LayarHijau – William Chan has finally opened up about the intense backlash he once faced over his appearance in the historical fantasy drama Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (斛珠夫人). In an interview with VOGUE China’s Fashion & Beauty edition released on December 12, the actor reflected on key moments in his career, including the wave of criticism surrounding his styling and overall look in the costume drama.
Aired in 2021, Novoland: Pearl Eclipse sparked heated debate among viewers, particularly over William Chan’s character design and costumes. His appearance became a frequent target of online criticism, with the word “ugly” trending at the time and the topic dominating social media discussions. Many netizens argued that his look felt “too modern” for a historical setting, with some even claiming he was not suited for costume dramas at all.
William Chan admitted that those comments took a serious emotional toll on him. He candidly described himself as having a “fragile heart,” saying the harsh public criticism made his heart feel “broken.” He added that as a Scorpio, he tends to hold on to painful experiences, and that trait has not changed much even as he has grown older.
The experience did more than just leave emotional scars—it also influenced his career choices. William Chan revealed that after Novoland: Pearl Eclipse, he decided to stop taking on costume drama roles altogether. He felt that, visually, he was not well-suited to historical or royal settings, believing his modern features did not align with audience expectations for such genres.
Novoland: Pearl Eclipse is a Chinese historical fantasy drama starring Yang Mi and William Chan, adapted from a novel by Xiao Ruse. The series premiered on November 10, 2021, on Tencent Video and WeTV, and was also broadcast on Beijing Television. Set in the fictional Zheng Dynasty, the story follows Ye Haishi, a young woman from a fishing village whose life changes dramatically after she risks everything to obtain rare dragon pearls to help her village pay oppressive taxes.
After losing her father in a tragic incident, Haishi vows to take revenge against the empire she holds responsible. Her path crosses with Fang Zhu (played by William Chan), a powerful court official who brings her to the imperial capital and trains her as his disciple and as a protector of the emperor, while concealing her true identity as a woman. The drama weaves together themes of loyalty, romance, and revenge, creating an emotionally charged narrative.
The series spans 48 episodes and is packed with political intrigue, royal conflicts, and evolving relationships that follow the characters from youth into adulthood.
Despite its high-budget production and visually elaborate world-building, audience response to Novoland: Pearl Eclipse was mixed. On Douban, the drama received a relatively low score of around 4.8–4.9 out of 10, reflecting sharply divided opinions among viewers.
Even so, the efforts of the cast and production team in bringing a complex fantasy world to life were widely noted, while debates over whether certain actors are well-matched to costume drama roles continue to be a recurring topic among fans of Chinese dramas.
