LayarHijau – Talented actor Zhang Linghe has just recorded a new milestone in his international career after the renowned French print media, Ouest-France, released a special report on him on April 21, 2026. In the review, Ouest-France clearly praised the lead star of the drama The Pursuit of Jade as a “Rising Chinese Superstar Sweeping France.”
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This moment is particularly special as it marks the first time the newspaper has dedicated a full feature to reviewing the profile and complete works of a Chinese actor. Zhang Linghe’s global popularity was also evident through his extraordinary achievements on international social media, where he managed to garner one million likes in just 14 hours for a single post, as well as gaining over one million new followers within one month, breaking the record for the fastest fan growth for a Chinese male actor abroad.
Ouest-France itself is no ordinary media outlet; it is the daily paid newspaper with the largest circulation in France, even holding the title of the highest-circulation French-language newspaper in the world. Based in Rennes and serving the Western French region through to Paris, this media house, established in 1944, holds immense influence in shaping French public opinion. Unlike other national newspapers that are often exclusive, Ouest-France is known for its vast and diverse readership. Therefore, the selection of Zhang Linghe as the subject of a special report indicates that the actor’s influence has penetrated the mainstream market in Europe, beyond just Asian drama fans.
In the edition, Ouest-France highlighted the phenomenon of the Chinese entertainment industry’s massive use of artificial intelligence (AI), taking Zhang Linghe’s latest drama, The Pursuit of Jade, as an example. The media discussed the controversy surrounding iQIYI’s use of “Na Dou Pro” technology, which transformed the visuals of Zhang Linghe and his co-star, Tian Xiwei, into AI-based digital advertising models without their direct physical involvement. This report sparked a heated discussion in France regarding the future of the acting profession, especially following statements suggesting that productions using real human actors might one day be considered rare and expensive “intangible cultural heritage.”
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Despite being overshadowed by controversial issues regarding the digitalization of actors, Ouest-France continued to praise the genuine acting quality displayed by Zhang Linghe. They noted that the massive success of The Pursuit of Jade across various platforms remains rooted in the human emotion and chemistry that cannot be replaced by machines.
The article emphasized that although AI can reduce production costs and speed up international dubbing processes, audiences still value the “soul” in acting that can only be provided by real actors. This further solidifies Zhang Linghe’s position as a global icon whose achievements are now officially recognized by one of the most influential press institutions in the world.
