# Ma Yili

Ma Yili (Chinese: 马伊琍, born 29 June 1976) is a Chinese actress. She is known for her roles in the television series My Fair Princess III (2003), Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006), Struggle (2007), The First Half of My Life (2017) and Blossoms Shanghai (2023), as well as the film B for Busy (2021).
Ma ranked 42nd on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2019.

## Early life

Ma was born in Hongkou District, Shanghai on June 29, 1976, with her ancestral home in Rudong County, Nantong, Jiangsu. She entered Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1994, majoring in acting, and graduated in 1998.

## Career

Ma started her acting career in the 1996 television series Vacuum Love Records, in which her sweet appearance and strong-willed character left a deep impression on the audience. However in the next few years, Ma maintained a low profile on screen.
Ma regained attention through the television series Long Live Our Dreams (2000) and Black Hole (2001) and the film Eyes of a Beauty (2001). She actually shaved her head for her role in Long Live Our Dreams. She gained further popularity after she played the role of Ziwei in the third season of the popular drama My Fair Princess (2003). Next came the hit series Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006), where Ma played a innocent girl who matures through a painful romance. She then starred in the highly popular youth series Struggle (2007). Ma's role as a passionate, direct and optimistic young woman resonated with the thoughts of the young generation, and shot her to widespread fame.
Following her breakthrough, Ma has won various honors and awards, such as the Golden Phoenix Award and Huading Award, and the Best Actress award at the Changchun Film Festival for her role in Life Today (2007), Best Actress award at the Asia Rainbow TV Awards for her role in Marriage Battle (2010) and Best Supporting Actress award at the China Image Film Festival for her role in Tracks Kong Lingxue (2011).
Ma then starred in Two City One Family (2011), which reflects the differences of a couple who come from different cities in China. Ma, who is of Shanghai descent, successfully portrayed the role of a Beijing young lady, and clinched the Best Actress award at the China TV Drama Awards. She then starred in both seasons of Puberty Hit Menopause (2013) which earned high ratings; as well as family drama Little Daddy (2013), directed by her husband Wen Zhang and which she serves as producer.
In 2015, Ma starred in Swan Dive for Love, a series that narrates the story of a white-collar couple striving to make themselves richer amid a series of challenges. She won the Best Actress award at the Huading Awards for her portrayal of a determined and strong-minded career woman. The following year, she starred in Chinese Style Relationship, a critically acclaimed comedy-drama that depicts three Chinese couples as the navigate through life and love. Ma was nominated for Best Actress at the Shanghai Television Festival.
In 2017, Ma starred in romance/family drama The First Half of My Life. Opposite from her usual strong characters, Ma played a struggling housewife in the series. The television series was a major ratings hit in China and was hotly debated on social media sites like Weibo.
In 2018, Ma played a supporting role in the female-centric war film Goddesses in the Flames of War, reportedly receiving no wages for the film. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards for her performance. Another film which stars in, Enter the Forbidden City won the award for Best Film. The same year, she starred in the mystery film Lost, Found alongside Yao Chen; a remake of the Korean film Missing; as well as crime film The Road Not Taken.
In 2023, Ma starred in Blossoms Shanghai, adapted from Jin Yucheng's novel of the same title.

## Other activities

Ma was appointed the National Ambassador for UNICEF China in 2015.

## Personal life

While at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1996, Ma dated a senior student for a year. They broke up amicably when Ma entered her senior year and the boy graduated. In 1999, Ma was introduced to director Guan Hu through a friend. In 2000, Guan invited Ma to join the cast of his TV drama Black Hole, and the two began a relationship for four years. They broke up in 2004.
Ma met Wen Zhang when filming together Zhang Li's historical drama Blades in 2005. In 2006, when filming TV series Struggle, Ma was pursued at the same time by her co-stars Wen Zhang and Tong Dawei. She, however, went to date Zhang Bo, Wen's college classmate, soon after when shooting the TV series Where is Happiness. Upon learning of Ma's relationship with Zhang, Wen ended his then relationship and renewed his pursuit of Ma, causing a rift between him and Zhang. Ma left Zhang for Wen, though they briefly broke up in early 2007. They quietly registered their marriage in 2008 without having a ceremony or informing their agencies. On 20 September 2008, they have their first daughter, Wen Zhujun (Ima). In August 2013, when Ma was pregnant with her second child, Wen Zhang and actress Yao Di had an extramarital affair. On July 28, 2019, they announced their divorce on Sina Weibo.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Liu Haisu | 刘海粟 | Chen Xiaojun | |
| 1999 | Glass is Transparent | 玻璃是透明的 | Xiao Yazi | |
| 1999 | Kong Yiji | 孔乙己 | Song Hanyu | |
| 1999 | Liao Zhai: Xi Fangping | 聊斋之席方平 | Du Yucui | |
| 2001 | Love at First Sight | 一见钟情 | Ju Zi | |
| 2001 | Eyes of a Beauty | 西施眼 | Shi Yu | |
| 2003 | Sleepless City | 危情雪夜 | Su Bao | |
| 2007 | Life Today | 江北好人 | Zhao Xiaoyun | |
| 2011 | Tracks Kong Lingxue | 跟踪孔令学 | Yang Qiuyue | |
| 2011 | Love Is Not Blind | 失恋33天 | | Cameo |
| 2012 | Cold War | 寒战 | Liu Jiehui's wife | |
| 2013 | Badges of Fury | 不二神探 | Policewoman | Cameo |
| 2016 | Cold War 2 | 寒战2 | Chen Xue'er | |
| 2016 | When Larry Met Mary | 陆垚知马俐 | | Cameo |
| 2017 | The Founding of an Army | 建军大业 | Xiang Jingyu | |
| 2018 | Goddesses in the Flames of War | 那些女人 | | |
| 2018 | The Road Not Taken | 未择之路 | Xiao Mei | |
| 2018 | Lost, Found | 找到你 | Sun Fang | |
| 2019 | Enter the Forbidden City | 进京城 | | |
| 2019 | My People, My Country | 我和我的祖国 | | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | | 哈雷哈雷 | Teacher Yin | |
| 1995 | Sculpture of Life | 生命的雕塑 | | Cameo |
| 1996 | Vacuum Love Records | 真空爱情记录 | Xia Wenxin | |
| 1997 | Heaven Warriors | 天国洋将 | Yang Zhenmei | |
| 1998 | The Puppetmaster | 戏梦人生 | Chang Qingzhen | |
| 1998 | Children of China | 中华儿女 | Hua Rui | |
| 1998 | Years in Hong Kong | 香港岁月 | Xiao Fang | |
| 2000 | Long Live Our Dreams | 理想万岁 | Xia Xiaoyan | |
| 2000 | Previous And Present Life | 前世今生 | Qin Wanying/Shen Xiaohui | |
| 2000 | Our Citizens | 咱老百姓之爱要明媚 | Lin Yali | |
| 2000 | Sleepless Tonight | 今夜无眠 | Li Xiu | |
| 2000 | Perfect Wedding Guide | 完全婚姻手册之老公自家好 | Wang Che | |
| 2001 | Black Hole | 黑洞 | Xiao Yun | |
| 2001 | Happy Family | 幸福家庭 | Pan Min | |
| 2001 | Return Me the Passion | 还我激情 | Jin Jiali | |
| 2002 | Always Keep in Mind | 永远的铭记 | Shen Xuanqing | |
| 2002 | The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 2 | 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚2 | Yan Ruyu | |
| 2003 | My Fair Princess III | 还珠格格3 | Xia Ziwei | |
| 2003 | Yes, I Love You | 谁都会说我爱你 | Lin Juruo | |
| 2004 | Seven Samurai | 七武士 | Mei Xiaoyao | |
| 2004 | Seven Days | 七日 | Shao Jingran | |
| 2005 | Sister Wu | 五妹 | Sister Wu | |
| 2006 | Blue Sea | 碧海深沉 | | Cameo |
| 2006 | Qiao's Grand Courtyard | 乔家大院 | Jiang Xueying | |
| 2006 | Wine Alley | 酒巷深深 | Gu Yu | |
| 2006 | Library | 天一生水 | Lin Ruoyun/ Xie Mingni | |
| 2006 | The Moon and The Sunshine | 月牙儿与阳光 | Zhang Xiaoyue | |
| 2006 | The Jinyiwei Guard | 锦衣卫 | Noble Consort Zheng | |
| 2007 | Don't Say Love Is Bitter | 别说爱情苦 | Yu Diqing | |
| 2007 | Struggle | 奋斗 | Xia Lin | |
| 2007 | Where Is Happiness | 幸福在哪里 | Qi Ruogu | |
| 2008 | Silent Beauty | 美丽无声 | A Ju | |
| 2008 | Locking Love | 锁春记 | Zhuang Zhiyan | |
| 2009 | Second Brother | 二哥 | | Cameo |
| 2010 | Marriage Battle | 婚姻保卫战 | Li Mei | |
| 2010 | King of Silk | 经纬天地 | Liang Shun'er | |
| 2010 | Puberty Hit Menopause | 青春期撞上更年期 | He Fei'er | |
| 2011 | Two City One Family | 双城生活 | Hao Jingni | |
| 2012 | Beautiful Day | 风和日丽 | Yang Xiaoyi | |
| 2013 | Puberty Hit Menopause 2 | 青春期撞上更年期2 | He Fei'er | |
| 2013 | Little Daddy | 小爸爸 | Li Sanmei | |
| 2015 | Swan Dive for Love | 北上广不相信眼泪 | Pan Yun | |
| 2016 | Chinese Style Relationship | 中国式关系 | Shen Yinan | |
| 2017 | Razor | 剃刀边缘 | Guan Haidan | |
| 2017 | The First Half of My Life | 我的前半生 | Luo Zijun | |
| 2019 | On the Road | 在远方 | Lu Xiaoou | |
| 2020 | Miss S | 旗袍美探 | Su Wenli | |
| 2021 | Quiet Among Disquiet | 安静 | Lin Mo | |
| 2023 | | 好事成双 | | |
| 2023 | Blossoms Shanghai | 繁花 | Ling Zi | |
| 2024 | To the Wonder | 我的阿勒泰 | Zhang Fengxia | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2008 | Life Today | 15th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2008 | Life Today | 9th Changchun Film Festival | Best Actress | Won |
| 2009 | Life Today | 2nd Huading Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 2009 | Life Today | 12th Golden Phoenix Awards | Society Award | Won |
| 2011 | Marriage Battle | 1st Asia Rainbow TV Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy Role | Won |
| 2011 | Tracks Kong Lingxue | 3rd China Image Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2011 | Two City One Family | 2nd China TV Drama Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 2016 | Swan Dive for Love | 19th Huading Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 2016 | Chinese Style Relationship | 6th China TV Drama Awards | Outstanding Actress | Won |
| 2017 | Chinese Style Relationship | 23rd Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2017 | The First Half of My Life | 4th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China | Best Actress | Won |
| 2018 | The First Half of My Life | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Won |
| 2018 | Goddesses in the Flames of War | 8th China Movie Channel Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2018 | The Road Not Taken | 75th Venice Film Festival | Focus China: Actress Award | Won |
| 2019 | Lost, Found | 10th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 2019 | Lost, Found | 25th Huading Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| 2019 | Lost, Found | 17th Golden Phoenix Awards | Society Award | Won |
| 2019 | Lost, Found | 32nd Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2019 | The Road Not Taken | 11th Macau International Movie Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2019 | On The Road | Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2020 | On The Road | Best Choice of Multi-Screen Communication | Influential Actress | Won |
| 2020 | On The Road | 26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2020 | Miss S | 29th Huading Awards | Best Actress (Contemporary Drama) | Won |
| 2022 | Myth of Love | 13th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |