LayarHijau – Popular Chinese actress, Dilraba Dilmurat, is currently capturing attention with her role as Nie Jiuluo in her latest drama, Love on the Turquoise Land (枭起青壤). In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, Dilraba shared her perspective on the complex character, as well as the challenges of playing a dual-sided role which gave her a different sensation during the acting process.
One Character, Two Conflicting Sides
Dilraba explained that Nie Jiuluo does not simply have “two roles,” but rather two sides of a single individual, which is often experienced by many people in the real world.
“She has to be a calm, mature person by day, an artist full of grace… but when a crisis arrives, she transforms into a compassionate figure who bravely upholds justice. I found this kind of contradiction very interesting to experience,” she said.
“So for me, a character like this is very different from any I’ve played before. Her internal conflict made me want to delve into it through acting, to learn from the character. That’s why I accepted the role,” she continued.
The contrast between Nie Jiuluo’s day and night life offered a unique acting experience. As a sculptor, her movements were graceful and her voice soft. Conversely, when she becomes the agile and tough Nie Jiuluo, Dilraba felt as if she was filming two dramas simultaneously.
Total Commitment in Action Sequences
The role of Nie Jiuluo demanded capability in intense action scenes. Dilraba admitted that this part was the most exciting, especially during combat. “The action director helped us immensely. Many action scenes require specific speed and specially designed techniques—such as how to hold a sword, how to draw it from the sheath—everything has its own choreography. So because this is a modern drama, wearing cool clothes, and fighting fantasy creatures felt amazing,” the beautiful actress explained.
An interesting thing Dilraba revealed is that many punching techniques were taught on the spot when they were about to shoot the action scenes. “When the lights and cameras were being set up, we would practice on the side. Honestly, my hands aren’t very flexible. Even though I used to play the piano, I wasn’t very adept at crafts like paper cutting. But surprisingly, I picked up weapons like knives and spears quite quickly. I practiced nonstop,” Dilraba shared.
Dilraba is no stranger to action scenes as she has played characters who have proficient martial arts skills. But she revealed that Nie Jiuluo’s fighting ability is different from some of the characters she previously played. “I think there are many differences. First because this is a modern drama. When I hold a large sword, I cannot use it as if I were doing a sword dance—that would feel strange,” she stated.
She gave an example of a scene where she goes to Yan Tuo’s house. Initially, the choreography team designed movements where she leaped over rooftops and walls as if flying. Dilraba felt that in the modern world, this kind of ability seemed strange. “So we communicated and made it look more like parkour, a contemporary extreme sport. Many modern people can do that realistically without wires. I think this looks more natural and real,” she continued.
When asked what message her character wants to convey in a modern drama with a supernatural setting like Love on the Turquoise Land, she said: “Two words that come to my mind are perseverance and courage.” As the story progresses, perseverance is clearly visible. Many people perform their professions with persistence—firefighters, police, nurses, doctors—everyone keeps fighting in their respective duties. They wait for the time when someone might need them. They are always ready to face challenges and battles,” she explained.
“The other is courage. Many characters who are actually ordinary people like Yan Tuo and his sister—they fight back, supporting those who have the power to fight the darkness. We cannot do it alone. We need every ordinary person to help fight this great shadow. That is what I believe the drama wants to convey,” she added.
An Actor’s Reflection: Sensitivity and Social Responsibility
Even though she has been in the entertainment industry for more than 12 years, Dilraba feels there are still many things she wants to explore as an actress. “I feel every role is different. I haven’t found a certain type of character that I want to play for a long time. I am still exploring myself. I don’t want to limit what kind of roles I can play. So I want to try every role that is interesting to me. If a script is given to me and the role in it is something I haven’t tried before—maybe even a profession I’ve never heard of—I want to try it,” she explained.
Dilraba also highlighted the importance of sensitivity and empathy for an actor. “Being sensitive is important. I can quickly feel what the character wants to convey to the audience,” she clarified. She also emphasized the importance of continuing to learn, including understanding other professions, because “it’s never too late to gain knowledge.”
As a public figure, Dilraba feels she has a social responsibility. She hopes her work has a positive impact. For example, the drama Sword Rose that she previously starred in, which raised the issue of human trafficking, is expected to increase audience awareness and provide knowledge for protecting themselves and their families.
Facing Criticism with Openness
Dilraba is open about negative criticism. In the past, in her 20s, it was difficult for her to accept harsh comments. Now, she chooses to focus on sincerity in her work, without letting negative thoughts hinder creativity.
However, she still responds to professional criticism. After the drama Sword Rose aired, she received a comment that her voice was too thin. She then learned to adjust her vocal placement so that it sounded lower and suited the character.
