# Zhao Jinmai

Zhao Jinmai (Chinese: 赵今麦; born 29 September 2002) is a Chinese actress. She is best known for her roles in the children's films Balala the Fairies: The Magic Trial (2014) and Balala the Fairies: Princess Camellia (2015), the sci-fi film The Wandering Earth (2019), and the drama series Growing Pain (2019), A Little Thing Called First Love (2019), Reset (2022), The Princess Royal (2024), and Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (2024). She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2024.

## Early life and education

Zhao was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China on 29 September 2002. Her father is a chemistry teacher. Zhao was known for maintaining exceptional grades in school while working as a child actress.
In 2020, Zhao was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama, China's top drama school, as the best-ranked incoming student in the Department of Acting. She graduated in 2024.

## Career

Zhao started her acting career as a child actress in the early 2010s. She participated in several television series and films, in particularly the fantasy children film Balala the Fairies. In 2016, she starred in the urban family drama A Love for Separation, which was popular and introduced Zhao to a wider audience. In 2017, Zhao starred in the modern drama My! Physical Education Teacher. In 2018, Zhao starred in the comedy film Go Brother! adapted from Chinese manhua/webcomics Please Take My Brother Away!.
In 2019, Zhao starred in the sci-fi film The Wandering Earth adapted from Liu Cixin's novel, where she played the female lead, Han Duoduo. The film has become one of the highest grossing films in China and led to increased recognition for Zhao. In the same year, she gained recognition for her role in the family drama Growing Pain. She also played the lead female role in the youth romance drama A Little Thing Called First Love. Forbes China listed Zhao under their 30 Under 30 Asia 2019 list, which consisted of 30 influential people under 30 years old who have had a substantial influence in their fields.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes/Ref. |
| 2014 | Balala the Fairies: The Magic Trial | 巴啦啦小魔仙之魔法的考验 | Ling Meiqi (Maggie) | |
| 2015 | Balala the Fairies: Princess Camellia | 巴啦啦小魔仙之魔箭公主 | Ling Meiqi (Maggie) | |
| 2018 | Go Brother! | 快把我哥带走 | Miao Miaomiao | |
| 2019 | The Wandering Earth | 流浪地球 | Han Duoduo | |
| 2019 | A Sedan | 小轿车 | Li Li | Filmed in 2015 |
| 2022 | One Week Friends | 一周的朋友 | Lin Xiangzhi | |
| 2022 | Ode to the Spring | 你是我的春天 | Xiao Mai | |

### Television / web series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 2012 | Cannot No Mother | 不能没有娘 | Xiang Di |
| 2013 | When the Heart Meets the Benevolence | 当人心遇上仁心 | Xiao Sanya |
| 2015 | Balala the Fairies: The Riddle of the Notes | 巴啦啦小魔仙之音符之谜 | Ling Meiqi / Maggie |
| 2016 | A Love for Separation | 小别离 | Jin Qinqin |
| 2017 | My! Physical Education Teacher | 我的！体育老师 | Mary |
| 2017 | Love is the Source of Joy | 爱是欢乐的源泉 | Zhang Tong |
| 2019 | Growing Pain | 少年派 | Lin Miaomiao |
| 2019 | A Little Thing Called First Love | 初恋那件小事 | Xia Miaomiao |
| 2020 | Reborn | 重生 | Chen Rui |
| 2020 | Together | 在一起 | Rong Yi |
| 2021 | The Blessed Girl | 玲珑 | Huotu Linglong |
| 2021 | Brilliant Girls | 爱的理想生活 | Wen Xiaoyang |
| 2022 | Reset | 开端 | Li Shiqing |
| 2022 | Growing Pain 2 | 少年派2 | Lin Miaomiao |
| 2023 | Stand by Me | 那些回不去的年少时光 | Luo Qiqi |
| 2024 | Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | 在暴雪时分 | Yin Guo |
| 2024 | The Princess Royal | 度华年 | Li Rong |
| 2025 | Drifting Away | 漂白 | Zhen Zhen |
| TBA | Our Generation | 樱桃琥珀 | Lin Qile |
| TBA | Shine on Me | 骄阳似我 | Nie Xiguang |

### Variety shows

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes/Ref. |
| 2019 | FOURTRY | 潮流合伙人 | Cast member | |
| 2022 | Divas Hit the Road Season 4 | 花儿与少年4 | Cast member | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Results |
| 2018 | Guangzhou College Student Film Festival — Students' Choice Award | Favorite Supporting Actress | Go Brother! | Nominated |
| 2019 | 4th Golden Blossom Internet Film and Television Awards [zh] | Best Newcomer | Growing Pain; A Little Thing Called First Love | Nominated |
| 2019 | 2019 China TV Drama Awards | New Generation of Youth Performer | Growing Pain | Won |
| 2019 | 1st China Film Critics Association [zh] Awards | New Performer of the Year | The Wandering Earth | Nominated |
| 2020 | 7th The Actors of China Awards | Best Actress (Green Group) | — | Nominated |
| 2021 | 3rd Asian Contents Awards | Best Newcomer Actress | The Blessed Girl | Nominated |
| 2022 | 35th Huading Awards | Best Actress in Chinese Modern Dramas | Reset | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2022 Baidu Boiling Point Metaverse Night | Boiling Point Breakthrough Actress | — | Won |
| 2023 | 1st "New Horns" Drama Director's Night | Breakthrough Actress of the Year | Reset | Won |
| 2024 | 2024 Television Series of China Quality Ceremony | Female Drama Star with Full Media Attention of the Year | Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | Won |