Yang Mi's Profile
- Full Name: Yang Mi
- Native Name: 杨幂
- Nicknames: Da Mi Mi, Little Fox, Zi Xi, Mi Mi, Fox, Xiao Mi, Fox Xiao Mi, Yang Qifa, Fox Fairy
- Birthday: Sep 12, 1986 (39 years old)
- Blood Type: B
- Height/Weight: 166.5 cm (5’5.5") / 45 kg (99 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Chinese Zodiac: Tiger
- Debut: 2002 (Actress)
- Birthplace: Beijing, China
- Ethnicity: Han Chinese
-
Nationality:
Chinese
- Profession: Actress, Singer, Producer
- Languages: Mandarin Chinese, English
- Current Agency: Jay Walk Studio (herself)
- Active Years: 2002 – present (23 years)
Yang Mi (杨幂), born on September 12, 1986, in Beijing, China, is an actress, singer, and television producer based in China. She graduated with a major in Acting from the Beijing Film Academy and currently works primarily in film and television.
Early life
Yang Mi grew up in Xuanwu District, Beijing, in a family where her father was a police officer and her mother a housewife. Her given name “Mi” (幂) was chosen to reflect the shared family name element of both her parents. She attended Xuanwu Experimental Primary School (which no longer exists) before later enrolling in the Acting Department of the Beijing Film Academy.
Career
Yang Mi began her acting career in 1990 at the age of four, appearing in the historical television series Tang Ming Huang. In 1992, she took part in the feature film King of Beggars alongside Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow. After a brief hiatus, she returned to the entertainment industry in 2001 as a commercial model. In 2002, she signed with Rosat Entertainment, and in 2003 she officially marked her professional acting debut with the television drama The Story of a Noble Family.
Between 2006 and 2010, Yang gradually built her reputation through historical and fantasy dramas. Her performances in The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006) and Wang Zhaojun (2007) earned her a nomination at the Golden Eagle Television Awards. In 2009, her role in Chinese Paladin 3 increased her popularity among younger audiences. In 2010, she appeared in The Dream of Red Mansions and Schemes of a Beauty (aka Beauty’s Rival in the Palace), showcasing her versatility across both period drama and commercial costume productions.
From 2011 onward, Yang entered a breakthrough phase in her career. Her leading role in the time-travel drama Palace brought her wide recognition on television and earned her an award at the Shanghai Television Festival. In the same year, she made her first major commercial film appearance in Mysterious Island, which became the highest-grossing horror film in China at the time. In 2012, her role in Beijing Love Story earned her the “Most Popular Actress” title at the China Golden Eagle TV Arts Festival.
Between 2013 and 2015, Yang expanded into cinema with the Tiny Times film series, which, despite mixed reviews, achieved strong box-office results. She also ventured into production with the web drama V Love.
In 2014, she starred in The Breakup Guru, one of the year’s top-grossing films, and headlined the fantasy action drama Swords of Legends, which ranked among the most-watched online series in China.
In 2015, she appeared in You Are My Sunshine, Fall in Love Like a Star, and the thriller The Witness. By 2016, her performance in The Interpreter contributed to it becoming the highest-rated drama of the year.
From 2017 to 2019, Yang consolidated her status as a top-tier actress. In 2017, she starred in the fantasy series Eternal Love, which achieved massive viewership across multiple markets. That same year, she appeared in the sci-fi film Reset, produced by Jackie Chan, and won Best Actress at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. In 2018, she played leading roles in Negotiator, Legend of Fuyao, and the art-house film Baby. In 2019, she starred in The Great Craftsman and also worked on Storm Eye and Thank You Doctor.
Since 2020, Yang has remained active with Eternal Love of Dream and several contemporary, medical, and action dramas.
In 2024, her project In the Name of the Brother was nominated at the Seoul International Drama Awards, underlining her continued international presence.
Alongside acting, Yang has been active in production. In 2014, she co-founded Jiaxing Media (Jay Walk Studio), which produced several popular dramas including The Interpreter, Negotiator, and Eternal Love. In 2023, she announced her departure from the company, marking a new stage in her career development.
Beyond film and television, Yang is also a familiar figure in the fashion industry. She has appeared on the covers of leading magazines in China and abroad, attended major fashion weeks in Paris and Milan, and collaborated with luxury brands, including serving as fashion ambassador for Dior.
Fun Facts
- Loves spicy food, especially Sichuan hotpot-“fiery on the tongue, joyful to the core.”
- Nicknamed “Little Yang” because both her surname and given name are “Yang”-a playful wordplay.
- Self-confessed “shoe addict”-her shoe closet could open as a mini boutique.
- Has a habit of writing poetry in her diary, sometimes with more rhyme than her film lines.
- Known as a “meme queen” online thanks to her expressive and quirky real-life reactions.
- Owns a pet cat named “Xiao Bai,” whom fans jokingly call the “real boss” of the house.
- A big fan of Japanese manga, especially the “One Piece” series.
- Colleagues praise her as the “Red Envelope Queen” for her generous New Year bonuses to staff.
- Once tried hosting a TV show but hilariously forgot the script live on air.
- Can sleep anywhere, anytime-even during makeup or while waiting for scenes.
Agency & Partnerships
Yang Mi was a co-founder of Jaywalk Studio, where she helped nurture young stars like Dilraba Dilmurat. In 2023, she left Jaywalk to establish her own independent studio: Shanghai Yangmi Film and Television Culture Studio, focusing on personal career growth and film production. She is the Global Ambassador for LOEWE (2024) and has collaborated with Dior, Estée Lauder, Michael Kors, among others.
Photo Gallery
