The model and well-known actor in Chinese television and movies are Chen Xiao. He is most well-known for his leading performances in movies like “Swordsman,” “The Legend of Lu Zhen,” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” He was raised and born in Anhui, China. While still in high school, he developed a passion for acting and decided to pursue a degree in performing arts from the Central Academy of Drama in 2009. He made his acting debut in 2010 with a little part in the hugely popular movie “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.” He made his first significant breakthrough in acting the following year when he played the “19th Prince” in the popular drama “Palace II.” He furthered his reputation in 2013 by taking the lead in the popular TV show “Swordsmen.” All of these early triumphs helped him land his first leading part at the box office and critical darling “The Legend of Lu Zhen” in both China and abroad. In addition, he made several drama and film appearances and established himself as one of the most well-known and financially successful Chinese performers of the modern era.
Early Childhood & Life
On July 5, 1987, Chen Xiao was born in Anhui, China, into a Chinese family of the middle class. He had a strong passion for the performing arts and grew up being inspired by actors and the glamour of the movie business. He began acting in high school shows as he got older, and in 2009, he moved to Beijing and enrolled in theatre classes at the Central Academy of Drama to receive professional training in the area.
By then, he had already begun conducting acting auditions, and in 2010, he was cast in the movie “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.” But before that, he had a very little role as a young child in the 1997 television program “Our Class Song.”
Chen Xiao’s Career
Having made his acting debut in a minor capacity in a commercially successful movie like “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,” In the television show “Happy Mother in Law, Beautiful Daughter in Law,” Chen received a role. In the show, he portrayed Guo Xiaotian, however, it was more of a cameo.
He continued acting in supporting roles for the series throughout the next four years in episodes including “Spell of the Fragrance,” “Secret Intention,” and “Confucius.” He was hired to play Yunxi in the 2012 television series “Palace II,” a follow-up to the 2011 series “Palace.” His brief portrayal of the 19th Prince did not go unnoticed, and he was successful in leaving a lasting impression. Chen’s fame was further boosted by the series’ success.
With notable cameos in series like “The Qin Empire II: Alliance” and “Swordsman,” he increased his fan base. He ended up taking on Lin Pingzhi, one of the lead parts in the latter. The series drew wildly disparate responses from viewers, who either loved it or hated it. But for whatever reason, the performances received high appreciation from everyone, and as a result, Chen was offered the first main part of his career.
Gao Zhen, the love interest of the primary character played by Zhao Liying, was played by Chen in the 2013 television series “The Legend of Lu Zhen.” The historical television series was favorably appreciated by reviewers and viewers and was awarded the eighth-best drama of 2013. Chen later went on to win the Asia Rainbow Awards’ “Actor with Most Potential” prize. He was inundated with offers after his performance gained strong critical acclaim.
He starred in the movie “The Palace” in 2013, playing the title role. Although Chen’s performance as Yinxiang in the historical drama film was warmly welcomed, both viewers and critics gave the movie largely poor reviews after its premiere.
He performed the supporting character of Gao Bo in the epic 3D action drama movie “The Taking of Tiger Mountain” in 2014. The movie was well-received both in China and abroad and won praise from reviewers around the world. In the end, the movie ranked as the tenth-highest-grossing Chinese movie of all time.
Riding high on the groundbreaking success of his most recent film, Chen starred as Yang Guo in the television series “The Romance of the Condor Heroes.” The series was criticized for departing from the plot of the original, similarly named novel, but being praised for its daring subject matter. Chen also contributed to the series’ soundtrack in addition to playing the starring role.
Chen made his acting debut in the 2015 movie “Bride Wars,” which served as an official remake of the same-titled Hollywood film starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. One of Chen’s biggest professional flops to date, the movie opened to very dismal critical and box office reviews.
In the same year, Chen made an appearance in the television series “Love Yunge from the Desert,” which was yet another abject failure in his professional life. The historical inaccuracies and subpar acting in the series received harsh criticism. In the years that followed, Chen became even more selective about his jobs as a result of these back-to-back failures, which increased his fear for his career.
He made an appearance in the critically and financially successful television series “The Three Heroes and Five Gallants” in 2015. The series, which was based on the same-named book, received plaudits from critics throughout the world for its compelling ideas and performances. Many people praised Chen for his performance as the protagonist character Bai Yutang, and he ultimately took home the Best Actor prize at the Huading Awards.
In the coming-of-age comedic drama movie “Who Sleeps My Bro” from 2016, Chen portrayed the starring role. The movie garnered mixed reviews, although it was lauded for its action, and it had a strong Chinese box office debut.
In the 2017 suspense thriller movie “The Mysterious Family,” which was based on a real-life crime that occurred in Fujian and earned positive reviews from reviewers, Chen played one of the main parts. The movie eventually made respectable revenues in China and Taiwan.
He starred as Ren Bishi in the movie “The Creation of an Army” that same year. The political drama movie was created to commemorate the Chinese Liberation Army’s 90th birthday. The movie is yet another instance of Chinese propaganda, as evidenced by the fact that multiple review websites have disabled the movie’s rating system.
2017 saw Chen make appearances in a number of TV shows, including “Love & Life & Lie,” “Beyond the Clouds,” and “Wild Rose.” He also played the major character in the television series “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” in which he portrayed a jovial young master who decides to adapt his ways to fit in with modern society. In the television series “Queen Dugu,” Chen is slated to star as Yang Jian, the first Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, in 2018.
Chen’s Individual Life
After dating actress Michelle Chen, Chen Xiao wed her in 2016. The couple welcomed a boy as their first child that same year.
Estimated Net Worth
One of the wealthiest actors and one of the most well-liked actors is Chen Xiao. Our investigation of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider revealed that Chen Xiao has a net worth of $5 million.