Sun Li: The Life Story Behind China's Beloved Star

Sun Li is one of the most beloved actresses in China, and she is loved for a reason that is simple and rare: she is honest. Her performances are natural, her characters feel real, and her life off screen is quiet, private and grounded. She does not seek attention, she does not chase gossip, and she does not try to be glamorous for its own sake. She works hard, she chooses her roles carefully, and she gives each one her full attention. Over more than twenty years, she has starred in some of the most popular television dramas in Chinese history, and she has become known as the queen of television. Her role as Zhen Huan in Empresses in the Palace is one of the most famous performances in Chinese television, and it is still discussed today.

Sun Li was born on 26 September 1982 in Shanghai, a large city on the eastern coast of China. She began her career as a dancer, and she studied dance before she became an actress. She was discovered almost by accident, when she appeared on television, and she was offered a role in a drama. Her first major role came in 2003, when she starred in Jade Goddess of Mercy, and it made her famous. She went on to star in Happiness Is Like Flowers, where she met her future husband, Deng Chao, and in Empresses in the Palace, The Legend of Mi Yue, Nothing Gold Can Stay and many other dramas.

Her story is about a quiet, hardworking woman who became a star without losing herself. She is a wife, a mother, an actress and a dancer, and she has managed to be all of those things at once. This is the story of how Sun Li did it, and what her journey can teach us.

A Dancer From Shanghai With a Quiet Dream

Sun Li was born in Shanghai on 26 September 1982, and her childhood was quiet and disciplined. Shanghai is a large, busy city, known for its trade, its culture and its energy, and Sun Li grew up in the middle of it. She was a thoughtful child, and she was not the kind of girl who sought attention. She liked to dance, and she showed a natural talent for movement. Her parents noticed her talent, and they encouraged her to study dance.

She trained as a dancer, and she learned the discipline that dance requires. Dance is a demanding art, and it requires patience, physical strength and a willingness to practise the same movement again and again. Sun Li learned those lessons, and they stayed with her for the rest of her life. She learned to use her body to tell a story, and she learned to express feelings without words. Those skills would later make her a great actress, even though she did not know it at the time.

While she was still a young dancer, Sun Li appeared on television, and she was noticed by people in the entertainment world. She had a face that was gentle and memorable, with clear eyes and a calm expression. She did not look like other actresses, and that was part of her appeal. A director offered her a role in a television drama, and she took it. It was not a big part, but it was a start, and it showed her that acting could be a way to tell stories, just as dance was. She began to think about a career in acting, and she decided to try.

The early years were not easy. Sun Li was young, she had no connections in the television industry, and she had to work hard to be noticed. She took small roles, she auditioned, and she learned from every job. She was patient, and she was willing to wait for the right role. That patience would serve her well, because the role that changed her life was still a few years away, and when it came, she would be ready for it.

Jade Goddess of Mercy and the First Breakthrough

Sun Li’s first major success came in 2003, when she starred in Jade Goddess of Mercy, a television drama based on a novel by Hai Yan. She played An Xin, a young policewoman who falls in love and faces difficult choices, and her performance was warm, emotional and full of life. The drama was popular with audiences, and it made Sun Li a familiar face in China. She was no longer an unknown dancer. She was a rising star, and her career was taking off.

Jade Goddess of Mercy was important because it showed that Sun Li could carry a long television drama, and that she could play a complex, emotional character. The role required her to be both strong and vulnerable, and she handled the challenge well. Audiences liked her performance, and they began to follow her career. She won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for the role, which was a remarkable achievement for a young actress in her first major part. It was a sign that she was not only popular, but also talented.

The success of Jade Goddess of Mercy was followed by other television roles, and Sun Li’s fame grew. She appeared in dramas that were popular with viewers, and she became known for her natural acting and her emotional performances. She was often cast as a kind, strong woman, and audiences loved her in those roles. But she was also careful about her choices, and she did not want to be typecast. She wanted to play different kinds of characters, and she looked for roles that would challenge her.

By the mid-2000s, Sun Li was one of the most popular young actresses in China. She had a large and loyal fan base, and her dramas were watched by millions of people. She was also becoming known for her professionalism and her dedication to her craft. She prepared carefully for each role, she worked hard on set, and she was respected by directors and co-stars. Her success was not an accident. It was the result of years of hard work, and it was well deserved.

Happiness Is Like Flowers and Meeting Deng Chao

In 2005, Sun Li starred in Happiness Is Like Flowers, a television drama set in the 1950s and 1960s. The drama told the story of a young soldier and a young nurse, and it was a love story that spanned many years. Sun Li played the nurse, and her co-star was Deng Chao, a young actor who would later become her husband. The two of them worked together for months, and they fell in love during the filming. It was a love story on screen and off screen, and it became one of the most famous love stories in Chinese entertainment.

Happiness Is Like Flowers was a success, and it made both Sun Li and Deng Chao more famous. The drama was popular with audiences, and it was praised for its emotional storytelling. Sun Li’s performance was warm and sincere, and it showed her ability to play a romantic heroine. Deng Chao’s performance was also praised, and the two of them became a beloved couple in the eyes of the public. Their on-screen chemistry was real, and audiences could feel it.

Sun Li and Deng Chao married in 2010, and they have two children, a son and a daughter. Their marriage has become one of the most admired in Chinese entertainment, because the couple is known for their humour, their honesty and their devotion to each other. They often appear together in public, they joke with each other, and they support each other’s work. Sun Li has said that Deng Chao is her best friend, and that their marriage is built on laughter and trust. That is a beautiful thing, and it is rare in the world of fame.

The love story of Sun Li and Deng Chao is also a reminder that a career in acting can bring more than fame. It can bring love, family and a partner for life. Sun Li found all of those things through her work, and she is grateful for it. She has said that meeting Deng Chao was the best thing that ever happened to her, and that their family is the most important part of her life. That is a lesson for anyone who thinks that success is only about work. Success is also about the people you love, and Sun Li understands that.

Empresses in the Palace and the Role of a Lifetime

In 2011, Sun Li starred in Empresses in the Palace, also known as The Legend of Zhen Huan, a historical drama about the Qing dynasty. The drama told the story of Zhen Huan, a young woman who enters the palace as a concubine and rises to become an empress, facing danger, betrayal and loss along the way. Sun Li played Zhen Huan from youth to old age, and her performance was remarkable. She showed the character’s innocence, her intelligence, her pain and her strength, and she did it with a subtlety and a depth that few actresses could match.

Empresses in the Palace became one of the most popular television dramas in Chinese history. It was watched by hundreds of millions of people, and it was discussed in homes, schools and workplaces across China. The drama’s story, its costumes and its acting were all praised, and Sun Li’s performance was at the centre of it. She won awards for the role, and she became known as the queen of television. The role of Zhen Huan became the defining role of her career, and it is still the role she is most associated with today.

The drama was important because it showed Sun Li’s range as an actress. Zhen Huan is a complex character who changes over many years, from a naive young girl to a powerful, calculating empress. Sun Li had to play that journey, and she did it with grace. She showed the character’s growth, her losses, and her transformation, and audiences believed her. The performance was not loud or dramatic. It was quiet, subtle and full of feeling, and that is what made it so powerful.

Empresses in the Palace also introduced Sun Li to a new generation of viewers. Many young people who had not seen her earlier work discovered her through the drama, and they became fans. The show’s success showed that Sun Li’s appeal was not limited to older audiences. She could connect with young viewers as well, and she could do it in a story that lasted for many episodes. It was a new chapter in her career, and it was a successful one.

Hot Mom, Mi Yue and the Queen of Television

After Empresses in the Palace, Sun Li continued to choose roles that were interesting and challenging. In 2013, she starred in Hot Mom!, a modern drama about a young mother who tries to balance work and family. The drama was popular with audiences, and it showed a different side of Sun Li. She was not only a historical empress. She could also play a modern woman, dealing with the everyday problems of life. Her performance was warm, funny and relatable, and it won her more fans.

In 2015, Sun Li starred in The Legend of Mi Yue, another historical drama, in which she played Mi Yue, a woman who rises from a concubine to become a powerful queen in ancient China. The drama was a huge production, and it was watched by millions of people. Sun Li’s performance was strong and emotional, and it showed that she could carry another long historical drama. The Legend of Mi Yue was a success, and it confirmed her place as the queen of television. She was now the actress that directors turned to when they wanted a strong, complex female lead.

The two dramas together showed Sun Li’s range, and they proved that she was not limited to one kind of role. She could play a modern mother, a historical empress, and a powerful queen, and she could do them all well. Her performances were always natural, always honest, and always full of feeling. That consistency made her one of the most trusted actresses in China, and audiences knew that a drama starring Sun Li would be worth watching.

During this period, Sun Li also became known for her professionalism and her dedication. She was famous for reading scripts carefully, for preparing her roles thoroughly, and for working hard on set. She was also known for her healthy lifestyle: she practises yoga, she eats carefully, and she takes care of her body and her mind. That discipline is part of her character, and it is reflected in her work. She is an actress who takes her craft seriously, and that seriousness shows in every performance.

Nothing Gold Can Stay, Shadow and the Mature Years

In 2017, Sun Li starred in Nothing Gold Can Stay, a historical drama about a woman who becomes a successful businesswoman in the late Qing dynasty. She played Zhou Ying, a lively, clever young woman who grows into a powerful and respected figure. The drama was a success, and Sun Li’s performance won her the Flying Apsaras Award and the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress. It was another major honour, and it confirmed her place as one of the finest television actresses in China. Her performance was warm, funny and emotional, and it showed a different side of her talent.

In 2018, Sun Li appeared in Shadow, a martial arts film by the director Zhang Yimou. The film was a visual masterpiece, shot in black, white and grey, and it told a story about a shadow warrior who takes the place of his master. Sun Li played Xiao Ai, the wife of the master, and her performance was calm, intelligent and full of hidden feeling. Shadow was praised by critics around the world, and it showed that Sun Li could handle a film role as well as a television one. She was now a complete actress, capable of working in different media and different genres.

The mature years of Sun Li’s career have been marked by careful choices. She does not take every role that is offered to her. She chooses roles that interest her, and she gives each one her full attention. In 2020, she starred in An Jia, also known as I Will Find You a Better Home, a modern drama about a real estate agent. The drama was popular with audiences, and it showed that Sun Li could still connect with viewers in a modern, everyday story. Her performance was natural and relatable, and it was praised by critics.

Sun Li’s later work has also included smaller, more personal projects, and she has continued to be praised for her performances. She is now in a mature phase of her career, and she is respected not only as an actress, but as a senior figure in Chinese television. Her opinions carry weight, and younger actresses look up to her. She has earned that respect through years of hard work, and it does not fade.

A Quiet Star, a Happy Family and What Endures

Sun Li is known for her quiet, private life. She does not seek attention, she does not appear in gossip, and she rarely gives interviews. She lives simply, with her husband Deng Chao and their two children, and she focuses on her work and her family. That privacy is unusual for a star of her size, and it is part of her appeal. Fans respect her for it, and they see it as a sign of her character. She is an actress who lets her work speak for her, and her work has spoken very well.

Her family life is a central part of her story. She and Deng Chao are known for their humour, their honesty and their devotion to each other. They often share moments from their family life with fans, and they do it with warmth and laughter. Sun Li has said that her family is the most important part of her life, and that her work is meaningful because it supports her family. That is a grounded, honest view of fame, and it is one that many people admire.

Sun Li is also known for her healthy lifestyle and her interests outside acting. She practises yoga, she enjoys calligraphy, and she takes care of her health. She has spoken about the importance of balance, and about the need to take time for yourself. That message is valuable, especially for people who work in high-pressure jobs. Sun Li shows that it is possible to be successful and to take care of yourself at the same time, and that is a lesson worth learning.

Today, Sun Li continues to work in television and film, and she remains one of the most beloved actresses in China. She is remembered for her performances in Jade Goddess of Mercy, Empresses in the Palace, The Legend of Mi Yue and Nothing Gold Can Stay, and for her quiet, honest character. Her story is a reminder that talent, hard work and humility can take a dancer from Shanghai to the very top of Chinese television, and that success is most meaningful when it is shared with the people you love.

The Preparation, the Health and the Woman Behind the Roles

Sun Li’s preparation for her roles deserves a closer look, because it is one of the reasons her performances are so good. She is famous for reading scripts carefully, for studying her characters, and for working hard on set. She prepares thoroughly, and she does not rush. For Empresses in the Palace, she studied the history of the Qing dynasty, and she thought deeply about Zhen Huan’s journey. For Nothing Gold Can Stay, she studied the life of a businesswoman in the late Qing dynasty, and she brought that understanding to her performance. That preparation shows in the final result, and it is why her performances feel real.

Her healthy lifestyle is also part of her story. Sun Li practises yoga, she eats carefully, and she takes care of her body and her mind. She has spoken about the importance of balance, and about the need to take time for yourself. That message is valuable, especially for people who work in high-pressure jobs. Sun Li shows that it is possible to be successful and to take care of yourself at the same time, and that is a lesson worth learning. Her discipline is not only about her body. It is about her whole life, and it is reflected in her work.

Sun Li’s work in modern dramas also deserves attention. After her success in historical dramas, she starred in An Jia, a modern drama about a real estate agent, and her performance was natural and relatable. The drama was popular with audiences, and it showed that Sun Li could connect with viewers in a modern, everyday story. She was not only a historical empress. She could also play a modern woman, dealing with the everyday problems of life. That versatility is a sign of a complete actress, and it is one of the reasons she has had such a long career.

Her influence on younger actresses is also worth noting. Many young Chinese actresses cite Sun Li as an influence, especially for her natural acting and her professionalism. She showed that an actress does not need to be loud or glamorous to be great. She needs to be honest, subtle and true, and that lesson has shaped a generation of performers. Sun Li did not only make good dramas. She showed other actresses how to act with honesty, and that is a lasting legacy.

Sun Li’s approach to fame is also worth mentioning. She does not seek attention, she does not appear in gossip, and she rarely gives interviews. She lives simply, with her husband Deng Chao and their two children, and she focuses on her work and her family. That privacy is unusual for a star of her size, and it is part of her appeal. Fans respect her for it, and they see it as a sign of her character. She is an actress who lets her work speak for her, and her work has spoken very well for more than twenty years.

Finally, Sun Li’s awards are a sign of her consistency. She has won the Golden Eagle Award, the Flying Apsaras Award and other major honours, for different roles, in different dramas, over many years. That consistency is the best proof of talent, and Sun Li has it. Her awards are not only honours. They are evidence of a career built on quality, not on luck. She is one of the finest television actresses China has produced, and her work will be remembered for a long time.

The Dancer’s Discipline, the Patient Star and the Roles She Chooses

Sun Li’s years as a dancer gave her something that no acting school can fully teach: discipline. A dancer practises the same movement hundreds of times, holds a painful position until it becomes natural, and learns to keep going when the body is tired. That training stayed with her when she became an actress. She is known for preparing her roles with great care, for reading scripts many times, and for staying with a character for months. When a drama takes half a year to film, that kind of patience is not a small thing. It is the difference between a performance that fades and a performance that lasts.

She is also known for choosing her roles slowly and carefully. While other stars take every offer that comes, Sun Li takes very few. She reads the script, she thinks about the character, and she asks whether the role is worth months of her life. That selectiveness means she appears on screen less often than many of her peers, but when she does appear, audiences pay attention. They know that if Sun Li chose a role, there must be something real in it. That trust, built over twenty years of careful choices, is one of the most valuable things an actress can own.

Her role in The Ideal City, a drama from 2021, showed that her careful way of choosing still works. She played Su Xiao, a cost engineer in the construction world, a woman who fights for honesty in a business full of shortcuts and compromises. It was not a glamorous role. It was a working woman’s story, full of meetings, budgets, and difficult choices. Sun Li played it with the same quiet strength she brought to her palace dramas, and the audience followed her. It proved that she did not need a crown or a palace to hold the screen. She only needed a true character.

Her awards tell the same story of quality over quantity. She is reported to have won the Magnolia Award for Best Actress at the Shanghai Television Festival more than once, for Empresses in the Palace and for The Legend of Mi Yue. The Magnolia is one of the highest honours in Chinese television, and winning it twice, for two very different roles, is a rare achievement. It means that the judges saw not one good performance, but a pattern of excellence across many years. An actress who wins once may be lucky. An actress who wins again and again has earned it.

Away from the screen, she is known for a quiet life built around her family, her reading, and her interest in traditional Chinese culture. She is reported to enjoy calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, which, like dance, demands patience and a steady hand. That interest fits everything else we know about her. She is a person who likes slow, careful arts, things that cannot be rushed. In a fast-moving industry, her slowness is not a weakness. It is a choice, and it is the choice that has kept her work honest for more than twenty years.

My Take:

Sun Li is the actress I think about when someone asks me what a good life looks like. Most people think that a good life means fame, money and success, but Sun Li’s story shows that a good life is also about balance, family and honesty. She is one of the most famous actresses in China, but she lives quietly, she takes care of her health, and she puts her family first. That is a rare combination, and it is one that I admire very much.

What I like most about Sun Li is her naturalness. When she acts, it does not feel like acting. It feels like watching a real person, with real feelings, in a real situation. That is very hard to do, and very few actors can do it. Many actors try to show emotion, and you can see them trying. Sun Li does not show you that she is trying. She simply is the character, and you believe her. That is a rare gift, and it is the reason she has won so many awards.

I also think about her role as Zhen Huan, and why it became so famous. Zhen Huan is a character who changes over many years, from a naive young girl to a powerful empress, and Sun Li played that journey with grace. She showed the character’s innocence, her intelligence, her pain and her strength, and she did it with subtlety. That is not easy, and it is the reason the drama is still discussed today. When I think about Zhen Huan, I think about Sun Li, and I think about how a great performance can stay in people’s minds for years.

There is also something inspiring about her patience. She did not become a star overnight. She studied dance, she took small roles, she waited, and she was ready when Jade Goddess of Mercy came. Many young actors today want success quickly, and they give up when it does not come. Sun Li shows that slow, steady work can lead to something lasting. She built her career step by step, and each step made her stronger. That is a lesson for anyone who wants to succeed in any field.

I also admire the way she has balanced her career and her family. She is married to Deng Chao, and they have two children, and she has managed to be a successful actress and a devoted mother at the same time. That is not easy, and it requires choices. Sun Li chooses her roles carefully, she does not work all the time, and she makes time for her family. That balance is a sign of wisdom, and it is one that many successful people struggle to find. Sun Li found it, and I respect her for it.

What can a reader learn from Sun Li? I think the first lesson is about honesty. Her acting is honest, and her life is honest. She does not pretend to be something she is not, and she does not seek attention for its own sake. The second lesson is about patience. She waited for the right roles, she worked hard, and she built a career that lasted for decades. The third lesson is about balance. She shows that it is possible to be successful and to take care of yourself and your family at the same time. Success does not have to mean exhaustion. It can mean a good, balanced life.

I also think there is a lesson here for anyone who feels that they need to be loud to be noticed. Sun Li is quiet, and she is one of the most beloved stars in China. She did not become famous by shouting. She became famous by working hard, by being honest, and by giving her best to every role. That is a powerful message, especially for young people who feel pressure to be loud and attention-seeking. You do not need to be loud to be great. You need to be true, and Sun Li is true.

When I think about her performance in Nothing Gold Can Stay, I feel warmth, because Zhou Ying is a lively, clever character, and Sun Li plays her with joy. When I think about Empresses in the Palace, I feel respect, because Zhen Huan is a complex, difficult role, and she plays it with depth. When I think about her life with Deng Chao, I feel happiness, because their marriage is built on laughter and trust. That range, both on screen and off, is rare, and it is the reason she is remembered.

In the end, I think Sun Li matters because she proved that a quiet, hardworking woman can become one of China’s most beloved stars, and that she can do it without losing herself. She was honest, she was patient, and she was balanced, and she became a queen of television. That is a story worth telling, and it is a story that will inspire other actors for years to come. I also think about her dance training, and how it shaped her acting in ways that are easy to miss. Dance taught Sun Li to use her body to tell a story, and that skill is visible in her performances. She moves with grace, she uses her hands and her eyes to express feeling, and she understands that acting is not only about words. It is about the whole body, and Sun Li knows that. Many actors focus only on their voice and their face, but Sun Li uses her entire body, and that makes her performances richer. Her dance background is a hidden strength, and it is one that sets her apart.

Another thing that stays with me is her performance in Hot Mom!, because it shows a different side of her talent. The drama is about a modern mother who tries to balance work and family, and Sun Li’s performance was warm, funny and relatable. It is easy to think of her as a historical actress, because many of her best roles are in period dramas, but Hot Mom! shows that she can also play a modern woman. That range is rare, and it is the reason she has had such a long career. An actress who can only do one thing will eventually be limited, but Sun Li can do many things, and she does them all well.

I also reflect on her role in The Legend of Mi Yue, and why it stands out. Mi Yue is a woman who rises from a concubine to become a powerful queen, and Sun Li played that journey with strength and emotion. The drama was a huge production, and it was watched by millions of people. Her performance showed that she could carry another long historical drama after Empresses in the Palace, and that she was not a one-role actress. That achievement is a sign of a great performer, and it is one that many people admire.

Her performance in An Jia also deserves more thought. The drama is about a real estate agent, and it is a modern, everyday story. Sun Li’s performance was natural and relatable, and it showed that she could connect with viewers in a story that was close to ordinary life. That is not easy, because ordinary life can seem boring on screen, but Sun Li made it interesting. Her ability to find drama in everyday life is a mark of a great actress, and it is one of the reasons her work is so loved.

I also think about her marriage to Deng Chao, and why it is so admired. Their marriage is built on humour, honesty and trust, and they often joke with each other in public. That lightness is refreshing, and it shows that a marriage can be both serious and fun. Sun Li has said that Deng Chao is her best friend, and that their family is the most important part of her life. That is a beautiful thing to hear from a famous person, and it shows that success is not only about work. It is also about love, and Sun Li understands that.

Another part of her story that I think about is her healthy lifestyle, and what it says about her. She practises yoga, she eats carefully, and she takes care of her body and her mind. That discipline is not only about looking good. It is about feeling good, and about having the energy to do good work. In a high-pressure industry, taking care of yourself is a form of wisdom, and Sun Li has that wisdom. Her lifestyle is a lesson for anyone who works hard and forgets to rest. Rest is not laziness. It is a part of doing good work.

I also consider what her awards mean. Winning the Golden Eagle Award, the Flying Apsaras Award and other major honours, for different roles, over many years, is a sign of consistency. It is not a single lucky win. It is a series of wins, judged by different people, for different performances. That consistency is the best proof of talent, and Sun Li has it. Her awards are not only honours. They are evidence of a career built on quality, not on luck.

When I think about her performance in Jade Goddess of Mercy, I feel warmth, because An Xin is a character who is strong and vulnerable, and Sun Li played her with grace. When I think about Empresses in the Palace, I feel respect, because Zhen Huan is a complex, difficult role, and she played it with depth. When I think about Nothing Gold Can Stay, I feel joy, because Zhou Ying is a lively, clever character, and Sun Li played her with humour. That range is rare, and it is the reason she is remembered.

I also think about what young actresses can learn from Sun Li. They can learn that talent matters more than glamour, that patience matters more than speed, and that honesty matters more than noise. They can learn that a quiet performance can be more powerful than a loud one, and that a career built on quality will last longer than a career built on fame. Sun Li’s story is a masterclass in acting, and it is one that will be studied for years to come.

Finally, I think about her future, and what it might hold. Sun Li is now in her early forties, and she has many years ahead of her. She may take on new roles, she may work in film, and she may try new things. Whatever she does, she has already made a mark on Chinese television that will last. She showed that a quiet, hardworking woman can become one of China’s most beloved stars, and that she can do it without losing herself. That is a legacy worth having, and it is one that will inspire other actors for years to come. I also want to say something about her name, because it is a part of her identity. Sun Li is a short, simple name, and it suits her. She is not a star who needs a grand title. She is an actress whose work speaks for itself, and her name has become a mark of quality. When people hear that Sun Li is in a drama, they know it will be worth watching. That reputation is not built in a day. It is built over decades of good work, and Sun Li has earned it.

Another part of the story that moves me is the way she handled the pressure of Empresses in the Palace. The drama was one of the most anticipated in Chinese history, and the expectations were enormous. Sun Li carried that pressure with grace, and she gave a performance that is still discussed today. That is not easy, because high expectations can crush a performer, but Sun Li did not let them crush her. She focused on her work, and she delivered. That focus is a sign of a professional, and it is one that many young actors can learn from.

I also think about her fans, and what their loyalty means. Sun Li’s fans have followed her for more than twenty years, and they have stayed loyal through changes in the industry, through long breaks, and through her move from historical dramas to modern ones. That loyalty is not something an actress can buy. It is earned, through years of honest work and kind behaviour. Sun Li earned it, and the fans’ loyalty is a big part of why she is still here today.

When I think about her performance in Shanghai Bund, I feel admiration, because it is a classic story, and she played it with elegance. When I think about her performance in Shadow, I feel respect, because it is a beautiful, artistic film, and she plays it with subtlety. That range is rare, and it is the reason I keep returning to her work. She made dramas and films for different moods, and she did them all with skill and honesty. I hope that Sun Li continues to act, because her work is best when she is on screen.

Finally, I think about her place in Chinese television, and where it belongs. Sun Li is the queen of television, and her performances will be studied for years to come. She is the actress that other actors admire, that directors trust, and that audiences love for her honesty. That respect is a lasting achievement, and it is one that will not fade. In ten years, people will still talk about Sun Li’s Zhen Huan, her Zhou Ying and her quiet, truthful acting, and that is a legacy worth having.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sun Li born?

Sun Li was born on 26 September 1982 in Shanghai, a large city on the eastern coast of China.

What was Sun Li’s breakthrough drama?

Jade Goddess of Mercy, released in 2003, was Sun Li’s breakthrough drama, in which she played An Xin and won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress.

What is Empresses in the Palace?

Empresses in the Palace, also known as The Legend of Zhen Huan, is a 2011 historical drama in which Sun Li played Zhen Huan, a concubine who rises to become an empress.

Is Sun Li married to Deng Chao?

Yes, Sun Li married the actor Deng Chao in 2010, after meeting him on the set of Happiness Is Like Flowers in 2005, and they have two children.

What awards has Sun Li won?

Sun Li has won the Golden Eagle Award, the Flying Apsaras Award and other major honours, including Best Actress awards for Jade Goddess of Mercy and Nothing Gold Can Stay.

What is Nothing Gold Can Stay?

Nothing Gold Can Stay is a 2017 historical drama in which Sun Li played Zhou Ying, a woman who becomes a successful businesswoman in the late Qing dynasty.