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Fran Lu

She is one of China’s up-and-coming feminist icons, and for many people, actress Song Jia’s acceptance speech at a recent film awards ceremony cemented that position.
Song Jia won the prestigious Shanghai TV Festival’s Magnolia Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and moved many with her empowering acceptance speech.
She was recognised for her portrayal of legendary feminist figure Zhang Guimei, a Chinese educator and principal of Huaping High School for Girls in the 2024 television series She and Her Girls.”
The school is China’s first and only free public secondary school for girls.
It was the second time the 44-year-old actress won the Magnolia Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, after doing so for her work in 2012’s The Brink.
Many people were also touched by her acceptance speech at the June 28 awards.

She first thanked Zhang for being her inspiration: “Through performing Ms. Zhang, I learned the importance of belief and confidence. I will pass on her spirit.”
She then paid tribute to her fellow nominees: “We stand here not because we are young and pretty, or because we balance work and family, but because we can play a role well and do good work.”
Her speech was praised for empowering women and reflecting the spirit of girls helping girls.
Taiwanese actress Shu Qi openly expressed her love for Song’s speech on social media.
The same spirit was also said to be shown by two photos taken at the moment her win was announced, which went viral on social media.
The photos show other actresses being happy about her achievement.
Chinese actress Yan Ni, who was also nominated for the same category, gave her a cotton flower, which means “cherishing those around you”.
Some said the photo was one of the greatest moments they had ever seen at an awards ceremony.
Song grew up in Harbin, northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province. She studied a traditional Chinese musical instrument, the liuqin, as a child, but chose to go to the Shanghai Theatre Academy instead of a music academy.
She made her debut in 2001 and became well known in 2007 for her role in the classic Chinese television series Rush to Northeast.
Her acting skills were widely recognised with her performance in many hit films and television series over the past two decades, such as The Shadow Play, Falling Flowers and A Lifelong Journey.
Song is known for her bright and cheerful personality. She describes herself as a “wilful” actress: “I can make four pieces of work a year if I like the scripts; if not, I can also rest for a whole year.”

Song was also increasingly seen as a feminist icon because of the many great female roles she played, including Zhang Guimei, and the fictional character Wang Tiemei in the hit 2024 film Her Story.
She has 13 million followers on a social media account where she congratulated herself after the ceremony by saying: “Congrats to the 173cm-tall beauty! I am great!”
Many people online said they like Song’s unpretentious confidence.
“She is a great actress and a sophisticated person. A good example for other actors,” one person said.
“I am so moved by the love and care between Chinese actresses. Girl power rules,” said another.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Wilful’ star of numerous hit TV dramas who plumped for acting over music at an early age is lauded for her ‘sophistication’

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