Wang Churan (王楚然)

Wang Churan is a Chinese actress who was born in Shanghai, China, on January 21st in year 1999. She studied at Shanghai Theatre Academy and made her tv-drama acting series debut in 2016 when she appeared in Oh My General (2017). She made it big in 2017 when appearing in the movie Lovers Across Space (2017). More recently, she has appeared in the drama series Serenade of Peaceful Joy (2020).

Wang Churan first captured attention as the “Nation‘s Little Cousin” (国民表妹) with her striking classical beauty in her debut drama. Often dubbed “Little Liu Yifei” for her ethereal looks, the 172cm Shanghai Theatre Academy graduate initially built her fame on her visual appeal and memorable early roles in period dramas. However, her fame took a dramatic turn following her controversial performance in the 2023 romance drama Fireworks of My Heart, where her character’s “love-brained” persona sparked intense public backlash, earning her the label of having “the worst public goodwill”. Since then, she has become one of the most polarizing figures among the post-95 generation of actresses in China — a beautiful face whose career trajectory has become a battleground for debates about acting, public image, and the intense scrutiny of online culture. Breakthrough Role Wang‘s career began with a strong foundation in theater. While still in high school in 2016, she won first prize in the 12th “Civilization and Style” National Competition and the Outstanding Individual Performance Award at the 4th Shanghai High School Drama Festival for her work in the stage play Distant Hometown. Her official screen debut came in 2017 with the period drama The General and I (《将军在上》), where she played the dual roles of the ethereal cousin Liu Xiyin and the enchanting dancer Xian Nishang. Her portrayal of the devoted, tragic cousin — a girl who waited her whole life for a childhood promise — earned her the affectionate nickname “Nation‘s Little Cousin” and made her an instant standout. The role also showcased her musical talents, as she performed two of the drama‘s插曲. Public Perception Wang Churan occupies a uniquely precarious position in the Chinese entertainment industry. Her undeniable beauty and rising filmography — including roles in Serenade of Peaceful Joy (《清平乐》) as the willful Consort Zhang Bihan, Royal Feast (《尚食》), and the fantasy drama The Longest Promise (《玉骨遥》) where she played a villainous second lead — have kept her consistently working on major projects. In 2024, she appeared in the highly anticipated Joy of Life Season 2 (《庆余年2》) as the talented woman Sang Wen, but her performance drew widespread criticism for stiff acting and unnatural dialogue delivery, with some calling it the “most disappointing” of the new cast members. However, 2025-2026 marked a turning point. Her performance as the cunning Imperial Consort in the historical comedy How Dare You! (《成何体统》) earned praise for shedding her “fairy” image and embracing a more comedic, grounded style. The 2025 period romance Love in the Desert (《柳舟记》) helped restore some of her shattered public goodwill. In 2026, her modern romance Love with Fireworks (《爱情有烟火》) with Tan Jianci achieved a 6.7 Douban rating, outperforming competing dramas from the same period. She is also set to star in the fantasy drama Floating Life (《浮生》) opposite Chen Zheyuan and the Republican-era romance This Second in Flames (《这一秒过火》) with Zhang Linghe. Today, Wang Churan remains a paradox: an actress whose beauty and talent are widely acknowledged, yet whose public image has been battered by online controversies and polarizing performances. Whether she can fully rebuild her standing depends on the roles yet to come — but her resilience and steady stream of major projects suggest she is far from finished.