Meet Disney’s ‘Mulan’, Chinese actress Liu Yifei
Liu, who joined showbiz in 2002, has over 55 million fans on Weibo
If the new trailer of Disney’s upcoming live-action film Mulan is anything to go by, lead actress Crystal Liu Yifei will bring honour to us all with her take on the fierce warrior.
The film, which will be released in early 2020, is based on the classic Chinese tale about a female warrior who, against all odds, joined the army to defend her country and her family. Mulan is thought to be a loose adaptation of Disney’s beloved 1998 animated feature film, which starred Wen Ming-Na and Eddie Murphy.
We take a look at Liu’s rise to fame and why she’s perfect for the role.
Fairy Sister
Liu, who turns 32 in August this year, already has a portfolio filled with Chinese period dramas. Her ethereal looks in those productions have earned her the nickname “Fairy Sister”.
Rising star
Liu is dubbed as one of the New Four Dan Actresses alongside Yang Mi, Huang Shengyi and Wang Luodan. She has gained a strong fan base since joining showbiz in 2002 at the tender age of 15, starring in The Story of a Noble Family. One year later, veteran novelist Jin Yong, who’s known for his martial arts stories, cast Liu in the TV adaptation of his classic Demi Gods and Semi Devils.