Zhao Liying's Profile
- Full Name: Zhao Liying
- Native Name: 赵丽颖
- Nicknames: Zanilia Zhao, Zhao Xiaodao, Ying Bao
- Birthday: Oct 16, 1987 (37 years old)
- Height/Weight: 165 cm (5'5") / 45 kg (99 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
- Debut: 2006
- Birthplace: Langfang, Hebei, China
- Ethnicity: Han Chinese
-
Nationality:
Chinese
- Profession: Actress, Singer
- Language: Mandarin (Native)
- Active Years: 2006 – present (19 years)
Zhao Liying is a Chinese actress. She was born on October 16, 1987, in Langfang, Hebei Province, China. Zhao Liying began her career in the entertainment industry in 2006 and is currently an actress under Hesong Media. She is best known for her work in television dramas and films, and is considered one of the most recognizable faces in contemporary Chinese cinema.
Early life
Zhao Liying was born and raised in Langfang, Hebei Province. During her teenage years, she attended Langfang School of Electronic Information Engineering, majoring in technology.
Coming from a middle-class family, she once worked as an office clerk for a local company before stepping into the arts. Zhao Liying did not receive formal acting training, but gradually entered the industry through auditions and opportunities in television.
Career
Zhao Liying began her career in the entertainment industry in 2006 after winning the online talent competition Yahoo Search Star Game, organized by director Feng Xiaogang. Thanks to this achievement, she signed with Huayi Brothers and entered the television industry in 2007.
From 2007 to 2012, Zhao took on various supporting roles in television dramas. She appeared in Golden Marriage (2007), The Firmament of the Pleiades (2009), The Dream of Red Mansions (2010), and most notably New My Fair Princess (2011), where she played Qing’er. These roles gradually helped her make a mark in the television industry.
In 2013, Zhao’s career made a breakthrough when she starred as Lu Zhen in Legend of Lu Zhen, a historical drama about a female official of the Northern Qi dynasty. The success of the drama brought her closer to audiences in and outside of China. In the same year, Zhao appeared in the film The Palace (宫锁沉香), portraying a scheming Liu Li.
In 2014, Zhao starred in the romantic drama Boss & Me, adapted from the novel Shan Shan Comes to Eat. The drama achieved high ratings both on television and online, expanding Zhao’s influence to international markets.
In 2015, Zhao played Hua Qiangu in The Journey of Flower. The drama broke viewership records and became the first Chinese television drama to surpass 20 billion online views, marking a milestone in her career.
In 2016, Zhao took part in several major projects, including The Mystic Nine, Noble Aspirations, and Rookie Agent Rouge. Among them, Noble Aspirations garnered more than 23 billion views, bringing the total online views of Zhao’s works to over 110 billion.
In 2017, Zhao ventured into film with Duckweed, for which she won the Favorite Actress award at the Beijing College Student Film Festival. The same year, she appeared in Eternal Wave and starred in Princess Agents, which quickly became one of the highest-rated dramas of the time.
In 2018, Zhao starred in the fantasy film The Monkey King 3, released during the Lunar New Year. Later that year, she played Sheng Minglan in The Story of Minglan. The drama achieved high ratings and earned Zhao a nomination for Best Actress at the Magnolia Awards.
By the end of 2020, Zhao returned to television with the leading role in Legend of Fei. The drama aired on Hubei TV and Tencent Video, continuing into 2021.
In 2022, Zhao further cemented her status by starring in The Story of Xing Fu and Wild Bloom. Wild Bloom earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Magnolia Television Awards. In the same year, she was elected Vice President of the Hebei Film & Television Artists Association.
In 2024, Zhao both starred in and served as executive producer of the drama The Legend of Shen Li, which aired from March to April. She also appeared in the feature film The Unseen Sister, released in China in October and internationally in November. Earlier in February, she appeared in the comedy film Article 20. By the end of the year, Zhao received the AFA Next Generation Award at the 17th Asian Film Awards.
In 2025, Zhao appeared in the feature film We Girls (向阳·花), which premiered on April 4. The film grossed over 100 million yuan within six days and reached around 230 million yuan worldwide.
Fun Facts
- Nicknamed “Zhao Xiaodao” because her tiny face was compared to a fruit knife.
- Known as a “portable water pump” since she can cry on cue in seconds.
- Often wears gorgeous costumes in dramas, but off-screen she once dressed so simply that people mistook her for crew staff.
- Admitted she’s clumsy in the kitchen, leading fans to call her a “chef who might burn the house down.”
- Loves sneaking snacks into her long costume sleeves on set, and got caught by her co-stars.
- Tried yoga on a variety show and nearly face-planted, turning into a viral clip.
- Her round face inspired fans to nickname her the “walking bun.”
- When playing cold, fierce characters, fans joke it’s like “a kitten trying to act like a lion.”
- Famous for giving super short answers in interviews, creating the meme “Zhao one-word reply.”
- Once fell asleep in the makeup chair with her wig slipping sideways, and the picture became a “national tired mood” meme.
- On game shows, she often reacts a beat late, so fans call her “real-life lag.”
- Was caught using a microphone as a hand fan backstage, which later became a fan sticker.
Photo Gallery
