With a career spanning 15 years, Liu Xueyi’s journey in the Chinese entertainment industry hasn’t always been smooth. For years, the 36-year-old actor took on supporting roles in various dramas. Despite appearing in several popular productions, he was often the familiar face audiences recognized but couldn’t quite put a name to.
A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Liu Xueyi made his acting debut in his early 20s. As an artist under H&R Century Pictures, he went on to appear in several of the agency’s productions, from Noble Aspirations to The Destiny of White Snake. His breakthrough came with 2020’s Love and Redemption, also produced by his agency, in which he portrayed Hao Chen/Emperor Bailin, a major antagonist. The actor went on to create more iconic characters. He shaved his head to play the monk Wuxin in 2022’s The Blood of Youth and took on another villain role as Luo Zishang in the 2023 drama Destined.
Despite continuing to expand his acting range, Liu Xueyi spent much of his career playing supporting characters. He only landed his first leading role at age 31 in a web drama called Qing Luo. However, it was the 2024 historical romance In Blossom that marked a breakthrough in his career as a leading man. While his dramas have received varying success, such as 2025’s A Moment but Forever that flopped yet had a cult following, there’s no denying that 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year. He plays Lin Jinqi in Against the Current, now one of the year’s biggest dramas. With Tan Songyun already boasting a string of successful dramas, the drama is a particularly big win for Liu Xueyi. Meanwhile, anticipation is building for his upcoming historical drama Northern Wei Dynasty, which stars Yang Mi.
