Zhao Jinmai: A Gen Z actress with acting prowess in the Chinese entertainment industry, but cursed with being criticized for her romantic drama roles.

Zhao Jinmai has made a strong impression with her psychological and social dramas, and is considered one of the top talented Gen Z actresses in the Chinese entertainment industry. Ironically, however, every time she stars in a romantic drama, audiences boo and run away.

For fans of Chinese television dramas, Zhao Jinmai is no longer an unfamiliar name. Born in 2002, Zhao Jinmai has already accumulated over 13 years of acting experience – a remarkable achievement considering she is only 23 years old.

Starting her career at a young age, Zhao Jinmai quickly won the hearts of audiences thanks to her adorable appearance and natural acting style. Her role as Ling Qiqi in the children's film "Blalala Little Fairy" became a cherished childhood memory for many generations of viewers.

Step by step, overcoming the shadow of being a child star.

For many child actors, early success also means facing immense pressure as they grow up. Escaping the innocent, naive image of their early roles to establish themselves as adults is never easy. Zhao Jinmai is no exception.

However, instead of playing safe, similar roles, Zhao Jinmai chose a more adventurous path, constantly challenging herself with different types of characters. She proactively reinvented her image, accepting roles with complex, even edgy, destinies, gradually changing the audience's perception of her.

A major turning point in Zhao Jinmai's career came with her role as Li Shiqing in the drama "The Beginning." The character, unintentionally trapped in a time loop, required the actress to portray a wide range of emotions, from confusion and fear to courage and decisiveness. This role helped Zhao Jinmai successfully shed her child star image, earning her praise from both audiences and critics.

Later, she continued to impress with her portrayal of Princess Li Rong in "The Blooming Years"—a powerful, intelligent character with many inner conflicts. Most recently, her role as police officer Zhen Zhen in "Whitewashing" is considered clear evidence of Zhao Jinmai's acting ability. The character has a tragic past, having been a victim herself, before rising to become a criminal investigator to pursue the very person who hurt her. Her realistic and restrained performance touched the emotions of the viewers.

"Whitewashing" was not only a critical success but also achieved impressive commercial success, reaching 10,000 trending points on the iQIYI platform, becoming the first drama of 2025 to do so. With this achievement, Zhao Jinmai became the first Gen Z actress to have a hit drama on all three major platforms: Tencent, iQIYI, and Youku.

According to Sohu, after a series of consecutive successful projects and widely recognized acting, Zhao Jinmai has risen to become one of the most sought-after names on Chinese television, especially in drama and detective series.

Top student at the Central Academy of Drama

Not only has Zhao Jinmai impressed with her acting career, but she has also earned public admiration for her outstanding academic achievements. In 2020, she passed the entrance exam to the Central Academy of Drama – the "cradle" that has trained many of China's top stars – and excelled as the valedictorian of the Performing Arts department.

The title of valedictorian is not only a personal achievement, but also clear evidence of Zhao Jinmai's solid professional foundation and serious dedication to her profession. Throughout her studies, she simultaneously participated in film projects, demonstrating her ability to balance education and career – something not every young artist can do.

While many young actors are easily caught up in scandals and tumultuous personal lives, Zhao Jinmai has chosen a rather quiet path. She rarely speaks out about rumors and almost never lets her personal life overshadow her professional image. As a result, audiences still remember her as a talented actress, rather than a star who attracts attention through controversies.

When romance becomes a "minus point" in one's career.

In contrast to her success in dramas and crime-solving films, Zhao Jinmai's romantic projects have consistently failed to meet expectations. Despite her innocent beauty in real life, she is often criticized for lacking chemistry with her co-stars on screen. From "Innocent First Love," "Love Is Joy," to "That Irretrievable Youth," the actress has been accused of repeatedly portraying shy, unattractive schoolgirls.

Collaborating with famous heartthrobs like Wu Lei or Zhang Linghe didn't improve the situation either. Viewers felt that Zhao Jinmai was too reserved, making the romantic scenes feel awkward and lacking emotion.

"Arrogance and Self-Conceit" was the last straw.

The controversy peaked with the film "The Arrogant Self." Despite massive promotional investment, the film was a major disappointment due to its outdated plot, bland cinematography, and poorly executed acting. Zhao Jinmai became the target of criticism for failing to portray the romantic lead, with both her expressions and dialogue deemed unconvincing.

The string of failures in her romance drama projects has led many viewers to question whether it's time for Zhao Jinmai to stop with this genre, or at least seriously reconsider her ability to create chemistry and her script choices.

Despite ongoing debates, it's undeniable that Zhao Jinmai remains one of the Gen Z stars with the most solid foundation in the Chinese entertainment industry today. Her acting experience from a young age, excellent education, and ability to portray complex emotional roles are her greatest advantages.

At 23, Zhao Jinmai still has a long way to go. If she knows how to leverage her strengths, choose suitable scripts, and continue to hone her skills, the actress can absolutely break the "curse" of romance dramas and go even further.

Zhang Linghe encountered an incident, Chinese media defended him and blamed the director? Khánh Linh13:59:37 30/07/2025Chinese media said that the failure of the movie Amber Cherry was the responsibility of the screenwriter and director. The two main actors, Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Linghe, should not be the ones to receive criticism from public opinion.