Julia Xiang (向涵之)

Xiang Han Zhi, also known by the English name Julia, is an American-Chinese actress born in the US. Fond of acting and tennis from a young age, by chance, she met director Xu Jing Lei who—after seeing her—decided immediately to sign her. Xiang officially entered showbiz in 2018 and made her debut in the 2019 series "Rules of Zoovenia" ( 不可思议的晴朗).

Xiang Hanzhi has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising young actresses of her generation, distinguishing herself through a remarkable ability to embody a diverse range of characters — from rebellious teenage girls and scholarly学霸 to quirky martial artists and even a "female demon lord." A native of the United States who was discovered and signed by director Xu Jinglei’s studio in 2018, she made her screen debut in 2019 and quickly built an impressive filmography that includes the critically acclaimed period drama Set Sail: When the Wind Rises (2021) and the hit urban drama Xiao Min's Home (2021). Her breakthrough came with back-to-back lead roles in 2020 — the historical romance Young Master, I Will Marry You and the campus hit Forever Love — establishing her as a versatile actress capable of anchoring both period and contemporary productions. With her high-profile collaborations alongside stars like Wu Lei, Zhou Xun, Huang Lei, Xiao Zhan, and Bai Baihe, Xiang has become a familiar face to Chinese drama audiences, known for her natural screen presence and her ability to make even privileged characters feel relatable and grounded.

Breakthrough Role

Xiang Hanzhi’s career gained significant momentum with the 2020 youth campus drama Forever Love (Baisui Zhi Hao, Yiyan Weiding), where she played the学霸夏林希 (Xia Linxi), a role that required her to portray the character from high school through to marriage — a considerable acting challenge. Her performance was widely praised for its authenticity and charm, with critics noting that she not only embodied the character without any awkwardness but also brought the role to life with impressive conviction. The following year, she delivered a standout performance as the rebellious Tan Yuan in the period youth drama Set Sail: When the Wind Rises (2021), a role that significantly broadened her audience and made her name more widely recognized. She further cemented her reputation with a memorable turn as Chen Jiajia, the daughter of Li Ping, in the hit urban family drama Xiao Min's Home (2021), starring alongside Zhou Xun and Huang Lei. Her ability to hold her own in such a star-studded ensemble earned her widespread acclaim and established her as a young actress to watch. In 2023, she received the "Annual Breakthrough Actor" award at the inaugural New Horn TV Drama Directors' Night, a testament to her rapid growth and industry recognition.

Public Perception

In the Chinese entertainment industry, Xiang Hanzhi is regarded as a talented and steadily rising young actress with strong backing from her agency, Beijing Blossom Film Studio, which also represents actress Li Gengxi — with whom she shares a close friendship. Her career has continued to ascend with major lead roles in high-profile projects, including the 2025 fantasy drama The Immortal Tree (Xiantai You Shu), where she played dual roles as the flamboyant "female demon lord" Mu Qingge and the quirky "foodie" Xue Ranran, as well as the 2025 historical suspense drama Ding Feng Bo. That same year, she was selected for the prestigious "Starlight Sea" Young Actor Program and won the "Annual Rising Actor" award at the iQiyi Scream Night. However, her public image has also been shaped by a series of personal controversies. In 2022, she was at the center of dating rumors with actor Wu Lei, which she later denied through a livestream with friends. In January 2026, she was photographed appearing to smoke indoors at a chess and card room, which she publicly apologized for, acknowledging her行为 was inappropriate and promised to reflect on it. Despite these distractions, Xiang continues to be recognized for her acting ability and her willingness to take on challenging, diverse roles — qualities that have earned her both industry respect and a loyal fanbase.