Liu Yifei – From “Flower Vase” to Captivating Performance in “The Tale of Rose”

Liu Yifei is a familiar name to Vietnamese audiences, known for her roles in hit dramas such as “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” “So You Are Still Here,” “Mong Hua Lu,” and “Go with the Wind.” Despite her stunning looks, Liu Yifei has often faced criticism for her lackluster acting skills, and has been labeled a “flower vase” throughout her more than 20-year career.

Even during the peak of her beauty in “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” Liu Yifei was criticized for her unnatural crying scenes. Compared to seasoned actors like Hu Qun, Liu Dao, and Gao Hu, her acting seemed comparatively weak. In 2023, her performance in “Go with the Wind” drew controversy for her cold, indifferent reaction to the news of a close friend’s death. Many felt that, after 20 years, Liu Yifei’s acting had not improved.

Her film roles have also attracted negative reviews. Movies like “Once Upon a Time” and “Mulan” flopped at the box office, leading to her being labeled a “box office poison.” The failure of “Mulan” in 2020 particularly damaged her reputation, even causing fans in China to turn away from her.

Recently, however, Liu Yifei has surprised audiences with her impressive performance in “The Tale of Rose.” On Chinese social media, the keyword “Liu Yifei’s acting” has garnered over 890 million searches, with many positive comments about her childbirth scene in episode 24. Her expressions of pain, happiness, and joy upon seeing her child were praised for their naturalness and emotional depth. Her decision to appear without makeup during the childbirth scene also demonstrated her commitment to fully embodying her character, disregarding her star status.

This particular scene has garnered over 70 million views, becoming one of the highlights of the entire show. Previously, in “The Tale of Rose,” Liu Yifei also made an impression with a tearful scene where her character, Huang Yimei, destroys property upon learning that her first love, Zhang Guodong (played by Peng Quan’an), is moving abroad without informing her. Additionally, when discussing her stifling marriage with her friend Su Su, Liu Yifei effectively conveyed fatigue, insecurity, and helplessness through her eyes and dialogue.

It’s undeniable that Liu Yifei has made significant progress with her role as Huang Yimei in “The Tale of Rose” Despite ongoing controversies surrounding the show, this performance may be considered one of the highlights of her career. After more than two weeks on air, “The Tale of Rose” has received a Douban score of 7.1 with over 83,000 reviews.