“She only smiles to keep the peace, but her mood says otherwise,” QQ noted about actress Wang Churan, whose facial expressions have become a hot topic on Chinese entertainment forums.
The year 2023 marked perhaps the darkest chapter in the career of Wang Churan, once celebrated as the “perfect replica of Liu Yifei.” His long-awaited collaboration with Yang Yang in the drama Fireworks of my heart it was expected to elevate it to top-tier status. Instead, it turned into a career mishap that triggered a landslide in public opinion.
The drama faced negative reactions due to its outdated plot, and Wang’s character, Xu Qin, was condemned for being blindly in love and ungrateful towards his adoptive family. Viewers not only disliked the character, but expressed that disdain towards Wang herself, a painful but common occurrence when audiences are too emotionally invested.
Things spiraled further when Wang Churan was accused of having diva-like behavior, acting arrogant despite being relatively new to fame. She was often caught rolling her eyes or glaring at co-stars, fueling rumors that she believed the spotlight was hers alone. Brands began severing ties and she disappeared from many end-of-year events, perhaps avoiding the cameras to escape further criticism over her now-infamous “death blunder.”
Fortunately, 2024 brought signs of recovery. With roles in dramas like The joy of living 2 AND You’re the right oneWang began to stake his claim. In The joy of living 2her portrayal of beauty Sang Wen went viral not for her performance, but for a single unnaturally embarrassing smile this left netizens unsure whether to laugh or worry about his facial muscles. On the contrary, You’re the right one it earned her praise for fitting perfectly into period costumes, embodying the ethereal “fairytale beauty” often idealized in Chinese historical dramas.
According to QQ, following his series of image-related scandals, Wang Churan made a conscious effort to change: less eye-rolling, more smiling. He explained that many of the photos that people interpreted as upset were taken at times when he was simply… distancing. A hilariously heartfelt apology that, oddly enough, worked. Now, when she is caught looking blank, fans joke, “It’s probably just empty inside.”
Since then, Wang has embraced a new rule: always smile. Cameras on? He’s smiling, albeit stiffly. QQ even described his current smile as “the most fake in the entertainment industry”the guy who says “I’m smiling, so you’ll leave me alone.”
However, Wang Churan remains one of the most visually striking actresses born after 1999. Her red carpet presence is undeniable and her acting skills, while debated, are not entirely lacking, especially when the role does not require excessive emotional expression.
After that, Wang Churan will return in two upcoming dramas: Hidden shadow AND Exaggerate. Let’s hope that this time he smiles not to appease the audience, but because the character is sincerely loved.
Sources: K14
