When divorce becomes a turning point in your career
Many Chinese celebrity couples were once at the height of fame, enjoying stable careers and public admiration. However, divorce often marks a time when their professional trajectories begin to diverge sharply. While marriage breakdown may briefly gain public attention, it does not determine an artist’s long-term relevance. For those who seize the moment to reinvent themselves and commit to stronger projects, divorce can become a turning point rather than a setback.
Michelle Chen and Chen Xiao: a return shaped by role choices
After getting married in 2016, Michelle Chen significantly reduced her workload as an actress to focus on family life. causing his career to stall for several years. It was only after the couple announced their divorce in February 2025 that she steadfastly returned to the screen with renewed ambition.
His drama at the end of 2025 Sniper butterfly marked a remarkable comeback. Despite initial curiosity around her pairing with a 19-year-younger co-star, Daniel Zhou, audiences ultimately stuck around for his consistent performance and a clearly defined character arc.
Chen Xiao, on the other hand, has maintained relatively steady momentum over the years with acclaimed projects such as A dream of splendor AND Nothing gold can remain. His most recent male-focused business drama, however, tackled a niche topic that struggled to attract mainstream viewers, resulting in weaker broadcast performance and limited public response.
Yang Mi and Hawick Lau: a fight to regain lost ground
Since their divorce in 2018, Yang Mi has faced mixed reviews of her career. This led to a series of underperforming projects and three box office disappointments in 2024 criticism of his declining form. Instead of retiring, he continued to experiment across genres.
His 2025 historical drama This flourishing land it is widely seen as a game changer. With strong ratings and a more restrained, character-driven performance, Yang Mi regained the audience’s goodwill and it showed clear improvement in acting depth.
Hawick Lau chose a more cautious path after the divorce, focusing mainly on work in Hong Kong and appearing less frequently in major mainland productions. His last TV drama aired in 2020, and reduced visibility has gradually cooled his public profile. Past rumors involving Wang Ou also continued to overshadow his career, hastening his disappearance from the mainstream spotlight.
Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng: Different Growth Speeds
Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng ended their brief marriage in 2021. After the separation, Zhao Liying devoted herself almost entirely to work, selecting high-quality projects and expanding her role in production.
Dramas like Wild flowering AND The Story of Xing Fu signaled his shift from purely commercial “idolatrous drama” roles towards complex, socially grounded characters. This transition helped her maintain strong industrial position in an increasingly demanding market.
Feng Shaofeng continued to consistently act in all genres, including war, modern drama, period drama, and mystery. However, his projects failed to generate a strong public impact. His 2025 war drama Zhen Di was considered niche, further widening the influence gap between ex-spouses.
Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming: Stability versus setbacks
Since the divorce, Angelababy has actively pursued television projects in an effort to reaffirm her acting credentials. While some roles reflected remarkable effort and growtha series of controversies, including his appearance at a controversial Paris performance of BLACKPINK’s Lisa, have negatively affected his public image.
With acting ability still up for debate and less industry support than in previous years, Angelababy faced increasing difficulty in obtaining new projects, leading to a notable slowdown in his career.
Huang Xiaoming has opted for a safer route, maintaining visibility through variety shows and appearing in films at a moderate pace. Even if he didn’t deliver important artistic discoveriesthis strategy helped preserve name recognition. Rumors of a remarriage and fatherhood with model Ye Ke have attracted attention, but Huang has refrained from making public confirmations, choosing to focus on work and occasionally co-parenting with his ex-wife.
Wu Qian and Zhang Yujian: Public opinion and career consequences
The case of Wu Qian and Zhang Yujian highlights how personal image can directly influence professional outcomes. The two met during filming Love at first sight and they kept their relationship private until 2021, when they revealed they were married with a daughter. Their marriage ended shortly thereafter.
Public reaction to the divorce has been deeply divided, with Zhang Yujian facing heavy criticism over how she handled her private life during the marriage. The backlash severely damaged his public image, causing a prolonged absence from major television projects and no new work of note in recent years.
Wu Qian, in contrast, received widespread public support and continued to secure acting opportunities. Friends in the industry helped introduce her to variety shows income stability waiting for new roles. In 2025, the drama Liu Zi Mei proved successful in both ratings and critical reception, helping her restore momentum.
Sources: VTV
