2024 has been quite the year with new breakout stars Li Yunrui, Ding Yuxi and Wang Xingyue. After waiting in the wings so to speak, all three have drawn considerable attention with their recent hits. No wonder they’re considered among the stars “served up the table (上桌),” referring to actors who finally gained widespread fame, hence earning them a place on the “table.”
From November to December Boyfriends
It’s a pretty good year for C-dramas with the recent consecutive hits. It can be said that Li Yunrui truly made his mark in the industry with the historical romance Blossom. Since his debut, the 28-year-old actor was just getting “warmed up” when he appeared in popular productions such as a second lead role in Love Like the Galaxy and a small role as one of the boys in the film Creation of the Gods. Heck he was an aspiring idol in the survival show Chuang 2019. But it wasn’t until Blossom that he truly got the chance to shine where despite the absence of high traffic stars, it has proven itself to be the dark horse of shows this winter, earning him the title December boyfriend.
Likewise, four years since his breakout role in the romantic series The Romance of Tiger and Rose with Zhao Lusi, Ryan Ding Yuxi totally stole the show with his “plastic surgery-like acting” in this year’s Love Game in Eastern Fantasy opposite Esther Yu again. The 29-year-old actor has gained followers, endorsements and has gone viral for his “fireworks” line on Douyin. He was definitely the man of the hour in November and many feel his newfound fame is well-deserved.
Last but definitely not the least is 22-year-old actor Wang Xingyue who has started out in supporting roles before garnering attention playing “wife stealing” characters such as 2021’s One and Only where he played a character obsessed with the heroine. Thanks to the drama The Double opposite Wu Jinyan, which aired early in the year and is easily one of the most popular shows of 2024, he’s firmly in leading man territory now.
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Arduinna
Happy for the three of them. It is nice to see that this year’s break-out stars actually have some decent acting skills unlike some of the pretty-faces in previous years.
The quality of dramas will definitely benefit if preference is given to people who can actually act rather than some talentless idols.
cdramawatcher
Yay!!! So happy for these three 🙂
Honestly Ding Yuxi has always been a very good actor, but he doesn’t get the best scripts so he can only do so much. In a way, he should have always been invited to the seat but he doesn’t come from an influential background and his studio treats him poorly, so he doesn’t get a seat at the table.
Wang Xingyue is pretty young (only 22!) so good for him for making it big at such a young age.
Li Yunrui was such a hearthrob in blossom and i can’t wait to see him in more dramas!
Can’t wait to see more of their work in the coming years ~