Tian Xiwei’s costume drama Where the Mask Ends (嫁金釵) has quickly surpassed 9,000 on Youku’s heat index since its premiere with a story that follows the “substitute bride” and “marriage first, love later” tropes. Yan An, who plays the male lead, has subsequently gained attention. The idol-turned-actor, who will turn 30 on October 25 this year, was born in Shanghai in 1996. He made his debut in South Korea in 2016 as a Chinese member of the boy group PENTAGON, serving as the group’s vocalist and visual, following a survival show by Cube Entertainment. After taking a hiatus due to health issues and seeing his contract expire in 2023, he chose to return to China to pursue his career.
In 2024, Yan An played Li Lun, a thousand-year-old demon, in the fantasy drama Fangs of Fortune, a role that put his name on the map. He followed it up with another supporting role in Veil of Shadows. What some may not know is that Yan An revealed during a livestream in 2025 that he had a benign tumor in his head. At the time, he was busy filming Veil of Shadows and further postponed treatment because he still had other work commitments. It was not until August of that year that he finally shaved his head and underwent surgery. Now, as he marks the tenth anniversary in showbiz, Yan An takes on his first major leading role in Where the Mask Ends, stepping into the spotlight as the male lead.
