# Yao Di (actress)

Yao Di (Chinese: 姚笛; pinyin: Yáo Dí, born 17 March 1982) is a Chinese actress.

## Early life and education

Yao was born in Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang on March 17, 1982. She graduated from Beijing Film Academy. At the age of 18, Yao entered the entertainment industry.

## Career

Yao rose to fame for her roles in television series The Dream of Red Mansions (2010).
In 2011, Yao starred in the romance drama Naked Marriage. The TV drama became a national sensation, and Yao was given the title of "Nation's Girlfriend" by the Chinese media.
The following year, Yao starred in the youth drama Beijing Youth, about teens in Beijing struggling against the strict and traditional culture of their parents. The drama was well received among young Chinese mainland audiences.
In 2013, Yao's fame continued to rise after she starred in two TV dramas, New Dating Era and Love Is Not Blind, which is adapted from a 2011 Chinese movie of the same name. She was named the Most Popular Actress by Youku.
However, in 2014, her affair with actor Wen Zhang was exposed. Her reputation was greatly damaged, and this temporarily halted her film career.

## Personal life

In 2014, Yao was found to have an affair with actor Wen Zhang while Wen's legal wife Ma Yili just gave birth to their second daughter. Some rumors suggested that their secret romance began when Ma was pregnant. Wen apologized to his family when he was caught by the media while Yao was widely blamed by the public through social media. Yao chose to keep silent after the disputed event and tried to escape from the public.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | A Zhen and Her Hostess | 阿珍和她的女主人 | A Zhen | |
| 2008 | June Sunlight | 六月里好阳光 | Gu Fei | |
| 2008 | Starting Over | 从头再来 | Huang Ruolan | |
| 2009 | City of Life and Death | 南京！南京！ | Zhou Xiaomei | |
| 2009 | Looking for Jackie | 寻找成龙 | Wang Xifeng | |
| 2010 | The Love of Three Smile: Scholar and the Beauty | 三笑之才子佳人 | Qiuxiang | |
| 2010 | Midnight Beating | 午夜心跳 | Wu Xinyao | |
| 2011 | Where Are You From | 你是哪里人 | Qianqian | |
| 2011 | Love Is Not Blind | 失恋三十三天 | | Cameo |
| 2012 | If I Were You | 变身男女 | Xiao Ai | |
| 2012 | I Love You to Love Me | 爱在一起 | | |
| 2015 | Cairo Declaration | 开罗宣言 | Huang Yiqing | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | | 红粉须眉 | Jin Ye | |
| 2002 | Music Up | 歌让我狂 | Cong Rong | |
| 2003 | Master Lu Ban | 鲁班大师 | Cong'er | |
| 2004 | | 天月 | Jin Jin | |
| 2004 | The Last Concubine | 末代皇妃 | Shui Cong | |
| 2004 | | 律政佳人 | Rebellious girl | |
| 2004 | | 厨子当官 | Wu Yaoshi | |
| 2005 | Olive Tree in My Life | 我生命中的橄榄树 | Xiao Rui | |
| 2005 | | 青花 | Bo Xiaotao | |
| 2005 | Venus of Love | 维纳斯之恋 | Gao Ziman | |
| 2005 | | 刺杀1号首长 | Zhu Qiuping | |
| 2005 | Purple Jade and Gold Sand | 紫玉金砂 | Xu Yuelian | |
| 2006 | | 爱本无罪 | Wu Yiren | |
| 2006 | | 男人有情女人有义 | Qiao Man | |
| 2006 | Get Married Or Not | 结婚不结婚 | Tingting | |
| 2006 | Double Sided Adhesive Tape | 双面胶2 | Yang Yang | |
| 2007 | Golden Earring | 金耳环 | Qiao Xiao'ou | |
| 2007 | | 俞净意公遇灶神记 | Yu Min | |
| 2007 | Initiating Prosperity | 开创盛世 | Yuwen Meiniang | |
| 2007 | Ming Dynasty | 天下 | Xiaohong | |
| 2010 | Sinful Debt 2 | 孽债2 | Shen Meixia | |
| 2010 | The Dream of Red Mansions | 红楼梦 | Wang Xifeng | |
| 2010 | Chang'e | 嫦娥 | Chang'e | |
| 2011 | The Hawk That Goes Away | 远去的飞鹰 | Ye Rongran | |
| 2011 | Naked Wedding | 裸婚时代 | Tong Jiaqian | |
| 2011 | Guarding Country General | 护国大将军 | Xiao Fengxian | |
| 2011 | Men | 男人帮 | Xiaoxue | |
| 2012 | Glory Land | 光荣大地 | Shui Yingying | |
| 2012 | Psychological Attack | 攻心 | Ouyang Mei | |
| 2012 | Sunflower Blooming Sound | 葵花怒放的声响 | Yuan Xiaomi | |
| 2012 | Chinese Sherlock Shi | 施公案 | Wu Wanxin | |
| 2012 | Beijing Youth | 北京青年 | Tang Jiao | |
| 2013 | New Age of Love | 新恋爱时代 | Deng Xiaoke | |
| 2013 | Warring States Little Soldier | 战国小兵 | Lou Fanyan | |
| 2013 | Love Is Not Blind | 失恋33天 | Huang Xiaoxian | |
| 2013 | Tiptoe and Kiss | 踮起脚尖吻到爱 | Bian Tinghua | |
| 2014 | Blooming Peace Time | 和平的全盛时代 | Bao Xiaodou | |
| 2014 | The Young Doctor | 青年医生 | Xia Kexin | Cameo |
| 2015 | My Baby | 俏妈萌爸的甜蜜时光 | Liu Ruonan | |
| 2015 | Mission Impossible Love | 爱情碟中谍 | Ding Xiaoyu | |
| 2016 | Love Che Courier | 功夫之爱的速递 | Yang Yiyi | |
| 2016 | Why Get Married | 结婚为什么 | Wang Ran | |
| 2017 | Fighter of the Destiny | 择天记 | Nan Ke | |
| 2018 | Born In 70s | 生于70年代 | Tan Yanfei | |
| 2019 | Sword Dynasty | 剑王朝 | Zheng Xiu | |
| 2020 | Trace | 痕迹 | Liang Maiqi | |

## Discography

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album | Notes |
| 2013 | "A Love Song" | 一首情歌 | New Age of Love OST | |
| 2013 | "Acknowledged" | 认了 | New Age of Love OST | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2011 | 13th Golden Phoenix Award | Best Newcomer | — | Won | |
| 2012 | 26th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actress | The Hawk That Goes Away | Nominated | |