Actress Zhu Xudan. Photographer: Joyichen.
Under the studio lights, Zhu Xudan’s eyes appear firm and full of strength. When asked how the roles of Mu Yao and Song Yiting have influenced her, her answer is as sincere and delicate as she is: “Mu Yao makes me more tenacious and responsible, and Song Yiting makes me more sober and brave.” In that moment, the line between actress and character softens. The roles she has poured herself into have quietly become part of her life—shaping her as much as she has shaped them.
Dress: Tod’s. Earrings: Daartemis. Heels: Kingwen.
The Gift of a Role: From Restraint to Bravery
In Zhu Xudan’s career, Mu Yao and Song Yiting carry two very different energies. In Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, she plays Mu Yao, a demon hunter with a family mission whose emotions are controlled and refined. Zhu Xudan says the character taught her a “sense of restraint and firmness”; a quality valuable not only in acting, but also in life.
Song Yiting in A Dream Within a Dream shows another side of Zhu Xudan: clarity, courage, and the willingness to express herself. She appreciates this “outgoing and powerful” character because it represents a part of herself she continues to pursue. “How dazzling is the person who dares to express herself and pursue herself”. This isn’t just her understanding of the role, but also her hope for her own growth as an actor.
Dress: Tod’s. Earrings: Daartemis. Heels: Kingwen.
Ji Ziyue in Zhe Tian, soon to be introduced to the audience, adds yet another dimension: “She is lively and lovable. She’s the person everyone turns to for answers: smart, witty, and able to face danger calmly.” Zhu Xudan says the role was “pure joy to play,” because Ji Ziyue’s emotions are direct and honest. From Xuan Nu to Zhou Zhiruo, from Mu Yao to Ji Ziyue, Zhu Xudan continues to expand her range, with each character pushing her to explore new edges of performance.
A Path of Growth: From Curiosity to Responsibility
Looking back, Zhu Xudan divides her acting journey into three stages. During Eternal Love and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, she was in the early phase: “full of curiosity but a little inexperienced.” By Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, she had entered a stage of growth, actively analyzing her characters and their inner logic. By A Dream Within a Dream, she began to understand “responsibility and maturity.”
Dress: Movous Couture. Floral earrings: Bailan.
“I hope I can bring strength to the audience through my performances,” she says – a simple sentence that reveals her sense of mission. Every role she chooses is a deliberate decision, an attempt to find emotional truth.
When asked about her criteria for choosing roles, she immediately answers: Complexity. “A character with layers and a real growth arc moves me more, and allows the audience to see someone three-dimensional.” Her philosophy reflects a deep understanding of the craft: True performance lies not in surface brilliance, but in exploring the complexity of human nature.
Dress: Movous Couture. Floral earrings: Bailan.
Looking ahead, she chooses to “stay grounded and focus on the present.” In an industry filled with noise, this practical mindset may be the reason she moves forward steadily, keeping a clear head and a steady heart.
The Power of Introverts: Storing Energy in Solitude
Zhu Xudan, who openly admits herself as an introvert, needs to deliberately find a space for solitude in the busy performing arts work. “I will find some small ways to be alone in fragmentation,” she shared, “such as hiding in the lounge during filming, wearing noise-reducing headphones to listen to pure music or white noise, not brushing my mobile phone or talking about work, just being in a daze and collecting my thoughts.”
Dress: Movous Couture. Floral earrings: Bailan.
Being alone allows her to think deeply about the role and maintain inner peace and clarity. In the entertainment circle where everyone pursues exposure. It takes strength and courage to protect one’s inner space.
Her happiness is equally simple and pure: “When I come home from work, my cats and dogs are waiting for me. It’s nice to change into comfortable clothes and listen to a favorite song on the sofa.” This kind of cherishing of daily life makes her always keep the temperature and reality of an ordinary person outside the halo.
Dress: Amusee Moi Weekend. Silver heels: Lacerta. Earrings: Bailan.
Reconciling with the Self: a Dialogue from the Past to the Future
If you have a chance to say a word to yourself when you first entered the industry, Zhu Xudan’s answer is gentle and firm: “Don’t be afraid of those unknown challenges, and don’t doubt yourself because of occasional difficulties. Keep your love and intention for acting, and you will become what you want to be.” This sentence is not only a comfort to the past, but also a confirmation of the present and an expectation for the future.
For her fans who have always supported her, she has endless thanks: “I want to say thank you, thank you for always supporting me, believing in me and accompanying me, and I will work harder with your love and expectations in the future.” This two-way rush of emotion has become a warm driving force for her to move forward on the road of performing arts.
Dress: Amusee Moi Weekend. Silver heels: Lacerta. Earrings: Bailan.
As for the balance between life and work, her attitude is quite transparent: “For me, I am not so persistent in giving life and work a fixed ratio. I still enjoy the current state, working in life and living in work.” This perspective of integration rather than opposition enables her to find a harmonious rhythm between performance and self.
Zhu Xudan explores the possibility of acting in every role, and also finds different aspects of herself in every performance. Her growth trajectory is marked not by dramatic leaps, but by solid steps taken one at a time and by her total devotion to each role at hand.
Because for her, acting is not only a career, but also a journey of self-pursuit. The role is not only a fiction in the script, but also a window to understand human nature. On this road, she will continue to walk, with the awe of performance, the love of life, and the courage to constantly explore herself.
Dress: Selkie Collection. Pearl necklace: Ann Teano. Pearl earrings: Coco Kim.
Chat with Zhu XudanCan you tell us about Ji Ziyue in the upcoming series Zhe Tian? How is she different from the roles you’ve played before?Ji Ziyue is lively, lovable, and incredibly clever. She’s the person everyone turns to for answers, and she stays calm even in dangerous situations. She’s very charming and straightforward with her emotions, especially in how sincerely she treats Ye Fan. Playing her was truly enjoyable. What do you value most when choosing scripts and roles at this stage? The story, the character complexity, or the genre?All three are important to me, but if I had to rank them, the complexity of the role comes first. A character with layers and a real growth arc moves me more, and it also allows the audience to see someone three-dimensional and real. Do you have long-term goals for the future, such as producing or taking on big-screen projects?For now, I want to stay grounded and focus on the present. If you could say one thing to the Zhu Xudan who first entered the industry, what would it be?Don’t be afraid of the unknown, and don’t doubt yourself when difficulties appear. Keep your love for acting and stay true to your intentions—you will become who you hope to be. Your fans have always supported you. Is there something you’ve always wanted to tell them but never had the chance to say?I want to say thank you. Thank you for supporting me, believing in me, and staying by my side. I will continue to work hard with your love and expectations in mind. I also hope all of you stay safe, healthy, and well. Let’s keep growing better together. What is your ideal balance between life and work? Have you achieved it yet?I don’t insist on a strict ratio between life and work. I enjoy where I am now: working within life, and living within work. Observing everyday emotions and experiences also gives me inspiration for my roles. To me, this rhythm feels just right. |
Celebrity: Zhu Xudan
Executive Fashion Director: Vermouth Liu @mr.vxx
Creative Director: Alex Li
Executive Producer: Yudi
Photographer: Joyichen
Make up: MIN
Hair: Anson
Celebrity Editor: Bunny
Fashion Assistant: Mohan
Photography Assistant: Jingyu Li
Lighting: Feiyi Studio
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
