Recently, celebrated Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing has sparked a national conversation after playing an 18-year-old girl in a new mini-drama at the age of 75.
Sources state that the veteran performer, known across China as the “ageless goddess” and boasting over 10 million social media followers, took on the role of Su Wanqing in Splendid Tranquility, which aired in February.
The character is a teenage embroiderer who overcomes family disgrace to become the wife of King Jing in this 80-episode series, with each episode running just two minutes. Liu’s transformation into a teenager relied on makeup, beauty filters, and what observers note as her considerable acting ability.
But it was one particular scene that ignited debate across Chinese social media: a romantic moment in which her character, freshly rescued from a dungeon by King Jing (played by 45-year-old Jin Jia) shares an intimate kiss with him in a private chamber. The scene was rehearsed and captured from multiple camera angles.
The response has been deeply divided. While some viewers have praised Liu’s dedication to her craft and her refusal to accept age-based limitations, others have questioned whether the 30-year age gap between the actors and the portrayal itself crosses a line.
The controversy has also prompted deeper questions about gender and age in entertainment. A gender equality activist raised a pointed observation: would the same criticism emerge if the roles were reversed, with a 75-year-old male actor romancing a 45-year-old actress in the role of a young woman?
There has been a double standard in entertainment industries worldwide, where older male actors routinely play opposite much younger female co-stars with little comment, while older actresses often find their roles drying up entirely.
Liu Xiaoqing herself has spent decades defying conventional expectations about aging in the spotlight. Her commitment to maintaining her career into her eighth decade stands in contrast to an industry, both in China and globally. Hollywood and other film industries often push women aside as they age while granting men the freedom to remain romantic leads well into their later years.
