Yu Zheng may not have the best reputation, but his aesthetic sense is truly remarkable. The currently airing drama, The Song of River Reeds (临江仙), is a visual feast. Just the looks of the male and female leads are enough to make people enjoy the sweetness of this "divorced" couple. The supporting characters are even more stunning.
Zhao Zhaoyi is sweet and elegant. When she makes an appearance, she exudes the charm of an ancient beauty. Even without a white dress to highlight her etherealness, her whole demeanor is lively, making her a perfect fit for a xianxia drama. Zhou Jieqiong, in a purple dress, has a pure face and a somewhat stubborn look in her eyes. She is a beauty who is both clear - cut and impactful. He Ruixian, whom Yu Zheng has tried to promote several times, has big, gentle and bright eyes. Even with a simple hairstyle, she has a transcendent beauty. Yu Zheng selects supporting characters with such high - level looks, even for those marginalized characters with only a dozen - minute appearance. Their appearances stun everyone, and this is the kind of beauty a leading actress in a costume drama should have.
Huang Riying's Stunning Beauty
Huang Riying plays Wan'er. When Bai Jiusi and Hua Ruyue are having a quarrel, Bai Jiusi goes on a blind date out of anger. The matchmaker teams up with Wan'er, the leading actress in the brothel, to deceive him. When Huang Riying appears, she is wearing a blue corset and a bright outer shawl, with a noble and lazy hairstyle and a bold - colored hair accessory. Leaning on the couch and gently waving a round fan, she immediately creates an image of a charming and amorous beauty. With such looks, she is extremely convincing in playing the leading actress. Without exaggeration, the first shot completely captivated me.
Huang Riying has a soft tone and a confident look in her eyes that can easily handle men, which perfectly fits her role as the leading actress. With her beauty and the innocent yet seductive charm, anyone would be defeated by her. To get closer to Bai Jiusi, Wan'er changes into a clear white - blue ancient costume. She removes her hair accessories, and her hairstyle becomes more dignified. Her makeup also changes from bright to gentle. When she appears with a wine pot, she really looks like a celestial being.
Wan'er knows how to handle men. While pouring wine for Bai Jiusi, she observes his reaction and then pretends to be weak and falls into his arms. This fall didn't matter much to Bai Jiusi, but it really touched my heart. She looks weak and innocent, truly showing the charm of being pitiable. Although Wan'er later reveals her pregnancy and disrupts the blind date, and then the character disappears from the show, Huang Riying's beauty and figure are deeply imprinted in people's minds. You can even feel through the screen that her skin is fair, delicate, and her oval face with delicate and soft features is very beautiful. What's most surprising is that she can not only play the role of a woman of the brothel well but also look ethereal and pure in a plain dress. Every style she shows is extremely charming.
The Most Memorable Leading Actresses in Cdramas
Costume dramas often feature leading actresses like Wan'er. On one hand, such characters can fully showcase the beauty of ancient costumes. On the other hand, they are easier to create memorable supporting roles. Huang Riying has succeeded this time. Looking back, there are also five such leading actresses in costume dramas who are deeply engraved in people's minds.
The first one is Bai Bing. Normally, a 40 - year - old actress is not suitable for playing a leading actress in a brothel as youth is an important factor. But Bai Bing is an exception. In Legend of Zanghai (藏海传), when Bai Bing's character appears in a red dress, the atmosphere is so strong that it makes people blush. Bai Bing doesn't even need to make deliberate seductive moves. Just a few glances can send out alluring signals. Who wouldn't love such a fair - skinned, beautiful, gentle, and intelligent woman?
The second one is Jia Ze. Playing a leading actress in Sword Snow Stride (雪中悍刀行) is extremely challenging because there are many beautiful women in the show, and all of their characters are ranked among the most beautiful. But Jia Ze's Yu Youwei firmly establishes the image of a leading actress when she appears. Without exaggerated costumes, just a light green thin shirt and simple hair accessories, she exudes a cold and noble temperament. Jia Ze's beauty is not aggressive but has a unique elegance.
The third one is Kana. Playing a leading actress in A Dream of Splendor (梦华录) starring Liu Yifei requires absolute beauty. Otherwise, it's easy to make the audience lose the sense of immersion. Because playing a leading actress is like competing with a celestial beauty and even having to outshine her. Kana, with her exotic looks and gorgeous costumes like a blooming flower, is eye - catching and impactful. Her tender face and charming peach - blossom eyes, combined with a bit of arrogance as a leading actress, make her stand out. Her beauty is not the same as others but full of personality and confidence.
The fourth one is Wang Yiting. Similar to Kana, Wang Yiting plays a leading actress in Love Between Fairy and Devil (安乐传). The leading actress of this show is Dilraba, who is known for her divine beauty. So Wang Yiting needs to be convincing in terms of beauty to play a flower - queen. When her Linlang appears in a red ancient costume with a light - yellow gauze, she is both cute and attractive. The peach - colored makeup, bright red lips, and noble gold hair accessories, even the flower decoration on her forehead, add a bit of charm. Although Wang Yiting has a sweet look and a small round face like a neighbor girl, with good acting in her eyes and the support of the makeup and costumes, she brings the leading actress to life.
The fifth one is Jing Ruyang. Also a classic is Jing Ruyang in The Ballad of Yan Yu (嫣语赋). Anyone who sees her looking back will be extremely amazed. The hair hanging on her cheeks adds a bit of cuteness, and the mole under her eye adds a bit of charm. Jing Ruyang's beauty is both grand and gentle, being able to be charming or pure, which meets all my expectations of a leading actress.
After seeing these actresses who play leading actresses, I deeply realize how important it is for an actress to choose the right path. Huang Riying has appeared in many costume dramas before, and her ancient costumes are also eye - catching, but her previous styles were more on the sweet side, with a more delicate and gentle temperament. Yu Zheng really knows how to make the most of Huang Riying's advantages and dig out her more charming side, which is really refreshing. With such beauty and acting skills, it's like having a winning hand. So, who is the most beautiful leading actress in your heart? This is just my personal opinion for reference only.
