into conclusion without seeing the trailer or stills of her portrayal as a 17yo. There are a few who have pulled roles much younger than they are in reality but majority have not. On the other hand I don’t much confidence in this.
Artists need to stay away from characters that they do not look convincing physically even after using makeup or other effects.
I think Seven Tan is able to do it convincingly without me feeling cringey. A few others I’ve watched just made me think they look unnaturally awkward, not only because they don’t look like one, but the portrayal isn’t convincing.
Sometimes it’s not because of looks cos these good looking actors/actresses may even look younger than an actual student with mature looks.
I will rather wait and watch the show before judging. I think she can carry the role well….
I also think it’s ridiculous to cast grown adults as teenagers, however, instead of criticizing actors who take these roles, we should criticize the casting directors who choose them and the fact that many scripts are written with female leads aged 24 and under. What are 30-year-old actresses supposed to do? Either they take these roles meant for people who are 10 years younger than them or get no work.
I am just wondering if this drama is mostly about them as adults but just potion on them as teens…maybe that is why the directors did not pick youngers actors to portray the teen versions. But I do not know…will watch and see. I hope this drama is not disappointing…