As Serenade of Peaceful Joy 清平乐 ended its 70-episode run last night, the cast had written up farewell messages for their characters. Wang Kai expressed that he loves his character and would want to play the emperor again if there is a next life. Ren Min and Bian Cheng who were only 19 and 14 when filming the drama last year portrayed princess Huairou and her eunuch Huaiji. For Bian Cheng, the princess was the ray of sunshine in Huaiji’s misfortunate life. Ren Min likewise had a message about their tragic romance hoping that there will come a time when Huairou’s love can be accepted by the people.
Meanwhile, Maggie Jiang Shuying who played Wang Kai’s leading lady Empress Cao addresses the criticisms about her character in a thoughtful post where she opens up about her desire to become popular.
She says, “A monologue from an actress who just can’t get popular. Tonight, Qing Ping Yue ended its run, my company told me to write something as it wraps. Although I have always stubbornly thought that it’s best to stay quiet if you don’t have something good to show for. But… I’ll just write… I can’t be wilful.
In fact, I am inferior and pessimistic. These roles I have played have practically all been attacked. Can’t get popular has become synonymous to me. I admit that my talents are average. Every time I give my all to perform, maybe someone else can easily achieve the same. But I have quite a one-track mind, a silly stubbornness that refuses to lose or accept my fate. ‘The clumsy bird flies early’ and ‘practice makes perfect’ are words I have uttered in my heart countless times.
After Qing Ping Yue premiered and I first saw the comments on the internet that acknowledged Empress Cao, I was very happy. I even joked with my friends, “You see, Empress Cao is more popular than me.” When I said this, I felt proud because I am proud of the character that I portrayed.
At the same time, I also longed to be recognized…. This recognition is not simply about being popular or not. Since I entered the film industry, it was never about acting for the sake of the word popularity that is floating in the air.
But I say without reservations, my ambition is to work with the top production teams and strongest actors. But when it’s my turn for these opportunities, if there was a standard of measurement: Are you qualified enough = Are you popular enough. Once we equate the two, then that’s right, I am an actress who wants to be popular.
Since Qing Ping Le aired, there have been recognitions and disputes. I was once struck by an acting teacher’s comment, passionately thump your chest and act it out again. This time, I admit that I was indeed hurt by some comments, and once speculated whether these they just hated me as a person.
I can accept all the criticisms, but when I’m being bombarded for the things that I do best, I can’t hide my embarrassment and dismay. But I sometimes stand in the position of those who scold me and it doesn’t seem like they’re completely wrong….
For this reason, I was lost for a while. The more sad I became, the more fired up I was. After the darkest moment, there was still a desire, this desire to be popular, but it’s not just about being popular.
Goodbye to Dan Shu! But she will just be like an old friend who’s always by my side for me to care for and for me to worry about.
Tomorrow, is another day of riding the wind and waves.
Source: 1
Anonymous
I like how honest she is. Too bad nobody likes the drama despite it being Daylight Ent. No idols, no lovers.
It's not her acting or talent that is a problem but she is honestly not that pretty and as long as someone is pretty, they don't really need to act. Just look at some A-listers, some were not so pretty when they didn't get famous yet. They got famous only after they look pretty enough. And their acting has always been the same, talent isn't always everything in today's area.
Anonymous
I feel so bored looking at her acting. She has chosen some boring scripts. That's why. Not all the A listers are pretty, but they've chosen good scripts.
Anonymous
Daylight Entertainment show only do well when they typecast a popular idol in it. Wang Kai and the actresses don't have that star power.
jiminie
Wang Kai is actually a pretty popular actor. He may not be as well known as some other actors because of his works, but many of his dramas are very popular in mainland China. Also, he has been in multiple Daylight Entertainment dramas such as Ode to Joy, Nirvana in Fire, Like a Flowing River, and many other dramas. The reason why Serenade of Peaceful Joy may not have done as well as other Daylight Entertainment dramas is not because of the actors in the show, but the storyline, and other aspects of the show.
Anonymous
Recently:
Wang Kai speaks on the importance of luck as an actor, “You say you’re talented, hardworking, but there are many who are. (To make it) in our industry, it’s 70% luck, 20% talent, 10% hard work. Luck means opportunity, hard work is continuing that good result”
In conclusion, to be popular depends on luck. Weather a TV show or actor/actresses can become popular really depends on luck. You can market as much as you want, but if you have no fate with this luck to become popular, you will never become popular unless you engage in some unorthodox methods to change your life pattern. Obviously, these sort of methods will always backfire and cause harm to you later in life.
Anonymous
I saw WORSER Daylight Entertainment shows but they did really well and I'm starting to doubt now because rereading lots of commenters on Daylight Enterntainment shows, everybody sounded like it was written by the same person.
Anonymous
Thats extremely true, you depend on luck if you are an honest person.
There are some who cheats by using lots of water army fans tho.
Anonymous
I knew her because she was dating He Ge.
She seem had good backing in entertainment circle. Although her acting skill often been criticized and she is not popular, she is still being cast as female lead in many dramas with famous actors such as Hu Ge, Yang Yang, Li Yifeng, Jin Dong. She seem get a lot of good opportunity despised be a mediocre actress.
Anonymous
Then I'm nobody because I love this drama :)))…I like Jiang Shuying very much too, she seems very elegant and classy.
Tessie Afdo
That’s how I see her, classy, beautiful, talented, capable and a brilliant actress. She is a total package. I’ve seen almost all of her dramas and movies and I say, for someone who started late on this industry, she played different challenging roles and played them well. Her filmography is quite impressive. I think, she always sets a high standard on herself and she is her worse critic. Maybe, mostly because of how she was raised by a father who has a high expectations on her since she was child. But I love 5hat fighting spirit in her. And I like that famous line “tomorrow is another day” she always quotes to herself from Gone With The Wind after she’s done with her mournings from her inadequacies as she calls them. I wish she will be kind to herself also. I wish she will realize that she has potentials.
Lil
She should be very proud of where she is at. Many actors would trade place with her. She has gotten some big endorsement and good production with well known leading man.
ess
I loved her acting though, the drama was lackluster though
Anonymous
On the matter of "luck", I have always believed that to quite a large extent, a person "makes" their own luck by their attitude towards life and by their character and personality. What goes round will come round. Nothing just come out of the blue.
Anonymous
I only knew of her from Serenade. I think her acting skills is much better than many other idol type actors, who only look pretty. She is certainly not in that kind of category. As long as she is serious about her profession and continually improved her skills, she would do well. But of course she should be realistic and learn to be satisfied. It is a tough business.
Anonymous
I agree that people who are looking for fast action or fairytale romance or looking for idol actors won't be able to appreciate this drama. But i don't think you can say that nobody likes this drama, when it has been sitting in the top 3 viewing ratings for the vast duration of its broadcast. Sure, some of the technical aspects should have been done better, but that's no reason to thrash the drama. There are many other beautifully done aspects too. My friends and I love this drama too.