LayarHijau – Chinese actress Yang Zi has once again captured attention with her latest drama, Born to Be Alive (生命樹), scheduled to premiere on the 30th of this month. Starring alongside Hu Ge, Yang Zi showcases a striking transformation in her acting, moving far from her idol image, earning widespread praise since the trailer’s release.
Born to Be Alive is adapted from a true story about anti-poaching operations and carries a strong ecological protection message. Yang Zi plays Bai Ju, a mountain patrol police officer in the highlands. To fully embody the character, she appears without makeup, portraying realistic details such as sun-reddened skin, highland freckles, and chapped lips. Despite the challenging filming conditions, Yang Zi insisted on performing her own action scenes, demonstrating full dedication to her role.
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Her performance in the released trailer has received considerable acclaim, particularly in a poignant scene where Bai Ju witnesses her younger sibling skinning a deer. Without any dialogue, Yang Zi conveys a gradual shift in emotion—from shock that stiffens her body, to denial at the betrayal of someone close, to complete devastation as she lowers her gaze. Small details, like her nails pressing against her palms, further intensify the sense of despair in the scene.
Ahead of the premiere, Yang Zi attended the drama’s press conference in Beijing with her co-stars. She appeared with long straight black hair, wearing a leather outfit consisting of a skirt and boots. Her bright smile, with a subtle dimple, contrasted with the tough image of her on-screen character. Upon entering the venue, she even turned to wave at fans calling her name.
During the sharing session, Yang Zi spoke about her experience playing a mother for the first time. She revealed that when she first met her 12-year-old on-screen daughter, she was surprised by the child’s mature way of thinking, prompting her to communicate as she would with an adult. She also recalled one particularly memorable scene.
“There’s one scene I remember vividly, when I was talking to her about her father. Seeing her lying in bed, along with the notes she wrote, I suddenly felt this maternal aura. Tears flowed without me realizing it. At that moment, I truly believed I had a daughter and that I loved her very much,” Yang Zi shared.
The atmosphere lightened when the host asked, “If Bai Ju one day becomes the head of the bureau, how should she be addressed?” Quick on her feet, Yang Zi jokingly connected it to Hu Ge’s name: “It’s as complicated as calling ‘Hu Ge-ge.’ It’s easier to just say ‘Director.’” Her spontaneous answer drew laughter from the audience.
In Mandarin, “head of the bureau” is 局长 (ju zhang). So if Bai Ju were to become the bureau chief, addressing her formally would be Bai Ju Ju Zhang. Meanwhile, Ge (哥) in Yang Zi’s example means “older brother.” Using repeated words like this in Mandarin, as in the context she jokinged about, is considered humorous and unusual.
At the end of the event, an industry leader also openly praised Yang Zi’s acting skills. “If anyone still calls you just a traffic star in the future, just say: ‘I’m a skill-based actor,’” he said. Yang Zi responded with a shy yet happy smile, clapping along.
Alongside Yang Zi, actor Hu Ge also attended the event. Born to Be Alive has become one of the most anticipated dramas, not only due to its serious and realistic themes but also because of Yang Zi’s increasingly nuanced and layered performance.
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