Young Actress Selected from 20,000 Candidates to Play Lin Daiyu
Zhang Miaoyi was chosen by the director of Dream of the Red Chamber to play Lin Daiyu due to her “uncanny resemblance to the character in the novel.”
Miaoyi, 26, has captured audience attention with her lead role in the film Dream of the Red Chamber: A Love Story, which premiered in Chinese theaters on August 16. She portrays Lin Daiyu, a young lady from a prominent feudal family who falls in love with Jia Baoyu. Their love faces societal obstacles, and they are forced into politically motivated marriages.
The film is adapted from Cao Xueqin’s classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber, in which Lin Daiyu is depicted as a beautiful, delicate, and graceful young woman. She is intelligent but physically fragile, with an overly sensitive and melancholic nature. According to BJ News on August 17, director Hu Mei revealed that Zhang Miaoyi was selected from around 20,000 candidates, having gone through several rounds of auditions before landing the role of Lin Daiyu.
Miaoyi underwent nine months of intensive training in posture, music, diction, and dance to prepare for the role. Director Hu Mei remarked that while Zhang Miaoyi may not possess ethereal beauty, she has a distinctive aura. After the auditions, Hu Mei saw a spiritual connection between Miaoyi and Lin Daiyu. Hu also noted that although Miaoyi is typically cheerful with a bright smile, she became more somber during filming due to her deep immersion in the character, who has many scenes that require emotional depth and tears.
Zhang Miaoyi at a promotional event for Dream of the Red Chamber. Since the film’s release, the actress has faced significant criticism regarding her performance, with thousands commenting that she appeared inexperienced and failed to capture the character’s inner turmoil.
During a fan Q&A session, Miaoyi expressed her admiration for Lin Daiyu after reading the novel, saying she loved the character for her bravery, “daring to challenge traditional notions, resisting dogma in a feudal society, and doing things differently.” While some viewers felt that Miaoyi’s understanding of the character was superficial, others argued that this was her personal interpretation, and each person may perceive the novel differently.
In recent years, Miaoyi has appeared in several short films on video platforms. However, according to Sohu, she has yet to make a significant impact in the entertainment industry due to a lack of standout roles.
