Zhao Liying Wins Best Actress at Feitian Awards: A Triumph After Years of Near Misses

Zhao Liying recently made headlines by winning the Feitian Award for Best Actress for her performance in Wild Bloom. Her victory was met with widespread celebration, as her nominations for two dramas—The Story of Xing Fu and Wild Bloom—had already positioned her as a strong contender.

Journey from Humble Beginnings

Zhao Liying’s journey to this recognition was far from easy. Despite not having a formal acting background, she worked her way up from humble beginnings to become one of China’s top stars, often dubbed a “TV ratings queen” due to her many hit dramas. However, Zhao’s success has been accompanied by several near-misses when it comes to acting awards. Although she won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress in the past, it’s widely known that she has yet to bring home the Magnolia Award. The 36-year-old actress has been nominated three times but has never won, with her first major snub occurring during the hype around The Journey of Flower. Her subsequent nominations for The Story of Minglan and Wild Bloom also ended in disappointment.

They Didn’t Prepare an Acceptance Speech

However, Zhao Liying’s hard work finally paid off when she took home the Feitian Award in 2024. “I never thought something this good would happen to me,” she said, moved to tears as she thanked her everyone, emphasizing that the award wasn’t just her personal honor, but the recognition of the entire crew’s efforts. The actress also revealed she hadn’t prepared an acceptance speech, sharing that she always believed in a line her character Xu Banxia from Wild Bloom would say: “‘I never make a wish, because things don’t go as planned.’ But my wish came true today.” Many found it amusing that both the Best Actor and Best Actress winners hadn’t prepared speeches. Lei Jiayin, who won Best Actor for A Lifelong Journey, admitted, “I really didn’t feel any pressure. I just wanted to present the award and leave. I didn’t even prepare a speech for winning.”

Spotlight on the “85 Flowers”

Many eyes are now on the “85 Flowers” (85花)—a term used for actresses born in the mid-80s who dominate Chinese entertainment. Tang Yan, a fellow 85 Flower, was also nominated for Best Actress for her role in Blossoms Shanghai, but ultimately lost to Zhao Liying. Nonetheless, as these actresses have already proven their popularity from decades in the industry, it seems they’ll return with even better works to critical acclaim.

Photos: Zhao Li Ying / Weibo