Hanoi [Vietnam], February 27: At 76 years old, Liu Xiaqing still amazes with her portrayal of an innocent young girl in romantic films. In particular, the kissing scene between the veteran actress and her co-star Jin Jia (30 years younger) sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media.
According to Ifeng , the short film "Splendid Serenity," starring Liu Xiaqing and Jin Jia, which premiered on February 25th, quickly became a hot topic on Chinese social media. In the film, actress Liu Xiaqing plays Su Wanqing, a young woman whose family is torn apart due to a false accusation. Thanks to her strength, intelligence, and resourcefulness, she overcomes adversity and, along with other women, revives the traditional art of embroidery. Alongside this journey, she develops a romantic relationship with Prince Jing (played by Jin Jia).
Liu Xiaqing appeared with a youthful look and innocent expression, with her eyes always wide open and a melodious voice, thanks in no small part to post-production editing technology. Besides her youthful appearance, the kissing scene between her and her co-star, who is 30 years younger, shocked many viewers and sparked a storm of comments on social media .
The majority of opinions expressed concern and bewilderment at the 76-year-old star's attempt to look younger, while others mocked and criticized the actress, saying she was too stubborn about playing young girls, taking on roles unsuitable for her age, and challenging the audience's patience. In addition, many netizens commented that the skin-smoothing and facial editing tools were still insufficient to erase the signs of aging on the lead actress or shorten the 30-year age gap between the two actresses.
Many viewers expressed their disgust: "Ms. Liu, please stop!"; "At over 70 years old, please don't try to play a young girl anymore"; "Liu Xiaqing is more suited to playing the male lead's grandmother"; "I got goosebumps watching it"; "The actors aren't bothered, but the viewers are"; "How much was the male lead paid for this role?"; "It's true that money allows you to bother the public"... There were also quite a few opinions suggesting that this was a gimmick by the film crew, deliberately creating a shocking issue to get more views and discussions - something many other short films also pursue regardless of public reaction.
This isn't the first time Liu Xiaqing has faced criticism for playing young girls. Over the years, she has consistently appeared in this type of role, comfortably acting alongside co-stars decades younger than her. Despite the wave of criticism , the veteran actress remains unfazed, having previously shared that playing characters in their twenties or thirties is perfectly fine. According to the actress, character development doesn't depend on age; what matters is whether the performance is authentic.
"Each role reflects myself, the character, and the times. I want to try any character I haven't tried before. So now, there aren't many roles that I feel I can't play, from old to young, protagonist to antagonist, to beautiful or ugly characters," the star confidently stated,
Liu Xiaqing began her acting career in the 1970s, leaving a strong mark through films such as: Empress Wu , The Burning of the A Fang Palace, Phoenix Fire, The Beauty of the Jiangshan, Hibiscus Town, and The Greatest Empress... She was once one of the richest actresses in China and won many prestigious awards. In 2002, Liu Xiaqing was imprisoned for tax evasion. After the biggest scandal of her career, the actress worked hard to revive her reputation starting from the smallest roles. In recent years, she has mainly acted in short films shown on online platforms.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper