Cover Xin Zhilei becomes China’s third Venice Best Actress with her striking performance in The Sun Rises On Us All
Xin Zhilei becomes China’s third Venice Best Actress with her striking performance in The Sun Rises On Us All
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Recently, Xin Zhilei became the third Chinese actress to receive the Best Actress award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, recognised for her remarkable performance in The Sun Rises On Us All.
The Sun Rises On Us All, directed by Cai Shangjun, follows the painful reunion of Meiyun (Xin Zhilei) and Baoshu (Zhang Songwen), after seven years apart. It explores the sense of estrangement in the midst of modern urban life, and the ways in which people confront and recover from wounds of trauma, guilt and betrayal.
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Critics praised Xin Zhilei’s deeply nuanced portrayal of Meiyun. She conveyed layers of emotion with subtle changes in expression, holding the audience’s attention even in silence.
Now, after Gong Li for The Story of Qiu Ju (1992) and Deanie Yip for A Simple Life (2011), Xin Zhilei becomes the third Chinese actress to win Venice’s Best Actress, one of the most venerable accolades in global cinema. Yet before stepping onto this stage, she had spent more than a decade of quiet dedication, earning respect from both audiences and critics.
‘Late bloomer’ shines in Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace
Born in 1986, Xin Zhilei graduated in acting from the Central Academy of Drama. She made her screen debut in 2011 in the television adaptation of Painted Skin. Over the years, she took on a variety of roles in both television and film, with credits including Haunting Love, Brotherhood of Blades II, Mr. Right and Crosscurrent.
Although she entered the industry early, it was a long road before she gained widespread attention. In 2017, nearly a decade into her career, she joined the reality show The Birth of an Actor in the hope of reaching a wider audience. Yet at that stage she still lacked a defining role to set her apart.
Patience paid off. She eventually captured the public’s imagination as Jin Yuyan in the lavish palace drama Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace. Despite playing a villain, her commanding presence and finely wrought performance drew admiration and secured her a devoted following.
Never afraid of difficult roles
After Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace, Xin Zhilei continued to challenge herself across genres, taking on both lead and supporting parts.
In 2023, she attracted fresh acclaim as one of the three heroines in Blossoms Shanghai, the first television series directed by Wong Kar-wai. Immersing herself in the world of 1990s Shanghai, she studied not only the cadence of speech but also the elegance of movement. The series was both a commercial hit and a critical triumph, with Xin Zhilei once again lauded for her poise and artistry.
Above Xin Zhilei captivated audiences with her regal beauty and magnetic performance in Blossoms Shanghai
Xin Zhilei captivated audiences with her regal beauty and magnetic performance in Blossoms Shanghai
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Despite making strides in her career, Xin Zhilei continues to embrace a wide range of roles, both leading and supporting. In 2024 she left a strong impression in Upstream, starring alongside Xu Zheng. She shed her usual glamour to portray a devoted housewife, steadfastly standing by her husband through hardship and sacrifice.
She also appeared in The Unseen Sister with Zhao Liying. Here, Xin Zhilei delivered a striking performance as a pregnant woman struggling to survive on the border. Her portrayal captured the contradictions of admiration entwined with jealousy, and the shifting warmth and distance towards a sister long estranged. The audience found themselves torn between sympathy and resentment for the character.
Familiar face of fashion magazines, Chanel ambassador, collaborations with Estee Lauder and Montblanc
Beyond acting, Xin Zhilei is a regular presence in fashion magazines and on red carpets.
Most recently, Xin Zhilei graced the cover of Vogue China, September 2025, alongside some of China’s most celebrated stars including Song Jia, Liu Yifei, Ni Ni, Dilraba Dilmurat, Yang Mi, Zhang Xiaofei, Wen Qi, Ma Si Chun, Zhang Zi Feng and Li Geng Xi. Sharing the spotlight with such a constellation of names underscores her standing in China’s fashion world.
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Xin Zhilei is also a familiar sight at major fashion weeks. In July this year she attended Paris Fashion Week as Chanel’s Brand Ambassador, epitomising the maison’s spirit of elegance and timeless chic. The year before, she was the only Chinese representative in the front row at Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024. Alongside Chanel, she has fronted campaigns for Estee Lauder and Montblanc, and serves as a Brand Ambassador for Elizabeth Arden.
After years of persistence, Xin Zhilei has been rewarded with the ultimate accolade: Best Actress at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. Looking ahead, she is expected to continue taking on roles of depth and range, further establishing her place on the international stage.
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