LayarHijau – Stephen Chow has officially introduced his newest Star Girl alongside the release of Kung Fu Soccer on July 11. The legendary Hong Kong filmmaker also unveiled 19-year-old newcomer Xue Ye, who quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media.
Newly released character photos showcase Xue Ye’s youthful yet spirited appearance, a look many believe perfectly matches Stephen Chow’s signature preference for actors with expressive, memorable faces that naturally fit his storytelling style.
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In Kung Fu Soccer, Xue Ye plays a character who shares her name and possesses qinggong, a traditional Chinese martial arts skill that allows practitioners to move with extraordinary lightness and agility. Shortly after her introduction, her name climbed Weibo’s trending search list.
According to Chinese media, Stephen Chow’s decision to let the actress use her character’s name as her stage name reflects the confidence he has placed in the young newcomer. The move also aligns with his long-held philosophy of treating new actors as a “blank canvas,” allowing them to fully embody the characters they portray.
Many netizens praised Xue Ye’s appearance, saying she has the qualities expected of a Stephen Chow Star Girl. Others, however, pointed out that she bears a striking resemblance to young actress Ai Mi, with some viewers saying they had trouble telling the two apart while watching the film and even joked that they looked like twins.
Some fans also noted that although Xue Ye is not the film’s lead actress, Stephen Chow gave her a special introduction, which they believe highlights how highly he values her potential. Others questioned whether established stars Dilraba Dilmurat and Zhang Xiaofei, who also appear in Kung Fu Soccer, have effectively been relegated to supporting roles.
The title Star Girl refers to actresses introduced or propelled to fame through Stephen Chow’s films. Over the years, many of them have gone on to become some of the biggest names in the Chinese entertainment industry.
Among the most iconic are Sharla Cheung, remembered for her unforgettable backward glance in The Kung Fu Cult Master; Athena Chu, who became a screen legend as Zixia in A Chinese Odyssey; Karen Mok, a frequent Stephen Chow collaborator; and Cecilia Cheung, whose film debut in King of Comedy launched her career across Asia.
Other notable Star Girls include Huang Shengyi, who rose to fame as the mute girl Fong in Kung Fu Hustle; Kitty Zhang Yuqi, who gained widespread recognition as Teacher Yuen in CJ7; Xu Jiao, who won the Best New Performer award at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards for playing Zhou Xiaodi in CJ7 at just nine years old; and Lin Yun, who was personally selected by Stephen Chow from around 120,000 audition participants to star in The Mermaid. Other actresses who have worked with Stephen Chow, including Sandra Ng, Chingmy Yau, Carina Lau, and Anita Yuen, have also enjoyed successful careers in Hong Kong cinema.
