A 75-year-old actress in China has triggered a nationwide debate over age representation after portraying a teenage girl in a new drama series and sharing a kiss with a much younger male co-star.
Liu Xiaoqing, a well-known figure in Chinese cinema with more than 10 million followers on social media, is called China’s “ageless goddess" for her youthful energy and commitment to acting roles, according to theSouth China Morning Post.
Liu plays the role of Su Wanqing, an 18-year-old embroiderer who rises from family disgrace to become the wife of King Jing, in a new mini-drama calledSplendid Tranquillitythat aired in February. Her portrayal of a teenage character has reportedly utilised extensive makeup and beauty fillers to achieve a youthful experience.
What triggered outrage over Liu’s new role is a scene where her character shares an intimate kiss with King Jing, played by 45-year-old Jin Jia, after being rescued from a dungeon. The kiss, apparently rehearsed thoroughly and filmed from multiple angles, led to mixed reactions.
“The kiss made me uncomfortable. It felt like a grandmother falling in love with her grandson," a critic commented online. Another questioned whether Liu is relying on younger actors to prolong her career.
“She just refuses to confront her ageing. Next, is she going to play a child?" another person wrote. However, others praised her roles, saying she is challenging age boundaries. “Why are actresses always judged so harshly? Liu has not broken any laws and delivered an outstanding performance, yet she faces ridicule," another person wrote.
The behind-the-scenes footage showed Liu and Jin enthusiastically discussing the script and choreography for the kiss scene. Reports also suggest that she sleeps only about three hours a night to cope with the demanding filming schedule and has maintained a strict fitness regimen for many years.
In response to the backlash, Liu said he kiss scene was an integral part of the script and that she fully respects the creative process. Jin has not publicly addressed the controversy so far.
Liu has starred in over 70 films and TV dramas, earning esteemed accolades in China. However, her career has seen a fair share of controversies. In 2002, Liu spent 422 days in prison for a tax evasion charge totalling 14.6 million yuan ($2.2 million), as per theSCMPreport.
At 58, she portrayed a 16-year-old princess in Hero Sui and Tang Dynasties 3, and in 2023, she played an 18-year-old bandit, with an actor 18 years younger than her cast as her father.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
