LayarHijau – Since the beginning of this year, the short drama market has been under intense spotlight, with a wave of Generation Z (Gen Z) actors—those born in the 2000s—capturing public attention thanks to their blockbuster works.
From Ke Chun, Li Keyi, to Chen Tianxiang and Zhang Chi, these young Gen Z faces quickly built large fan bases through captivating performances and charming personalities. Their early popularity surged, becoming a new force that cannot be ignored in the industry.
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Compared to traditional long-form dramas, which require longer production cycles and stricter entry requirements, short dramas have become a “fast track” for Gen Z actors to shine. Yet, behind this rapid rise, opportunities and career development challenges still exist.
Gen Z Faces Dominate
An actor’s popularity largely depends on their works. This year, short drama hits have propelled many Gen Z faces into the public eye, Sohu wrote.
At the beginning of the year, the drama 《好一个乖乖女》 (What a Good Girl) broke popularity records on Hongguo platforms, frequently trending on Weibo. Ke Chun, the male lead born in 2000, resembles Korean actor Song Kang. He successfully portrayed a CEO exuding charm (su-gan). His supportive character in the drama and cheerful personality off-screen were highly appreciated by viewers.
Dubbed the “F4 of Short Dramas,” Ke Chun has expanded into variety shows and long dramas while staying active in short dramas. His collaboration with Zhai Yiying in 《栀栀复栀栀》 (Zhi Zhi Returns Again) achieved remarkable success, surpassing 1 billion viewers on Hongguo.
Li Keyi, a representative Gen Z actress, earned the title “Queen of Short Dramas” through 《十八岁太奶奶驾到，重整家族荣耀》 (18-Year-Old Great-Grandma Arrives, Restores Family Glory). Her character Rong Yu is a modern high school student with the soul of a mathematician from the past—a sweet yet strong contrast full of charm.
After her major success, Li Keyi switched to “hard-working mode.” Her consecutive dramas—《十八岁太奶2》 (18-Year-Old Great-Grandma Arrives 2), 《她靠修仙在现代风生水起》 (She Thrives in Modern Times Through Cultivation), and 《夫人她专治不服》 (Madam Specializes in Handling Defiance)—all surpassed 1 billion viewers on Hongguo, reinforcing her reputation and popularity.
In the 《十八岁太奶》 series, Wang Peiyan and Wu Tianhao (born 2001) also performed impressively. Together with Li Keyi, they are under the Tinghuadao agency. Wang Peiyan and Li Keyi became one of the most popular pairs in short dramas, convincingly portraying grandparent-grandchild in 《十八岁太奶》 and transforming into romantic partners in 《朝朝来池》 (Zhao Zhao Arrives at Chi) and 《夫人她专治不服》, showing remarkable chemistry.
Wu Tianhao paired with Lin Zixuan in 《江南时节》 (Jiangnan Season), portraying a sibling romance with a ten-year age gap. A Beijing Film Academy graduate, he was praised for his subtle and natural performance as a true young master in 《十八岁太奶2》.
Other “young talents” also attracted strong attention. Chen Tianxiang (’02) stood out with his costume performances, nicknamed “Chosen Ancient Man”, gaining fans through 《双面权臣暗恋我》 (The Double-Faced Minister Secretly Loves Me). Female lead Yue Yuting, also Gen Z, previously rose to fame in 《月满西楼》 (Full Moon Over West Pavilion). Their upcoming project includes the short drama adaptation of Chinese Paladin 3, playing Zi Xuan and Xu Changqing.
This summer, Zhang Chi (’01) gained popularity through roles with Yue Yuting in 《双向欲臣》 (Two-Way Desire Minister) and with Lin Zilin in 《无药而愈》 (Heal Without Medicine). Early dramas mostly in costume showcased his emotional acting skills. He now specializes in roles of psychopaths and fragile characters, and will star in iQiyi’s short drama 《三秒预见你》 (See You in Three Seconds) with Lou Yixiao.
Yang Pengcheng (’06), the youngest, is capable of portraying both mature CEOs and younger brother types. Representative works include 《鸣冥》 (Ming Ming) and 《驯野》 (Taming the Wild), popular for “dog-training” narratives led by an independent female lead.
Rapid Actor Turnover
The turnover rate of actors in short dramas is extremely high. Producer Awei said, “Short dramas as a new business model have reshaped the entire actor pool with amazing efficiency. Leading actors of blockbusters are constantly updated.”
For example, the “F4 of Short Dramas” appeared early in the year, and by mid-year evolved into the “Thirteen National Short Guards.” Previous top actors like Sun Yue and Xu Yizhen have seen a decline due to reduced short drama production.
Reasons for high turnover: small investment, short production cycles, fast release schedules, and a wide variety of genres and personas allowing actors to find their niche. The business model emphasizes “Drama over the actor”, with producers focusing on scripts and production rather than chasing actor popularity, maintaining industry creativity.
Difficulty in Career Advancement
The rule in short dramas is “dramas lift the actor.” Li Keyi exemplifies an actor fully promoted by producers through hits like 《十八岁太奶》, 《十八岁太奶2》, 《她靠修仙在现代风生水起》, and 《夫人她专治不服》.
Despite strong resources, chances to enter long dramas remain limited due to fierce competition and fewer projects. Only a few hit short drama actors—Ke Chun and Ma Qiuyuan—secured significant roles in long dramas this year.
Most other short drama actors only receive cameo or background roles, limiting their opportunity to showcase acting skills.
Their advantage lies in youth and camera experience from numerous short drama projects, giving them a head start compared to new graduates. Their career trajectory ultimately depends on personal ability and market choice.
(All source names in this article are pseudonyms. All drama titles listed are English translations and are not official titles.)
