Suppress yourself! The amazing characters in film and television dramas, the classics that the actors themselves can't surpass!
The "Insurmountability" of Classic Roles: The Dilemma of Actors and the Changes in the Aesthetics of the Times
At the beginning of the article, let's review the actresses mentioned above and their classic roles: Jiang Xin's Mu Wanqing, Sun Li's Zhen Huan, Lin Xinru's Xia Ziwei, Jing Tian's Si Tou, Tang Yan's Zixuan, Peng Xiaoran's Qu Xiaofeng. They have all made a name for themselves with these roles, and these roles have also become the highlight of their acting careers, and it is even difficult to be surpassed by latecomers, let alone themselves. This begs the question: why do some roles become insurmountable peaks for actors?
This phenomenon can be interpreted from two dimensions: the actor himself and the aesthetics of the times.
From an actor's point of view, the success of a role is the result of a combination of factors: the actor's acting skills, personal charm, character setting, the blessing of the service, and the right time, place, and people. In some cases, an actor encounters a character who is highly compatible with his temperament when he is young, and the natural expression of his acting skills and deep understanding of the role at that time combine to create a classic image. As you grow older and have more life experience, the actor's acting skills may become more mature, but it is not easy to replicate the aura and fit with the character when he was young.
Peng Xiaoran is a good example. She made a stunning appearance with the role of Qu Xiaofeng in "East Palace", her red dress and Western style makeup, coupled with her own exotic temperament, made her the "Pearl of the Western Regions" in the hearts of countless audiences. However, after leaving the filter of "East Palace", Peng Xiaoran's follow-up works had a mediocre response, and it was difficult to create brilliance. This may be because the success of Qu Xiaofeng's role is too dazzling, or it may be because her subsequent roles are not as compatible with her as Qu Xiaofeng.
On the other hand, the aesthetics of the times are constantly changing. Each era has its own unique aesthetic preferences, and a character may be considered the ultimate in beauty in the context of the era at that time, but in the current aesthetic context, it may seem mediocre or even a little outdated. For example, the Hong Kong-style beauties of the eighties and nineties of the last century were peerless at the time, but today's aesthetics are more diverse, and the definition of "beauty" is more inclusive.
Taking Ruby Lin's Xia Ziwei as an example, at that time, her gentle temperament and weak image, coupled with the national popularity of the drama "Huanzhu Gege", made her the childhood goddess of the post-80s audience. But if it is placed now, this image of weakness may no longer be the mainstream aesthetic, and the audience may prefer independent female characters with distinct personalities.
In addition to the above two points, we also need to think about a deeper question: is the "insurmountability" of classic characters good or bad?
It is naturally good for actors to have a classic role that is remembered by the audience, which is a testament to their strength and influence. However, if an actor is "stuck" by a role and struggles to break through the stereotype, then this will also limit their development.
How to break this "dilemma"?
Actors need to constantly challenge themselves, try different types of roles, and broaden their acting paths in order to avoid being stereotyped. At the same time, you also need to continue to improve your acting skills and use your strength to prove that you are not just a "classic role" actor, but an actor with infinite possibilities.
From the audience's point of view, we should also be more tolerant and understanding of the actors. Don't confuse actors with characters, you should appreciate their different performances in different productions, rather than blindly comparing them with classic roles from the past.
The film and television industry is an ever-changing industry, and aesthetics are constantly changing. We should look at actors and their works with a more open and inclusive mind, encourage them to continue to innovate, and bring us more wonderful characters and stories.
Finally, the emergence of classic characters is not accidental, it is the result of a combination of factors such as actors, characters, and the aesthetics of the times. And whether an actor can break through the limitations of classic roles depends on their own efforts and the opportunities of the times. We look forward to seeing more excellent actors and creating more memorable classic roles in the future.