39-year-old Chinese actress Xin Zhilei gained fame in 2016 for her role as 'Imperial Concubine Jia' in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. Recently, she drew widespread attention once again after winning Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for the movie No Rest for the Brave, even sparking discussions about the salaries of her team staff.
Recently, some netizens revealed that Xin Zhilei’s team enjoys very generous compensation—her staff receive a minimum monthly salary of 30,000 RMB (about 17,000 MYR), not including various holiday benefits. Compared to general star studios where salaries range from 4,000 to 10,000 RMB (about 2,364 to 5,912 MYR), Xin's team's pay is at least three times higher.
In fact, Xin Zhilei has frankly admitted on past programs that she feels guilty towards her family due to her past financial struggles. She revealed that her father was paralyzed for five years before his death, and one day he asked her for a computer so he could chat with relatives. However, because she was strapped for money at the time, she could only decline. After her father passed, she could only 'burn' him paper-made computers every year as an offering.
Xin Zhilei also recounted that when her grandfather, who had late-stage liver cancer, came to Beijing for treatment, she wanted to treat him to authentic Beijing roast duck. Unfortunately, she had just moved to Beijing to pursue her career and only had about 2,000 RMB (about 1,182 MYR) left. Understanding her hardship, her grandfather didn’t dare order freely from the menu, resulting in a less than satisfying meal for both. Having once failed her family due to financial pressures, Xin Zhilei candidly stated: “I admit I desire money, because I hope I’ll never again regret not being able to afford a meal or a computer.”
Xin Zhilei returned to China on the 8th. When she appeared at Beijing Airport, she remained as grounded as ever, wearing a brown top, jeans, and flat shoes. In addition to carrying a bag, she was also holding a shopping bag, prompting netizens to joke that she looked just like someone heading home from the supermarket. When she headed to the airport, she was even seen eating an apple while walking—absolutely a down-to-earth award-winning actress.
News sources: ETtoday Starlight Cloud, Oriental Daily