Top 12 Chinese Actors Unsuitable for Ancient Costume Style

Trần Kiều Ân, born on April 4, 1979, is a Taiwanese actress, singer, and model. She was once the group leader of the Taiwanese girl group 7 Flowers and the first female member of the Jungiery management company. In 2005, she starred in the drama 'Prince Turns to Frog,' which achieved record ratings, propelling her and her co-stars from obscurity to nationwide fame. In 2008, at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards, Trần Kiều Ân was nominated for Best Actress (Television Category) for her role in the drama Fate Night.

Entering her 30s, Trần Kiều Ân has become a shining star in the Chinese film industry, participating in numerous films, each leaving a significant impact. However, when reviewing Ân's films, one can easily see that this modern lady is entirely unsuitable for ancient costume styling. Trần Kiều Ân's eyes are too large, and her forehead is too high, making her face lack proportionality. When styled with traditional Chinese multi-layered buns, her image quickly appears aged.

Bae Hayden Kuo born on January 16, 1984, also known as Quách Bích Đình, is a Taiwanese model and actress. At the age of 18, Bae Hayden Kuo worked as a model for fashion magazines such as BEAUTY and RAY and participated in commercials in Taiwan. Additionally, she has appeared in several music videos of top singers from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 2008, she became a sensation after starring in a commercial titled 'Benefits of Chewing Gum' and earned the nickname 'The Benefits Girl.'

Possessing a bright, intelligent beauty, Bae Hayden Kuo received numerous advertising offers and appeared in music projects. She was also favored by the audience and listed as one of the top 10 national goddesses of the Chinese showbiz industry. Despite her success, Hayden Kuo still faces harsh criticism from netizens whenever she appears in historical costume roles. Some comments even harshly describe Hayden Kuo's appearance in period dramas as old and unattractive.

Thích Vy was born in Sichuan, Chengdu, China. Currently residing in Chaoyang District, Beijing. After graduating from high school, she passed the entrance exam to the Jiangsu School of Music and Art. She made her debut in 2006 with the performance 'Falling Figures Falling Pictures' on the East Shanghai TV station, becoming a nationwide top ten. Later, she collaborated with Vien Thanh Kiet to form the band 'Talent and Beauty' with albums 'Talent and Beauty,' '2U' with the single 'Your Half,' 'Perfect Match,' and started to be welcomed thanks to the song 'Beach 18.'

With a round and cute face, porcelain skin, and a gentle smile, Thích Vy quickly caught the attention of film producers. To date, most of the films that Thích Vy has participated in are historical dramas and major productions. However, contrary to the director's thoughts, the audience still cannot appreciate Thích Vy's historical costume appearance. That is also partly why despite participating in many films, the name Thích Vy still remains obscure and difficult to leave a mark on the hearts of fans.

Trần Nghiên Hy was born on May 31, 1983, is a Taiwanese actress and singer known for her leading role in the film Our Times. The film grossed over $24 million and was highly praised by critics, breaking numerous box office records in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Trần Nghiên Hy was also nominated for Best Actress at the 48th Golden Horse Film Festival. In 2013, she released the album Me, Myself, and I as an official singer. Some of the songs were self-composed by her, and the album received audience acclaim and high rankings on the charts in Taiwan.

The costume drama film New Swordsman of the Flying Fox that Trần Nghiên Hy

played the lead role in was considered a phenomenon that shook the screen in 2016 due to the... excessively poor appearance. The dull makeup as if no makeup was used, overly simple hairstyle, and less-than-slim figure quickly caused Trần Nghiên Hy to fall from grace in the battle of costume beauties. However, she fits modern films extremely well, try watching the film Our Times to see how adorable and lovely Trần Nghiên Hy is in real life.

Lâm Lập Tuệ, born on April 16, 1976, also known by the stage name Thư Kỳ, is a Taiwanese actress. Thư Kỳ ranked 17th in Forbes' list of the Top 100 Chinese Celebrities in 2013, 23rd in 2014, 32nd in 2015, 48th in 2017, and 90th in 2019. Alongside Thang Duy, Thư Kỳ forms the duo 'Kỳ Duy,' two of the eight great beauties of contemporary Mainland Chinese cinema in the 21st century, alongside the Four Dan Actresses and Song Băng, collectively known as the 'Four Great Song Băng-Kỳ Duy.'

As one of the leading action heroines in Chinese cinema, Thư Kỳ not only shines in her homeland but also garners attention on the Hollywood stage. Perhaps because viewers are so accustomed to Thư Kỳ's strong and dynamic image, her return to period dramas has been met with criticism and disappointment. However, thanks to her acting talent and prominent reputation, the period dramas featuring Thư Kỳ still top the ratings charts.

Actress Diana Dieu born in 1982 graduated from the Acting Department in 2001 at the Beijing Film Academy. In 2013, Diana Dieu became a hot name in the film industry through the movie New Love Era. But perhaps the most attention Diana Dieu garnered was the romantic rumors with her male co-stars. After starring in New Love Era, audiences adored her and linked her romantically with actor Nhan Trong.

With an elegant and alluring beauty, Diana Dieu is always the radiant face of modern films. However, when she ventured into period dramas, Dieu faced numerous harsh criticisms. Her portrayal was deemed too mature for her age, with features lacking prominence and a somewhat fierce demeanor contrasting with the character's essence.

Lily Than a versatile actress from China is often dubbed as the 'clone' of Zhao Wei. With natural acting skills, Lily Than has received numerous invitations to participate in film and television projects. Interestingly, Lily Than has appeared in many films associated with Zhao Wei's name. She began her acting career in 2003, but it wasn't until the broadcast of the series 'New My Fair Princess' that her name became widely known. Lily Than was personally chosen by the renowned author Quynh Dao, who discovered Zhao Wei, to portray Xiao Yanzi. Author Quynh Dao remarked that Lily Than possesses large eyes, a youthful face, and innocence similar to Zhao Wei of ten years ago.

After more than fifteen years since the official production of the My Fair Princess series, the producer finally dared to remake this iconic script. Perhaps because the shadows of Zhao Wei and Ruby Lin were too significant, the cast of this second installment was chosen to resemble them as closely as possible. This was the biggest mistake that led to the rapid failure of the series and tarnished the reputation of Lily Than - the actress who played Xiao Yanzi was also greatly affected. Due to the unremarkable portrayal of the character, Lily Than was even included in the list of the worst-dressed Chinese historical drama actresses by fans, which is truly regrettable.

Zoe Zhang, born on December 29, 1988, also known as Zhang Meng, is a Chinese actress, singer, and model. She graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. She first gained attention for her role as Biyao in the music video for the online game Jade Dynasty in 2007. In 2009, she portrayed Zhu'er in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, based on the novel of the same name by Louis Cha. Producer Zhang Jizhong praised her for her dedication and said she has great potential.

Possessing a pure and saintly beauty, the name Zhang Meng is a great expectation of the specialized channels in historical dramas. However, when the series aired, the audience felt that she was not suitable for this genre, and few paid attention to her acting due to a lack of standout appearance. Zhang Meng appeared in many historical television dramas, but it wasn't until she portrayed a modern, romantic secretary in the drama Classy Lady that she began to be recognized and loved by the audience.

Angel Huynh was born into a family of intellectuals in Shanghai. Her father is a lecturer at the Second Shanghai Polytechnic University, while her mother is an editor at a newspaper in Shanghai. Angel Huynh graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 2001. In 2004, she signed a contract with Stephen Chow and played the lead role A Fang in the action comedy film Kung Fu Hustle directed by Stephen Chow. In August 2005, Angel Huynh terminated her contract with Stephen Chow's company after discovering irregularities in the distribution of advertising contract money.

As a darling of Chinese gangster films, Angel Huynh possesses a cold face and a seductive figure that captivates many. However, she does not receive high praise from historical dramas due to her stiff, emotionless facial expressions or makeup that often makes her look older than the character's age. Angel Huynh is advised to stick to short content films or action movies to avoid boring the audience.

Tony Yang born on November 6, 1992, or 'Andy Yang', is a Chinese actress. In early September 2016, Tony Yang was voted by Nam Do Weekly Entertainment as one of the four ninth-generation little flower boys (along with Chau Dong Vu, Quan Hieu Dong, and Tran Sang), Nam Do Weekly's vote is rated as the leading quality and credibility in China (Nam Do Weekly's vote takes place every 4 years). Tony Yang was originally a famous child star in China, noticed for her role as Ha Xue in the TV series 'House with Boy and Girl' Later recognized through roles as Ho Tuong Tuong in the film 'Battlefield' Cam Mich in 'Fragrant Honey Like Smoke', Dong Nian in 'Affection, Warm Love' and Khieu Oanh Oanh in 'Happy Chant'.

Tony Yang started her acting career in 1997 but only in supporting roles. It wasn't until 2003 that Tony Yang played the role of Dong Ngoc Phi when she was young in 'Drama Hieu Trang', along with Ninh Tinh and Ma Canh Dao. After that, Tony Yang participated in the film 'Schoolgirl Diary', thanks to which she received a nomination at the Golden Cow Awards. In 2005, Tony Yang played the lead role in the film 'House with Boy and Girl' with the role of Ha Xue alongside actors Tong Dan Dan, Cao Ai Lan, Truong Nhat Son, Vu Hao Nhien. The film ranked first when aired in China and became the childhood of many Chinese children. Despite participating in many historical drama projects, the face of this actress is said to have a quite cute, modern appearance, completely unsuitable for historical drama costumes.

A breakout performance in the historical epic Ann Dao - the beautiful actress born in 1978, gained recognition for her portrayal of Vo Tac Thien in the blockbuster depicting the illustrious life of the only empress in Chinese history. Ann Dao's talent was acknowledged at the Kim Su Awards, the 8th Cao Vu Television Awards, and the 5th Shanghai Bai Mu Lan Awards. However, it was not until this role that she garnered attention. Assuming a role seemingly tailored for senior actresses like Liu Xueqian or Tu Cam Cao Oa, Ann Dao had to surpass these towering figures to make her mark.

The inexplicable allure of Vo Mi Nương from her tender age of 14 to her tenure as Vo Hau, with her enchanting beauty, sharp intellect, and hint of aloofness, all subtly portrayed by Ann Dao. As a beauty exuding a gentle, serene aura, Ann Dao adeptly embodies deeply emotional roles, except for the fact that her appearance in period costumes on screen always leaves viewers unimpressed. Nevertheless, in real life, Ann Dao remains one of the most talked-about beauties of the Chinese screen and frequently lands major roles such as Vo Tac Thien, Dương Qúy Phi...

Quan Hieu Dong, born on September 17, 1997, is a Chinese actress, model, singer, and MC from the Qua Nhi Giai Thi lineage of the Manchu ethnic group. She began acting at the age of 4 and has appeared in over 100 film and television works. She is currently managed by Quang Tuyen Anh Thi Management Company. Quan Hieu Dong is also one of the 'Four Little Flowers of the 9x Generation,' along with Trinh Sang, Duong Tu, and Chau Dong Vu, as voted by Nam Do in 2016. However, this actress also possesses a modern and glamorous beauty that is completely incompatible with historical costume designs. Her appearance in historical dramas like Phoenix Prison received criticism from netizens.

In 2017, she starred in the romance television drama Cuc Quang Chi Luyen alongside actor Ma Kha. In 2018, the intense television drama Diem Mat Bao Kich, in which she played the lead role opposite co-star Loc Ham, was aired. Also in the same year, she took on the lead role in the movie Turandot, and the action-packed art film Invisible directed by Truong Nghie Muc, featuring Quan Hieu Dong, was globally released on September 30. In 2019, along with Van Ky, Truong Tuyet Nghenh, and Truong Tu Phong, she was nominated for the New Four Little Flowers by CCTV. In 2020, Quan Hieu Dong ranked 71st in the '2020 Forbes China Celebrity List.' In 2020 and early 2021, dramas like Thap Sat Hai and Ta Chi La Co Nuong Nhu The achieved impressive ratings and viewership.