ProfileChinese actress Wang Ziwen, like many mainland women, embraces trend of single motherhood
Revelation of her raising young son on her own has been met with admiration, as it resonates with young Chinese women
Chinese actress Wang Ziwen, renowned for her iconic roles in television dramas, has increasingly adopted a radical lifestyle that resonates with many Chinese women.
At 38, Wang is celebrated for her performances in hit Chinese dramas such as Ode to Joy (2016) and Three-Body (2023), the latter adapted by Tencent from the award-winning sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem.
Despite her petite stature, her acting is often acclaimed for its intensity. In Three-Body, her portrayal of young Ye Wenjie – a tragic astrophysicist who invites an alien civilisation to Earth as a form of revenge for her experiences during the Cultural Revolution – received widespread critical acclaim.
In her personal life, Wang has also captivated many with her resolute spirit.
Born into an intellectual family in Sichuan province, southwestern China, in 1987, her father and grandfather were both university educators.
At the age of 13, she was selected by a Chinese entertainment company and sent to South Korea as an idol trainee. Although she did not debut as an idol, her experience paved the way for future Chinese idols in South Korea, including Victoria Song and Meng Jia.
In 2006, Wang signed a disadvantageous contract with another entertainment company, which demanded an exorbitant penalty fee and threatened to blacklist her from the industry when she sought to terminate the agreement.