The name that turned the entertainment industry upside down.

TPO - Li Si Tong's unexpected success with the film "Love Letter to Grandma" has overturned the established order of the 10X generation of young actresses - the future of Chinese cinema.

Báo Tiền Phong•27/05/2026

According to Sina, Li Si Tong is currently the most talked-about name in the Chinese entertainment industry, as she became the first actress born after 2000 to have a leading role in a film grossing over 1 billion RMB. Nearly a month after its release, her film, "Letter to Grandma ," with an initial production budget of only 14 million RMB, has grossed 1.2 billion RMB. This is an achievement that any young actress would aspire to. Li Si Tong's overnight fame has also brought about significant changes in the Chinese entertainment industry.

The Chinese entertainment industry is restoring order.

Born in 2004, Li Si Tong belongs to the generation of young actresses born after 2000. Her unprecedented achievements quickly propelled her into the top 6 most successful young actresses of the 2000s, thus redefining the status and ranking of young actresses born after 2000.

Li Si Tong has become one of the most promising young actresses born after 2000 since her debut.

Before Li Si Tong appeared, audiences only knew names like Zhang Zi Feng, Wen Qi, Liu Hao Cun, Zhao Jin Mai, and Li Geng Xi. These stars all had large management companies backing them, promoting them systematically, but none had achieved the success of Li Si Tong.

According to Sina , the younger generation of actresses born in the 2000s are highly regarded compared to their older counterparts due to their excellent film achievements. They have even received prestigious awards that actresses born in the 1985-1995 generations have yet to reach. Among the older actresses, only Zhou Dongyu has ever won Best Actress and holds major awards. Even stars like Liu Yifei, Zhao Liying, Yang Mi, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Yang Zi have struggled in the film industry.

Conversely, the group of young actresses born in the 2000s not only have awards and highly regarded acting skills, but also have the advantage of age and connections within the film industry. In this respect, they truly have an advantage over their older counterparts.

Li Gengxi and Wen Qi are two of the most sought-after rising stars in the film industry from the 2000s generation.

Currently, the rise of actresses born after 2000 is redefining the Chinese entertainment industry. This is especially true as they possess the talent and age suitable for leading roles in television dramas. The group of actresses born in the 2000s are also becoming increasingly familiar to the general public. Meanwhile, the group of actresses born in 1985 are gradually shifting towards more serious dramas. The group of actresses born in the 1990s are criticized for their lack of talent, while the group of actresses born in 1995 are struggling to find their place.

These stars are the future of Chinese cinema.

Zhang Zifeng, born in 2001, graduated with a major in Performing Arts from the Beijing Film Academy. Having started acting at the age of 5, she is considered a "child prodigy" and a "national sweetheart" to Chinese audiences. She is famous for her emotionally rich performances in films such as "Tangshan Earthquake," "Detective Chinatown," "Hello, Chi Hua," and "My Sister ." With the Best Actress award at the 19th Huabiao Film Awards and film box office success exceeding 900 million RMB, Zhang Zifeng was once considered a leading actress of the 2000s generation in China.

Zhang Zifeng has been dubbed a "child prodigy" and "acting genius" since she was a child.

In 2024, Li Gengxi unexpectedly won the Best Actress award at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards for her role in " Together We Shake the Sun." This made her the youngest Golden Rooster Award-winning actress in history. Despite some controversy, it's undeniable that Li Gengxi excels at climactic scenes requiring extreme emotional intensity, captivating viewers with her portrayal. With the backing of the renowned actress Xu Jinglei, Li Gengxi is known as the "Princess of Beijing's entertainment industry." This title reflects the status and favoritism that Beijing filmmakers bestow upon her.

Behind Li Gengxi is Xu Jinglei, and behind Liu Haocun is "the national master of the Chinese art world," Zhang Yimou. Liu Haocun is currently Zhang Yimou's youngest leading lady, a protégé wholeheartedly promoted by director Zhang Yimou. With Zhang Yimou's patronage, along with her own talent and hard work, Liu Haocun is the brightest star among the young actresses born after 2000.

Liu Haocun was promoted by "national master" Zhang Yimou.

Previously, director Zhang produced the film " One Second ," tailor-made for Liu Haocun. Currently, he also serves as the art director and executive producer for the hit TV series "The Leading Role," which is airing on China's national television with ratings exceeding 4%, ranking second in history. Furthermore, her film "The Vanishing Man" has also received high praise and grossed over 450 million RMB at the box office, proving Liu Haocun's appeal in both film and television.

The other two names are equally prominent: Wen Qi, the only star born in the 2000s to win the Best Supporting Actress award at the Golden Horse Awards for her role in * Blood Guanyin *; and Zhao Jinmai, who achieved the feat of having four television dramas surpass the 10,000 rating mark on three of China's newest streaming platforms. Zhao Jinmai also starred in the *The Wandering Earth* series, which grossed nearly 10 billion RMB.