Yuan Li

Yuan Li (; born 12 July 1973) is a Chinese actress and philanthropist.

Yuan rose to fame for her role in the television drama Never Close Eyes (1998), for which she won the Supporting Actress at the 18th Golden Eagle Awards. She starred in the four seasons of television series The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan (2002–2008) and won the Best Supporting Actress at the 20th Hundred Flowers Awards for her performance in the film Pure Sentiment (2002).

Since 2011, Yuan has shifted her focus to charitable work, including establishing the Yuan Li Foundation for pneumoconiosis patients—a sensitive topic in China due to its link to government negligence regarding workers’ rights. She converted to Christianity around 2013. Following years of increasingly outspoken views on social issues, religion, and the COVID-19 pandemic, her Weibo account was suspended in 2020, effectively blacklisting her in China. In 2021, her Twitter account was suspended after she expressed support for Donald Trump while attacking Joe Biden and his family

Life Early life Yuan was born Yuan Li in Hangzhou, Zhejiang on July 12, 1973, with her ancestral home in Jiangyin, Jiangsu. She graduated from Beijing Film Academy, majoring in acting.

Acting career Yuan had her first experience in front of the camera in 1996, and she was chosen to act as a support actor in History of Han Dynasty, a film starring Zhang Tielin.

After playing minor roles in various films and television series, Yuan rose to fame after portraying Ouyang Lanlan in the television series Never Close Eyes, alongside Lu Yi, she won the "Best Supporting Actress" at the 18th China Golden Eagle Awards.

In 2000, Yuan starred as Du Xiaoyue in The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan, a historical television series co-starring with Zhang Guoli, Zhang Tielin and Wang Gang, which were highly praised by audience.

In 2002, Yuan played the role of An Ran in Cao Baoping's film Pure Sentiment, for which she received a "Best Supporting Actress" at the 20th Hundred Flowers Awards.

In 2010, Yuan acted with Andy Lau and Gong Li in Chen Daming's film What Women Want.

On September 19, Yuan became a spokesperson of the Red Cross Society of China.

Personal life In 1993, Yuan met businessman Xu Wei , with whom she had a 12-year relationship until 2005. They had a rumored son born in the late 1990s, but they never confirmed.

Yuan married her first husband Zhao Ling , a Chinese actor, on September 9, 2005. They divorced in 2007. They divorced in 2015.

On 26 March 2019, Yuan announced that she had married her third husband Liang Taiping , a poet.

Filmography Television Year English title Chinese title Role Notes 1994 guest 1996 Wu Yinyin History of Han Dynasty Consort Zhao Hede Thunder Storm guest 1997 Guess of Famen Temple Yi Chun 1998 Never Close Eyes Ouyang Lanlan Long and Winding Road Zhao Lei 1999 My Dear Country Gao Baose Du Lala The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan Du Xiaoyue 2001 Date With Youth Ma Yeye Black Hole Feng Leilei The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 2 Du Xiaoyue 2002 Bai Fengyi Mo Fei Unhappy Marriage Shen Fengxi 2004 Zhao Jun Come Out The Frontier Zhuan Qu Sigh of His Highness Empress Dowager Cixi The Story of Zhuo Er Zhuo Er 2005 Senior Colonel's Daughter Han Lin 2006 My Home in Huanshang Zhang Baolian Gift of Love Lin Qiao 2007 The King of Shanghai Xiao Yuegui 2008 The Queens Wang Zhengjun Jiang Zhen'guo The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 4 Du Xiaoyue 2009 We Are Friends Du Ximei Marriage Battle Lan Xin 2010 China in 1945: Chongqing Negotiations Soong Ching-ling 2011 guest Zhou Tong Mother, mother Jin Guoxiu

Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes 1993 The Flying Squad Xiao Qing 1994 Woman Flowers Yan Zhi 1997 An Unusual Love Shu Xin 2000 A Storm in a Teacup Xin Xinxin 2002 Pure Sentiment An Ran 2003 The Law of Romance guest 2007 The Story of Xi'an guest 2010 What Women Want Yan Ni 2011 Zhang Hanzhi 2012 The Last Tycoon Ling Husheng

Awards Year Work Award Result Notes 2000 Never Close Eyes 18th China Golden Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actress 2002 Pure Sentiment 25th Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress