# Yan Ni (actress)

Yan Ni (simplified Chinese: 闫妮; traditional Chinese: 閆妮; pinyin: Yán Ní; born 10 March 1971 in Xi'an, Shaanxi), born Yan Kaiyan (simplified Chinese: 闫凯艳; traditional Chinese: 閆凱艷; pinyin: Yán Kǎi Yàn), is a Chinese film and television actress. She works for the Television Art center of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. In 2020, she became the fifth Chinese actress to win the "Grand Slam", after winning "Best Actress" at the three biggest Chinese-language television awards including the Feitian Award, the Golden Eagle Award and the Magnolia Award.
Yan ranked 54th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2015.

## Biography

Yan Ni was born in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Yan's parents are ordinary workers, and all her family still live in Xi'an. After high school, she enrolled at a financial college to study accounting. Two years later she succeeded in gaining admission to an art organization of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Lanzhou, and then went on to enroll at the PLA's Art School in Beijing.
Yan started acting in 1992. In 1999 she had her first cinematic role, playing Qiqoqiqo Ma in the film Cog and Hen. Yan rose to fame for her role as Tong Xiangyu in My Own Swordsman, an 80 episode TV comedy-drama that tells the story of the happenings in a tavern during the Ming Dynasty. After My Own Swordsman she played secretary Xiang Yunxiu in National Action and played Niu Xianhua in The North Wind. Yan was awarded a Golden Eagle Award in 2010 for her role in The Wind From North.
In 2011 Yan had a supporting role in director Dayyan Eng's bilingual film Inseparable, which starred Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and was released in cinemas in China and other territories worldwide. In 2017 she reunited with her The North Wind co-star Xia Yu and director Dayyan Eng to star in the fantasy/comedy Wished, which debuted at the box office with the highest audience scores across the top four ticketing platforms for local Chinese comedies released that summer.
Yan will next be seen in the 2021 Hong Kong film Reindeer alongside Hu Ge.

## Personal life

Yan has an ex-husband and daughter, who is also an actress.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Woman Avengers | 复仇的女人 | Tong Mei | |
| 2000 | | 禧娃 | Ji Ting | |
| 2000 | | 公鸡打鸣，母鸡下蛋 | Ma Qiaoqiao | |
| 2000 | | 祝你平安 | Ma Yan | |
| 2001 | Hot Boys | 六月男孩 | Wang Xiaoni | |
| 2002 | Legend of Half Bowl Village | 半碗村的传奇 | Xu Qi | |
| 2002 | Turn Over | 翻身 | Lu Yan | |
| 2002 | Sandstorm | 大沙暴 | Feng Ru | |
| 2003 | | 西贡姿色 | Cui Niao | |
| 2003 | | 非常周末 | Ye Xiaolian | |
| 2004 | | 心中的圣地 | He Xiulan | |
| 2004 | Defending Reputation | 疑案忠魂 | Policewoman | |
| 2004 | | 上班 | Lanzi | |
| 2004 | | 张思德 | Yin Li | |
| 2004 | Neighbour | 对门儿 | He Dongmei | |
| 2005 | Stolen Life | 生死劫 | Sichuan woman | |
| 2007 | | 金猪贺岁 | Yang Pingping | |
| 2007 | A big potato | 别拿自己不当干部 | Han Yuehua | |
| 2007 | Falling In Love | 追爱总动员 | Zhu En | |
| 2007 | | 镖行天下之天下镖局 | Liu Xiangyun | |
| 2007 | Crossed Lines | 命运呼叫转移 | Wang Shen | |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Dunk | 大灌篮 | Teacher Ni | |
| 2009 | Cow | 斗牛 | Jiu'er | |
| 2009 | A Simple Noodle Story | 三枪拍案惊奇 | Boss | |
| 2010 | True Legend | 苏乞儿 | Lady Boss | Cameo |
| 2011 | My Own Swordsman | 武林外传 | Tong Xiangyu | |
| 2011 | All's Well, Ends Well 2011 | 最强喜事 | Dream | |
| 2011 | Mural | 画壁 | Aunt | |
| 2011 | Magic to Win | 开心魔法 | Liu Huali | |
| 2012 | The Great Magician | 大魔术师 | Third madame | |
| 2012 | Inseparable | 形影不离 | CEO Yang | |
| 2012 | 11 Flowers | 我11 | Deng Meiyu | |
| 2014 | Coming Home | 归来 | Department Head Lee | |
| 2014 | Night of Adventure | 疯狂72小时 | Xu Sanna | |
| 2015 | Monster Hunt | 捉妖记 | Luo Bing | |
| 2016 | The New Year's Eve of Old Lee | 过年好 | Li Yangduo | |
| 2016 | Some Like It Hot | 情圣 | Ma Lilian | |
| 2016 | The Wasted Times | 罗曼蒂克消亡史 | Mother Wang | |
| 2016 | Relocate | 搬迁 | Liu Chunyan | |
| 2017 | Special Encounter | 美容针 | Li Tangzhen | |
| 2017 | Wished | 反转人生 | Shangguan Furong | |
| 2017 | Our Shining Days | 闪光少女 | Chen Jing's mother | Cameo |
| 2018 | I Am Your Mom | 我是你妈 | Qin Meili | |
| 2018 | Good Luck Dad | 让我怎么相信你 | Liang Dongmei | |
| 2018 | A Fangirl's Romance | 迷妹罗曼史 | Gao Pei | |
| 2019 | Push and Shove | 狗眼看人心 | | |
| 2019 | At Last | 玩命三日 | | |
| 2019 | Two Tigers | 两只老虎 | | |
| 2020 | My People, My Homeland | 我和我的家乡 | | |
| 2021 | Reindeer | 驯鹿 | | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | | 三个姑娘一个兵 | | |
| 2000 | | 闲人马大姐 | Niu Haitang | |
| 2001 | | 永不回头 | Guo Yan | |
| 2001 | | 警察李“酒瓶” | Xiao Pei | |
| 2001 | General Zhu De | 朱德元帅 | Kang Keqing | |
| 2002 | Meeting Aquarium | 海洋馆的约会 | Xin Qi | |
| 2002 | The Fire General | 火帅 | | |
| 2002 | | 寻人档案 | Feng Huiying | |
| 2003 | Cadre | 干部 | Tian Jinxiu | |
| 2003 | | 行棋无悔 | Cheng Li | |
| 2004 | | 炊事班的故事2 | Nurse Lan | |
| 2004 | Health Express | 健康快车 | Yan Wenxiu | |
| 2004 | History of the Sky | 历史的天空 | Madame Daochuan | |
| 2005 | A Mission | 使命 | | Cameo |
| 2005 | My Heart Fly | 我心飞翔 | Zhang Yuchen | |
| 2005 | Changping of the War | 铁血长平 | Lady Jia | |
| 2006 | My Own Swordsman | 武林外传 | Tong Xiangyu | |
| 2006 | | 长大不容易 | Shu Weiran | |
| 2007 | Ming Dynasty in 1566 | 大明王朝1566 | Consort Li | |
| 2007 | | 房前屋后 | Tang Yuxiu | |
| 2007 | | 炊事班的故事3 | Nurse Lan | |
| 2008 | | 中国神探 | Zheng Qiuju | |
| 2008 | Six Cities | 都市六人行 | Tong Xiangyang | Cameo |
| 2008 | Next Life to be your Woman | 下辈子做你的女人 | Liu Hanxiang | |
| 2009 | Police Station | 派出所的故事 | Yan Yu | |
| 2009 | | 卫生队的故事 | Nurse Lan | |
| 2009 | Unrivaled Jack-of-all-Trades | 无敌三脚猫 | Zhao Xiaochen | |
| 2009 | North Wind Blowing | 北风那个吹 | Niu Xianhua | |
| 2009 | Going Home | 回家 | Zhou Yan | |
| 2009 | | 国家行动 | Xiang Yunxiu | |
| 2009 | | 三七撞上二十一 | Deng Youzhen | |
| 2009 | The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan | 铁齿铜牙纪晓岚 | Ge Song'er | |
| 2010 | Founders | 奠基者 | Liu Qinge | |
| 2010 | LOHAS Family | 乐活家庭 | Yan Danni | Season 1-2 |
| 2010 | Zhang Xiaowu's Spring | 张小五的春天 | Zhang Xiaowu | |
| 2010 | Never Turn Around | 永不回头 | He Liping | |
| 2011 | | 大学生士兵的故事 | Doctor Chen | Season 1-2 |
| 2012 | | 女子军魂 | Ling Fengxia | |
| 2012 | The Legend of Chu Liuxiang | 楚留香新传 | | |
| 2013 | | 亲爱的 | Li Baoli | |
| 2014 | A Servant of Two Masters | 一仆二主 | Tang Hong | |
| 2014 | Life Revelation | 生活启示录 | Yu Xiaoqiang | |
| 2014 | Marriage Cuisine | 婚姻料理 | Ma Ahqin | |
| 2015 | Wang Dahua Revolutionary Career | 王大花的革命生涯 | Wang Dahua | |
| 2015 | Ex-husbands | 前夫求爱记 | Bao Xiaolei | |
| 2015 | Youth Assemble | 青春集结号 | Instructor Yan | |
| 2016 | Atonement | 爱的追踪 | Wen Hao | |
| 2016 | Vive les femmes | 太太万岁 | Ye Shuxin | |
| 2017 | Master Healing | 复合大师 | Gu Xiaoyi | |
| 2017 | Top Secret | 绝密543 | Zhao Yingqiu | |
| 2019 | Simple Happiness | 小幸福 | | Cameo |
| 2019 | Growing Pain | 少年派 | Wang Shengnan | |
| 2019 | The Eyas | 飞行少年 | | Cameo |
| 2020 | Raiders of the New Way | 一步登天 | Shen Baoyan | |
| 2020 | People's Property | 人民的财产 | Shi Hongxing | |
| 2020 | The Stage | 我待生活如初恋 | | |
| 2021 | Minning Town | 闽宁镇 | Magistrate Yang | |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work |
| 2009 | 15th Shanghai Television Festival | Most Popular Actress | North Wind Blowing |
| 2009 | 27th Flying Apsaras Awards | Outstanding Actress | North Wind Blowing |
| 2010 | 25th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actress | North Wind Blowing |
| 2010 | 8th China Golden Eagle TV Arts Festival | Best Performing Arts Award | North Wind Blowing |
| 2010 | 16th Chunyan Awards | Best Actress | North Wind Blowing |
| 2010 | 10th Changchun Film Festival | Most Popular Actress | Cow |
| 2012 | 8th Chinese American Film Festival | Best Actress | 11 Flowers |
| 2014 | 10th Chinese American Film Festival | Best Actress (Television) | A Servant of Two Masters |
| 2015 | 16th Huading Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Coming Home |
| 2015 | 2nd The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Ruby) | — |
| 2016 | 1st Chinese Film Festival in Italy | Best Actress | Relocate |
| 2017 | 1st Marianas International Film Festival | Best Actress | Relocate |
| 2017 | 17th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Wasted Times |
| 2018 | 3rd European Independent Film Awards | Best Actress | Wished |
| 2018 | 2nd New York Film Awards | Best Actress | Wished |
| 2020 | 26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Growing Pains |