# Li Chun (actress)

Li Chun (Chinese: 李纯; born 15 February 1988) is a Chinese actress, best known for her roles in television series as Ni Mantian and Wei Yanwan in The Journey of Flower (2015) and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018) respectively, and has received critical acclaim for her film work, particularly as Qinhuainü in The Flowers of War and Lian Mei in Avalokitesvara.

## Early life and education

Li Chun was born in Wuhu, Anhui, on February 15, 1988. She began to learn painting as a child. In 1998, at age 10, she was accepted to the Dance School Affiliated to Beijing Dance Academy and graduated in 2005. After graduation, she was hired to be a dancer at the Shanghai Ballet. In 2007 she performed in Butterfly Love in the United States. She entered Beijing Film Academy in 2009, majoring in acting, where she graduated in 2013.

## Career

Li entered the entertainment circle in October 2010, while director Zhang Yimou attended the 60th anniversary school celebration of Beijing Film Academy and cast her in his film. Li made her film debut in The Flowers of War (2011), playing Qinhuainü.
In June 2012, she starred with Nakaizumi Hideo in the religious film Avalokitesvara, which was shown at the 37th Montreal World Film Festival in 2013.
Li had a supporting role as Su Qin in the family drama 80s Engagement (2013). She then played a supporting role in Zhang Yimou's film Coming Home.
In 2015, she had a key supporting role in the fantasy romance television series The Journey of Flower, based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Fresh Guoguo. The series was a huge commercial success in China, with an average rating of 2.784% (CMS50) and 2.213% (nationwide), becoming the second highest rated drama of 2015. It also became the first Chinese drama to surpass 20 billion online views. The same year, she co-starred with Taiwanese actor Benjamin H. Wang in the romantic comedy film Eternal Love.
In 2016, Li starred in the adventure suspense television series The Tibet Code. She also starred in the wuxia drama Huajinghu Buliangren based on the comic of the same name.
Li joined the main cast of crime suspense film Guilty of Mind (2017), based on the 2012 novel Picture of Psychological Crime by Lei Mi. The same year, Li played the concubine of Yang Yang's character in the fantasy romance film Once Upon a Time.
In 2018, Li starred in the palace scheming drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, portraying one of the main antagonists.
In 2019, Li starred in the military drama Paratrooper Spirit; and featured in the historical political drama Joy of Life.
In 2020, Li starred in the period drama New World. The same year she starred in the female centric drama Love Yourself.
She was cast in the wuxia drama Sword Snow Stride written by Wang Juan.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 2011 | The Flowers of War | 金陵十三钗 | Qinhuainü |
| 2013 | Avalokitesvara | 不肯去观音 | Lian Mei |
| 2013 | Rock Paper Scissors | 剪刀石头布 | |
| 2014 | Coming Home | 归来 | Cui Meifang |
| 2014 | Liar's Confession | 騙子的自白 | |
| 2017 | Eternal Love | 海角有个五店市 | Chen Nan |
| 2017 | Once Upon a Time | 三生三世十里桃花 | Su Jin |
| 2017 | Guilty of Mind | 心理罪 | Chen Xi |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 2014 | 80s Engagement | 大都市小爱情 | Su Qin |
| 2015 | Say No for Youth | 天生要完美 | Gao Ying |
| 2015 | The Journey of Flower | 花千骨 | Ni Mantian |
| 2016 | Hua Jing Hu: Bu Liang Ren | 画江湖之不良人 | Lu Linxuan |
| 2016 | The Tibet Code | 藏地密码 | Tang Min |
| 2018 | Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace | 如懿传 | Wei Yanwan |
| 2019 | Paratrooper Spirit | 伞兵魂 | Lin Junqiao |
| 2019 | Joy of Life | 庆余年 | Si Lili |
| 2020 | New World | 新世界 | Liu Rusi |
| 2020 | Love Yourself | 他其实没有那么爱你 | Ren Liang |
| 2021 | Delicious Romance | 爱很美味 | Liu Jing |
| 2021 | Sword Snow Stride | 雪中悍刀行 | Xuanyuan Qingfeng |
| TBA | Baimu Jonny | 百慕迷踪 | Hu Yue |

## Discography

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album | Notes |
| 2020 | "I Want Your Love" | 我要你的爱 | Love Yourself OST | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Event | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2019 | iFeng Fashion Choice Awards | Fashion Attitude of the Year | — | Won |
| 2020 | 26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actress | The New World | Nominated |
| 2020 | 7th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Emerald) | — | Pending |