The unusual life of an actor who specializes in playing the role of Emperor Qianlong.

More than 10 years ago, before the Korean Wave hit Vietnam, Chinese films were considered a tempting treat on Vietnamese screens.

Works originating from this country have ingrained in the audience's subconscious many classic and irreplaceable images.

If Kim Siu-kwan was born to play Bao Zheng, and He Jia-jing spent decades acting only being remembered for his role as Zhan Zhao, then Zhang Tielin and Zhang Guoli are the ideal embodiments of emperors in palace dramas.

Originally a perfect on-screen duo in the TV series "The Legend of Ji Xiaolam," these two veteran actors still hold the record for having played the most emperor roles on Chinese television.

While Zhang Tielin possessed a dignified demeanor and a bright, somewhat fierce gaze, clearly revealing the image of an authoritative leader, Zhang Guoli was a more calm and down-to-earth king.

Zhang Guoli is the actor who has played the most emperor roles on Chinese television.

Having been in the profession for exactly 30 years, Zhang Guoli has portrayed the image of an emperor five times.

Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Kangxi, and Emperor Yongzheng… these are all memorable roles in his acting career.

Each king represents a different personality and is subject to various historical judgments, both good and bad. However, through the hands of this veteran actor, these characters are all portrayed with gentle faces, profound and insightful eyes, and an elegant yet incredibly friendly demeanor.

I remember, many years ago, the TV series "Prime Minister Liu the Hunchback" created a sensation on Hanoi television and captivated viewers with its endless verbal battles between the honest Liu the Hunchback and the cunning He Shen.

Besides that, this work also features another equally fascinating character, Emperor Qianlong, played by Zhang Guoli.

During morning court sessions, he was a wise and upright king, but after abdicating, he became a man who indulged in wine and women like any other man.

There was even an instance where the king enlisted the help of Lord Hòa to find a lookalike to take his place in the palace, while he himself indulged in pleasures outside, leading to countless situations that were both hilarious and heartbreaking.

The character's wit is portrayed through the actor's natural and uninhibited performance, making the portrayal of Emperor Qianlong a perfect hit with the audience, even though this is only a supporting role in the TV series "The Hunchback Prime Minister Liu".

Zhang Guoli, who played "Emperor Qianlong," brings many interesting details to the story of Prime Minister Liu the Hunchback.

In the series "Kangxi's Travels," Zhang Guoli, who played the "emperor," was promoted to the main role, giving him more opportunities to showcase his talent.

Gone is the majestic appearance he displayed in "The Hunchback Prime Minister Liu," in this film, although playing the emperor, Zhang Guoli repeatedly embodies impoverished and ragged characters.

Out of love for his country and its people, he did not hesitate to disguise himself as an ordinary person, sometimes as a porter, other times as a hired hand at a pharmacy.

The Emperor personally experienced the hardships that the common people had to endure.

Zhang Guoli's portrayal of Emperor Kangxi is down-to-earth and simple when he disguises himself as an ordinary citizen.

Simple in his manner of dealing with the people but decisive in punishing wrongdoers, Zhang Guoli's portrayal of Emperor Kangxi leaves viewers with the beautiful image of a brilliant and enlightened monarch who dedicated his entire life to the country and its people.

Along with the role of the hunchbacked Prime Minister Liu and the four parts of the Kangxi Travels series, Zhang Guoli also portrayed Emperor Yongzheng in the film Young Prince Bao and once again took on the role of Emperor Qianlong in the film Young Jiaqing.

In the film "Ping Tung Hiep Anh," a collaboration with Huang Hai Bing and Fan Bingbing, he continued to maintain his excellent form by transcending the Qing Dynasty to embody the image of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhang Guoli and Deng Jie, a married couple, delivered a harmonious performance in all four parts of "Kangxi's Travels."

Throughout the history of Chinese film and theater, countless male actors from various generations have played the role of emperor, but perhaps none are as exceptional as Zhang Guoli.

Playing kings on screen multiple times is one thing, but what's remarkable is that his down-to-earth, unpretentious demeanor always gives viewers a very different, fresh perspective on characters often stereotyped as "royal, luxurious, and aristocratic," prompting them to reflect more deeply on the times and humanity.

In real life, Zhang Guoli maintains a lifestyle similar to the characters he has played in films.

Whether it's due to the roles he plays or the artist's real personality breathing life into his characters, in real life, Zhang Guoli maintains a lifestyle similar to the characters he portrays in films.

As a leading and renowned actor in China, he lived a simple, humble life and was "immune" to scandals. He was also a prime example of talent and diligence, loved and emulated by society.

Zhang Guoli is quite embarrassed by the affectionate title "National Father" given to him by the public.

In recent years, Zhang Guoli has no longer appeared in films playing emperors; instead, he has acted in more modern films and gained popularity as the "national father figure" on screen.

However, the emperor roles he portrayed remain fond memories in the minds of viewers. Even though many other artists have successfully depicted this type of character since then, his essence is something that is difficult to replace.

In their personal lives, Deng Jie and Zhang Guoli are one of the most famous couples in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Dang Tiep is famous for her portrayal of the sharp, intelligent, and strong-willed character Phuong "the chili pepper" in the television series Dream of the Red Chamber.

Their love story began with a shared love for art. After nearly 15 years of marriage, they still have no children, even though they both love each other very much.

Wanting their home to truly be a small family, in 2005, Deng Jie persuaded her husband to adopt a baby girl. When the girl was 6 years old, Deng Jie and Zhang Guoli adopted another child, a baby boy.

In addition, Zhang Guoli also has a son from a previous relationship named Zhang Mo.

Dang Tiep is now content with the simple and busy life of a woman supporting her husband.

She no longer acts in films much, instead dedicating most of her time to caring for her children and managing household affairs so that her husband can focus on developing his career.

The 57-year-old actress confided that, although she and her husband do not have children together, the mutual understanding and empathy from their hearts have helped Deng Jie and Zhang Guoli keep the "spark" alive in their marriage.

Recently, the arrest of Zhang Guoli's stepson, young actor Zhang Mo, for drug use has saddened the actor.

Dang Tiep stayed by her husband's side, encouraging him and finding a lawyer to help her husband's child from a previous marriage. In Zhang Mo's eyes, Dang Tiep was a gentle and caring stepmother.

According to soha.vn