# Li Yitong (actress)

Li Yitong (Chinese: 李一桐; pinyin: Lǐ Yītóng, born September 6, 1990) is a Chinese actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Wan Mei, an assassin in the 2018 Chinese television series Bloody Romance, Huang Rong in 2017 TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Lu Wenxi (Abao) in the 2019 Chinese television series Royal Nirvana, and Fu Rou in the 2021 Chinese television series Court Lady.

## Early life and education

Li Yitong started dancing when she was almost ten by taking amateur-level classes. Under the recommendation of a teacher, she later applied and was admitted to the Shenzhen Art School at the age of 12. She received her bachelor degree from the Beijing Dance Academy, China's leading dance institution, where she majored in folk dance. Prior to becoming an actress, Li wanted to start a business of tea house into which she could merge elements of dance performance. But after once helping out her friends in film school for a microcinema, she was fascinated and decided to pursue a career in acting.

## Career

In 2016, Li made her acting debut with a leading role in the period fantasy web series Demon Girl by Yu Zheng.
In 2017, she played Huang Rong in the television adaptation of Jin Yong's wuxia novel Legend of the Condor Heroes and rose to fame in China.
In 2018, Li starred in the wuxia romance web series Bloody Romance, playing the lead role of an assassin named Wan Mei. She also recorded one of the drama's theme songs. The series was a major commercial success and passed 600 million views online by August 2018. The same year, she made her big-screen debut in the comedy film Keep Calm and Be a Superstar.
In 2019, Li starred in the period romance drama Blossom in Heart alongside Deng Lun, historical political drama Royal Nirvana alongside Luo Jin, and wuxia drama Sword Dynasty alongside Li Xian.
In 2020, Li starred in fantasy romance film Love You Forever, and modern romance drama Don't Think Twice, Love's All Right alongside Chen Jianbin.
In 2021, she starred in the fantasy romance drama Court Lady, playing the female lead role Fu Rou, a seamstress.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes/Ref. |
| 2013 | Juzi and Luoxing | 橘子与罗兴 | Ju Zi | Short film |
| 2018 | Keep Calm and Be a Superstar | 卧底巨星 | Tong Tong | |
| 2020 | Love You Forever | 我在时间尽头等你 | Qiu Qian | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Network | Notes/Ref. |
| 2016 | Demon Girl | 半妖倾城 | Nie Qingcheng | Mango TV | |
| 2016 | Demon Girl 2 | 半妖倾城2 | Nie Qingcheng | Mango TV | |
| 2017 | The Legend of the Condor Heroes | 射雕英雄传 | Huang Rong | Dragon TV | |
| 2018 | Bloody Romance | 媚者无疆 | Qi Xue / Wan Mei | Youku | |
| 2019 | Blossom in Heart | 海棠经雨胭脂透 | Gu Haitang | Mango TV | |
| 2019 | Royal Nirvana | 鹤唳华亭 | Lu Wenxi / Gu Ahbao | Youku | |
| 2019 | Sword Dynasty | 剑王朝 | Zhangsun Qianxue / Gongsun Qianxue | iQiyi | |
| 2020 | Don't Think Twice, Love's All Right | 爱我就别想太多 | Xia Keke | Beijing TV, Dragon TV | |
| 2020 | Only For You | 只为那一刻与你相见 | Xia Ranran | Dragon TV | |
| 2020 | Dear Missy | 了不起的女孩 | Lu Ke | iQiyi | |
| 2021 | Dt.Appledog's Time | 我的时代，你的时代 | Ai Qing (Appledog) | iQiyi | |
| 2021 | Court Lady | 骊歌行 | Fu Rou | iQiyi, Tencent | |
| 2021 | Faith Makes Great | 理想照耀中国 | Shen Fujia | Hunan TV | |
| 2022 | Glory of the Special Forces | 特战荣耀 | Ai Qianxue | Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV | |
| 2022 | Love Between Fairy and Devil | 苍兰诀 | Si Ming | iQiyi | Cameo |
| 2022 | My Deepest Dream | 乌云遇皎月 | Tan Jiao | Tencent | |
| 2023 | The Knockout | 狂飙 | Meng Yu | CCTV-8, iQiyi | |
| 2023 | Warm on a Cold Night | 九霄寒夜暖 | Su Jiuer | iQiyi | |
| 2023 | Hi Producer | 正好遇见你 | Lin Hai Shan | iQiyi, Tencent | |
| 2023 | Spy Game | 特工任务 | Yao Yao | iQiyi | |

## Discography
### Singles

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album |
| 2017 | "Mini-Lightning" | 迷你闪电 | |
| 2018 | "Disfavored" | 失宠 | Bloody Romance OST |
| 2019 | "Qian Xue" | 浅雪 | Sword Dynasty OST |
| 2020 | "Falling in Love with You Before Meeting" | 在相遇之前爱上你 | Love You Forever OST |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2017 | 2nd China Quality Television Drama Ceremony | New Star Award | The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Won |
| 2017 | 6th iQiyi All-Star Carnival | Television Newcomer of the Year | — | Won |
| 2017 | China TV Guide | Most Influential Television Newcomer | Demon Girl The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Won |
| 2018 | QQ Interest Group Appreciation Night | New Female Artist Award | Demon Girl The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Won |
| 2019 | 6th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Emerald Category) | — | Nominated |
| 2019 | Golden Bud – The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actress | Blossom in Heart, Royal Nirvana | Nominated |
| 2019 | Weibo Movie Awards Ceremony | Most Anticipated Film Newcomer | Love You Forever | Won |
| 2020 | 7th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Emerald) | — | Pending |
| 2020 | 29th Huading Award | Best Actress | Royal Nirvana | Pending |