Liu Xiaoqing, 75, Plays Young Heroine Opposite Actor 30 Years Younger

Liu Xiaoqing, age 75, who recently played a grandmother in The Prisoner of Beauty, is back on screen in the vertical drama Jinxiu Anran (锦绣安然). This time around, the veteran actress is playing the female lead, taking on the role of a young embroidery maiden named Su Wanqing. The hashtag “75-year-old Liu Xiaoqing and 29-year-old male actor” shot to the top of hot search, but it was later clarified that actor Jin Jia is actually 45, which still leaves a roughly 30-year age gap between the leads.

In the drama, Su Wanqing sets out on a path of revenge after her parents are killed. Reclaiming the art of embroidery as her weapon, she seeks justice and finds romance at her doorstep. Liu Xiaoqing and Jin Jia have many sweet scenes, even kissing scenes under peach blossoms. Production reportedly leaned heavily on soft-focus filters to blur signs of aging.

Reactions have been, unsurprisingly, mixed. Some applauded Liu Xiaoqing for refusing to let age box her in. As the actress said so herself, “This is exactly the age to pursue my career!”. Critics, however, were more blunt, saying that watching a 75-year-old portray a much younger woman is too much. Others questioned whether it’s a move to generate buzz just like other short dramas with outrageous themes.

Interestingly, it has drawn comparisons to her past success. In 1995, at age 45, Liu Xiaoqing famously portrayed Wu Zetian from her teen years to her old age in Empress Wu Zetian, a performance that became a classic and earned her praise as a beauty icon.

Source: 小蘑咕制片厂