Zhao Lusi and Yu Shuxin Make the List! The Top 10 Worst-Acting Female Leads in Chinese Dramas – Who Took the Crown? Blank Stares and Poor Facial Control Can't Be Saved by Good Looks

The new generation of Chinese drama actresses, known as the 'post-95s flowers,' are flourishing in popularity, with Zhao Lusi, Yu Shuxin, and Tian Xiwēi constantly in the spotlight. However, their acting skills are also under intense scrutiny. Recently, a heated online discussion emerged on Chinese forums about a fan-voted list of the 'worst-performing' post-95s actresses, and the top ten ranking has now been officially released. Zhou Ye and Yu Shuxin made the list, criticized for 'facial contortions' or their 'pinched voice.' This article analyzes the acting flaws and public controversies of these ten trending young actresses, ranked from 10th to 1st.

10th Place: Ren Min

Ren Min first gained attention through her role as Princess Fukang in the historical drama 'Qing Ping Le.' At the time, her nuanced and layered performance received high praise, even overshadowing the lead actress. Although her acting fundamentals are considered solid among the post-95s actresses, her recent collaboration with Xiao Zhan in 'Jade Bone Shadow' drew criticism for her appearance, and her career trajectory seems limited by her looks. Netizens argue that her facial features and气质 are not well-suited for historical idol dramas and sweet romance genres that heavily rely on visual appeal. Once her role range is restricted, her acting strengths become difficult to showcase.

9th Place: Meng Ziyi

Meng Ziyi has enjoyed a smooth career recently, rising to fame with 'Nine Layers of Purple' and securing major IP dramas like 'The Only Empress' and 'Princess Shang,' positioning her as a potential top-tier actress. Her performances in historical dramas 'Snow Storm Sword' and 'Who is the Real Hero' were widely praised, even considered superior to the female leads in those series. Her transformation during the 'villain arc' in 'Who is the Real Hero' was particularly stunning, with her eyes and aura shifting dramatically. However, some viewers still find her acting slightly forced in modern or everyday scenes, landing her in 9th place.

8th Place: Zhang Jingyi

Zhang Jingyi has starred in recent historical dramas like 'The Hidden Sea' and 'Xi Huazhi,' achieving solid ratings and discussion. She is regarded by many industry insiders as an actress with long-term career potential. While her performances are generally seen as 'not dragging the show down,' remaining steady and adequate, some critical viewers point out her lack of subtlety in emotional outburst scenes. Stiff details in her expressions placed her at 8th.

7th Place: Tian Xiwēi

Tian Xiwēi skyrocketed to fame in 2022 with the historical drama 'Qing Qing Daily Life.' Her recent hit 'Chasing Jade' has further propelled her toward top-tier stardom. Her sweet, healing smile and tearful scenes are highly impactful, showcasing great versatility. However, her most frequent criticism lies in her diction and line delivery. Many netizens criticize her original voice lines for being mumbled, with words often blending together and becoming inaudible in the latter half of sentences. Her basic line-reading skills still need improvement.

6th Place: Zhao Lusi

As a top-tier representative of the post-95s actresses, Zhao Lusi has proven her ability to single-handedly drive ratings through hits like 'The Starry Love,' 'Secretly Hidden,' and 'Let Me Shine.' Her portrayal of Cheng Shaoshang's stubbornness in 'The Starry Love' and Sang Zhi's cuteness in 'Secretly Hidden' was highly immersive. However, her acting evaluations are extremely polarized. Her use of a 'pinched voice' in 'Gods of Hustle' and her performance in 'Houlang' drew significant backlash. While she easily creates on-screen chemistry with male leads, her reliance on formulaic acting techniques landed her in 6th place.

5th Place: Zhang Ruonan

Zhang Ruonan has starred in recent sweet romance dramas like 'Hard to Please' and 'You Have a Date with Today,' as well as the urban drama 'Ordinary People's Song.' Her high looks have earned her many fans, marking her as a highly promising traffic-generating actress. However, public opinion on her acting is divided. Supporters praise her natural and fresh performance, while critics argue she appears stiff and awkward in emotionally complex scenes, with her facial expressions sometimes failing to match the script's intensity.

4th Place: Lu Yuxiao

Lu Yuxiao has received generally positive reviews in idol dramas like 'Into the Azure Cloud' and 'Squeezed.' However, her high placement at 4th in this ranking stems primarily from her performance in the blockbuster period drama 'The Lane Family.' Contrasted against seasoned young actors like Guan Xiaotong and Wang Anyu, Lu Yuxiao and Fan Chengcheng's acting appeared extremely stiff and out of place, drawing massive criticism and negative reviews from audiences.

3rd Place: Zhou Ye

Zhou Ye has long been viewed by some audiences as a representative of 'high looks, low acting.' Although in recent works like 'Protect the Heart,' 'Brocade Moon Song,' and 'Hello 1983,' she has improved on her formerly criticized 'facial contortions,' her acting is still considered subpar. Netizens point out her biggest issue is 'lacking emotional resonance.' Despite crying earnestly, she fails to deeply imprint the character's joys and sorrows onto the audience's heart like actresses such as Zhao Liying or Yang Zi, resulting in a lack of empathy.

2nd Place: Yu Shuxin

Despite holding multiple acclaimed works like 'Cang Lan Jue,' 'Eternal Night Star River,' and 'Moonlight Sonata,' Yu Shuxin's audience reception is extremely polarized. Detractors believe she habitually uses a 'pinched voice,' with an artificial and sticky tone, making every character feel like a self-portrait. Her range is seen as overly limited to 'dumb blonde' and 'sassy little diva' roles. While fans see this as her unique charm, the limitations in her line delivery and role diversity still placed her high at 2nd place.

1st Place: Yang Chaoyue

The netizen-voted crown for worst actress goes to Yang Chaoyue. Since her debut, Yang Chaoyue's sweet looks have been widely adored, but her acting has repeatedly become a public controversy. In her lead roles in 'Chongzi' and 'Seven Lucky Gods,' her facial expressions were out of control, her features contorted, and her eyes appeared dull and vacant. In emotionally intense, heartbreaking scenes requiring deep expression, she completely failed to draw the audience into the story. Although in 'The Tale of Rose' she played a minor 'muse' supporting role, or characters close to her own personality, she appeared more natural. However, once she takes on a lead role requiring strong acting support, her performance often turns into a disaster. Thus, she was voted first by the majority of netizens.