Top 9 Most Hated Villains in Chinese Cinema

Among the top beauty icons of Hong Kong's entertainment industry in the past decade, Michelle Yim is celebrated for her flawless beauty and is one of the most famous actresses. In 2018, Michelle Yim delivered a remarkable performance as the villainous Empress in the popular drama series "Ashes of Love". Her outstanding portrayal of this evil character led to intense hatred from viewers, who even flooded her personal blog with insults, forcing her to close it down.

In the series, Michelle Yim plays Empress, a woman who holds the highest rank but turns out to be one of the most cruel and ruthless characters. She not only kills the Flower God, but also schemes to harm the mother of the Night God and anyone she sees as a rival – including the lover of her husband. Additionally, she uses every tactic to murder Jin Mi, creating turmoil between Jin Mi and the Fire God, and disrupting the pure love they share. The ending for the Empress is almost too lenient for the many crimes she committed.

Portraying the evil Empress, actress Michelle Yim was bombarded with hate messages on her social media. Some people criticized her looks, calling her old, with bad teeth, or complained that she only knew how to glare. There were even comments wishing for her early death, bringing her to a point of emotional distress. After receiving such negativity, Michelle Yim decided to share posts and videos about finding inner peace before ultimately closing her personal blog.

Link to the film: https://vieon.vn/huong-mat-tua-khoi-suong.html

In the summer of 2017, fans of Chinese dramas, including those in Vietnam, went wild over the romantic drama "Princess Agents" featuring a talented and youthful cast. The lead couple, Xu Qing (Zhao Liying) and Yu Wen Yue (Lin Gengxin), captured viewers' hearts with their intelligence, quick wit, and sweet interactions. However, another character that garnered significant attention was Princess Yuan Chuan, portrayed by Li Qin.

In "Princess Agents", the most villainous character wasn't the expected antagonist, Yan Tuan, but instead was Princess Yuan Chuan, played by Li Qin. Yuan Chuan is a beautiful, innocent princess who has grown up in luxury and is loved by her mother. Her pure beauty and kind-hearted nature made her a fan favorite. Moreover, her years-long affection for Yan Tuan added a layer of emotional depth. However, her love for Yan Tuan eventually turns her into a cruel and malicious figure.

Especially after her mother's death, Princess Yuan Chuan, played by Li Qin, fully embraces her villainous side. She secretly steals military tokens, leads an army to threaten Hong Xuan, and forces Xu Qing to surrender. Many lives were lost, and Xu Qing nearly died at Yuan Chuan's hands, only to be saved by Yu Wen Yue in the nick of time. The series ends with an open conclusion, leaving fans disappointed as they had just begun to see Yuan Chuan's villainous side unfold before the show concluded.

Link to the film: https://vieon.vn/so-kieu-truyen.html

The Story of Yanxi Palace – One of the most iconic palace dramas of 2018 by Liu Liemei, took Asia by storm. Even now, its captivating elements continue to attract a massive fanbase. Perhaps the most significant success of the drama lies in its portrayal of real-life struggles within the fictional palace, adding authenticity to its plot. One of the most despised antagonists in the series is Wei Yanwan, the Consort Wei, played by Li Yuwen. As a character born into a lowly background, she uses every dirty trick to win the emperor's favor and attain a coveted position in the imperial harem.

Although Wei Yanwan lacks intelligence or the breathtaking beauty of other consorts, the character, portrayed by Li Yuwen, is driven by ambition and ruthlessness, making her a compelling villain. Wei Yanwan goes to great lengths to capture the emperor's attention and secure her place as his consort.

She is willing to forsake her childhood love, Lang Yunxie, in her pursuit of power, attempting to seduce the emperor in hopes of rising above others. Her cruelty is evident as she orchestrates the death of a prince and causes Consort Wei to lose her newborn child. Blinded by her thirst for power, Wei Yanwan's rise to the top of the palace eventually leads to her downfall as other consorts expose her crimes, and she is sentenced to death by poison.

Link to the series: https://vieon.vn/hau-cung-nhu-y-truyen-vietsub.html

Before joining the cast of "The Scheme of the Palace", Yang Di was not widely recognized, mostly playing supporting roles. Initially hesitant about portraying a villainous character like Di Yu Jinling, she ultimately made the bold decision to embrace the role. Her portrayal of the scheming Jinling helped her become a breakout star on TVB. This marked a major turning point in her career as she effectively brought a malicious character to life.

"The Scheme of the Palace" delves into the ruthless power struggles within the imperial harem, where even the smallest of missteps could cost lives. While Di Yu Jinling does not share a sibling bond with the main character, her mother, Liu Sanhao, was taken into the palace due to her exceptional needlework skills. Liu Sanhao's beauty and talents are passed down to Jinling, who quickly finds herself entangled in the power struggles of the harem.

Jinling is a deeply resentful character, having been wronged in the past. She is determined to rise above others, and to do so, she manipulates relationships and deceives the emperor into favoring her. She ingratiates herself with Empress Dowager and takes advantage of her connection to Liu Sanhao to gain the emperor’s affection. Her scheming ways lead her to be appointed as a consort, but not without making enemies along the way. She is merciless in her pursuit of power, stopping at nothing to eliminate anyone who stands in her way, including the empress and other concubines. Ironically, it is Liu Sanhao who eventually uncovers Jinling's dark deeds.

Link to the series: https://vieon.vn/cung-tam-ke-long-tieng.html

"Eternal Love" (also known as "Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms") is a Chinese historical fantasy drama adapted from the novel by Tang Qi Gong Zi. The story unfolds across three lifetimes and tells the epic love saga of Bai Qian, the Queen of Qing Qiu, and Ye Hua, the crown prince of the Heaven Realm.

Huang Meng Wang, who is renowned for her portrayals of antagonistic roles in Chinese period dramas, takes on the character of Princess Tuo Cam in this series. In her quest for love, Tuo Cam, a beautiful yet naive princess, becomes ruthless, using any means necessary to drive a wedge between Bai Qian (played by Yang Mi) and Ye Hua (played by Zhao Youting). Her jealousy leads her to not only steal Bai Qian’s eyesight but also frame innocent people and torment Feng Jiu (played by Dilraba Dilmurat). In the end, Tuo Cam faces the bitter consequences of her malicious actions.

Link to the series: https://www.netflix.com/vn/title/81019520?source=35

The series "The One in Your Hands" follows the story of He Yan, who, while driving to visit her boyfriend Liang Yuan Zhai in a secluded area, discovers Shen Zhi Tiet, the male lead, injured by the side of the road. Despite her attempt to help, this turns out to be a trap. Shen Zhi Tiet, wanted by the police and accompanied by two henchmen, plans to eliminate her. However, one of the subordinates takes advantage of the situation, assaulting He Yan and leaving her traumatized. She vows to survive and seek revenge. In a desperate act, she manages to kill the assailant and escape, injuring Shen Zhi Tiet in the process.

As the investigation unfolds, Shen Zhi Tiet is captured and sentenced to death. However, being the illegitimate son of a powerful underworld boss, he manages to escape from prison. Four years later, he returns as the CEO of a company under the alias of "Vice Shen Hang," with a plan for revenge. He embarks on a cruel campaign against He Yan, drugging her, filming her, forcing her into prostitution, coercing her to divorce her husband, and even torturing her spouse. He goes so far as to brainwash and alter her husband's identity through surgery.

Shen Hang becomes infamous as the "ultimate villain," a character whose actions leave a lasting impact. He Yan is haunted by him, filled with terror and hatred, but she refuses to accept her fate. Her determination to survive grows stronger, and she sets her sights on making him fall deeply in love with her, tormenting him emotionally. This twisted journey leads Shen Hang to a place where he becomes consumed by his love for He Yan, ultimately finding redemption through his tragic end, seeking forgiveness by taking his own life.

Link to the series: https://vieon.vn/vat-trong-tay.html

The film *Palace of Fragrance* captivates audiences with Zhao Liying's portrayal of Liu Li. In her quest for power, Liu Li is willing to betray her closest sister, resorting to any means necessary. With an innocent appearance, Liu Li easily deceives everyone around her, hiding a truly malicious and cruel nature. Zhao Liying underwent a significant transformation by daring to play this villainous role, unafraid of backlash from viewers. It was her immersive performance that overshadowed the role of the female lead, played by Zhou Dongyu, making her character feel less impactful.

Zhao Liying takes the audience on a journey from a naive girl, yearning for a man's embrace, to a cunning empress who betrays even her best friend, Chen Huan, to protect her own life. Many viewers feared losing affection for Zhao Liying after seeing her portray such a dark character, but in the end, her acting convinced them. Zhao Liying received widespread praise for her stellar performance and her willingness to sacrifice for her character. Her bold decision to film intimate scenes to add depth to the film also helped her win admiration.

Moreover, while filming a horse-riding scene towards the end of the film, Zhao Liying suffered a severe fall that left her with back injuries, which made it difficult for her to perform action sequences in the future. It’s been a while since Zhao Liying took on a villain role, but the image of Liu Li—beautiful, sharp, ambitious, and both pitiful and deserving of blame—has left a lasting impression on the audience.

Link to the series: https://xemphim365.net/phim/cung-toa-tram-huong

Known for her gentle and kind roles, Charmaine Sheh stunned audiences with her chilling portrayal of Consort Nian in *Story of Yanxi Palace* (2018). Initially, Consort Nian is a non-competitive concubine who avoids palace politics and spends her days embroidering. She disregards gossip and lives humbly, believing her one-sided love for Emperor Qianlong is enough to sustain her. She hopes for nothing more than his safety, despite his indifference. But when her family's tragedy strikes, she is forced into a corner, compelled to take drastic action.

Her integrity and patience ultimately lead Consort Nian (played by Charmaine Sheh) into a powerless position when facing adversity. When her brother is sentenced to death for corruption, she refuses to plead for his life, fearing it would put the emperor in an awkward position. Even when her situation becomes dire, she rejects help from Consort Chun (played by Wang Yuan Ke) to avoid becoming entangled in palace politics. Her plight worsens when her father is arrested for bribing officials to save her brother, shattering her belief in his integrity. Disappointed, she turns her back on her father and refuses to help him. As a result, her brother dies in prison, and her mother takes her own life in despair, bitterly blaming Consort Nian for her failures.

This series of tragic events transforms Consort Nian from a gentle woman into a vengeful force. Charmaine Sheh's portrayal reveals Consort Nian's strategic rise to power as she meticulously plots to claim the title of Empress. However, despite her success, she finds herself without love, having sacrificed her emotional desires in the pursuit of power.

Watch the series here: https://vieon.vn/dien-hy-cong-luoc-vietsub.html

In the popular drama *Story of Yanxi Palace*, one of the most disliked characters is Nian Qing, a palace maid close to Empress Fucha. While the concubines in the story fight for the emperor’s affection, Nian Qing's story takes place in the quieter corners of the palace, where there are still dirty tricks being played for the smallest of rewards—like winning over a palace guard. The rivalry for men is relentless, with women willing to go to any lengths to win, even becoming infamous for their ruthless actions. This is where Nian Qing, played by Toh Zhi Ting, makes her mark.

Initially, Nian Qing is portrayed as a gentle and graceful character who earns the viewers' sympathy. She is quiet, beautiful, and content in her position as the most trusted maid of Empress Fucha, sharing the empress’s secrets and standing by her side. However, her true nature is revealed when she resorts to scheming, using manipulation to harm Ying Luo and trying to steal the affections of the loyal guard, Fu Heng.

Of course, when Nian Qing’s betrothal to Fu Heng is announced, it becomes the final straw that ignites the hatred of fans. In just one episode, Toh Zhi Ting's portrayal of Nian Qing earned her a massive fan base of people who despised the character. Toh Zhi Ting's performance, combined with her stunning looks, earned high praise from critics for her ability to bring this calculating character to life.

Watch the series here: https://vieon.vn/dien-hy-cong-luoc-vietsub.html