Although he only appeared in a few scenes of the legendary Chinese television series Journey to the West, child actor Wang Lei left a strong impression on viewers with his adorable appearance.
Few know that the 1986 adaptation of the classic novel actually used six actors to play the monk Tang Sanzang, three adults and three child actors.
In episode 4, titled “Imprisoned at Five Elements Mountain”, several flashback scenes explore Tang Sanzang’s early life. In those scenes, the young monk was played by Wang Lei. Director Yang Jie chose him in part because his facial features resembled those of Wang Yue, who played the adult Tang Sanzang at the time.
Although he appeared briefly, Wang Lei’s bright eyes, gentle smile and charming face made him unforgettable for many viewers. After Journey to the West, he participated in a few smaller projects before focusing on his studies.
Quit acting after an unsuccessful “glow-up”.
As Wang Lei grew up, his appearance changed significantly. Many people commented that he no longer resembled the cute child that young Tang Sanzang once played.
Her delicate facial features reportedly became more square and her eyes and nose looked different from her childhood appearance. Because of these changes, some observers joked that he had not experienced a “successful blow-up.”
However, even though his appearance may have changed, Wang Lei’s career path has proven to be very successful.
After finishing high school, the former child actor was admitted to the prestigious Sichuan Conservatory of Music, one of China’s top institutions for music education.
Become a powerful figure in the music industry
After graduation, Wang Lei moved into the music industry and built a career as a composer and music producer. Over the years, he has participated in producing albums for many famous stars across Asia.
Artists linked to projects he has worked on include Zhao Wei, Michael Wong, Rain, BoA, Han Hong and TVXQ. In addition to production work, Wang Lei also wrote analytical columns for music magazines and occasionally worked as a judge on entertainment programs.
Chinese media previously reported that he helped found NetEase Cloud Music and played a key role in turning it into a well-known music distribution platform. Subsequently, he was invited to join Baidu Music as general manager.
In 2016, Wang Lei resigned from his role at Baidu and was recruited by Tencent Music Entertainment to help run the company ahead of its IPO.
Despite his prominent career in the music industry, Wang Lei has kept a very low profile regarding his personal life. The media rarely managed to obtain information about his family or his relationships.
One of the few personal incidents known to the public occurred in 2013, when he was misidentified as another singer of the same name who had been convicted of robbing a woman while drunk. The misunderstanding caused brief confusion before it was cleared up.
Sources: Znews
