辛芷蕾(左)成为继巩俐、叶德娴后,第3位华人威尼斯影后。周迅(右)被指推掉夺后的机会。
辛芷蕾(左)成为继巩俐、叶德娴后,第3位华人威尼斯影后。周迅(右)被指推掉夺后的机会。

Xin Zhilei Wins Best Actress at Venice, Zhou Xun Criticized for 'Missing Out on Glory'

Published at Sep 08, 2025 12:46 pm
Xin Zhilei, who played 'Consort Jia' in the Chinese drama 'Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace,' soared in popularity after winning Best Actress at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her new film 'Daylight Ahead.' Reportedly, when 'Daylight Ahead' was first being prepared, the production team had invited Zhou Xun, who also starred in 'Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace,' to take the role. In the end, Zhou Xun declined the offer after comprehensive consideration, which netizens interpreted as her missing out on the chance to win an international Best Actress award.
According to reports, Zhou Xun was invited to play the lead role 'Meiyun' in 'Daylight Ahead,' but her team turned down the offer due to various factors, including the suitability (age) of the character, her understanding of the script, and scheduling conflicts, although this information has not been confirmed by Zhou herself. It is also said that director Cai Shangjun approached at least a dozen actresses, with Zhou Xun being just one of them.
There is heated debate on Weibo, with some netizens believing that Xin Zhilei's win may have squeezed some resources from other actresses, while others say Zhou Xun probably wishes she had 'known earlier' and that she truly 'missed the glory of the international film scene.' Nevertheless, some film critics rationally analyze that when a Chinese actor shines on the international stage, it should be understood as 'one person's dream coming true means everyone can dream; it doesn't mean everyone else's dreams are shattered.' Other netizens also point out that Xin Zhilei's own outstanding performance has nothing to do with Zhou Xun—both actresses deserve respect, and there's no need to praise one by belittling the other.

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联合日报新闻室


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