Jing Tian Struggles to Portray a Young Girl: Criticized for “Unnatural” Performance
Chinese actress Jing Tian, 36, has been criticized by industry experts for her “inauthentic” portrayal of a young girl in her latest role.
In the fantasy drama The Four Seas of Light and Darkness, which premiered on iQiyi in early August, Jing Tian plays the character Nan Yan, a young woman with a unique talent for healing who enjoys traveling in search of medicinal herbs. During her quest to find a cure for her mother, Nan Yan encounters Ke Yang (played by Zhang Linghe) and forces him to become her test subject. Despite starting as adversaries, the two eventually fall in love and work together to counter schemes in the celestial realm.
Nan Yan is described as a beautiful, intelligent, witty, and romantic young woman. However, according to Sohu, Jing Tian’s portrayal of the character often comes across as forced, with frequent frowning, head shaking, and pouting. These actions appear unnatural, making it seem like she is trying too hard to embody the youthful and lively essence of Nan Yan.
In scenes where Nan Yan confronts her enemies, Jing Tian’s performance primarily relies on exaggerated expressions, such as furrowing her brow and shaking her head, in an attempt to convey the mischievousness of a young girl. On the Douban forum, many viewers have expressed similar critiques, with comments like, “The actress’s real age is showing, making the performance awkward to watch,” and “Jing Tian is only five years younger than the actress playing Nan Yan’s mother.” Another viewer wrote, “I can’t stand the exaggerated acting.”
In the later episodes, Jing Tian’s performance has been received more favorably, as Nan Yan matures and faces more tragic experiences. Directed by Wen De Guang, the drama finished filming in September 2023 and also stars Guan Hong, Qiao Zhenyu, Fan Ming, and Gao Lu.
Jing Tian has been active in the entertainment industry for 18 years, with roles in films such as My Belle Boss, The Warring States, Special ID, Police Story 2013, From Vegas to Macau, The Great Wall, and Kong: Skull Island. Despite her extensive filmography, her acting has not been highly regarded by critics. Jing Tian’s career took a significant turn after her role in Rattan, released in 2021, where she was praised for both her acting and beauty as she portrayed a seductive demoness.
Jing Tian was previously in a relationship with Olympic table tennis champion Zhang Jike, who won the gold medal in men’s singles at the London 2012 Olympics. Since their breakup in 2019, Jing Tian has not publicly discussed her love life.
