# Ma Tianyu

Ma Tianyu (Chinese: 马天宇; pinyin: Mǎ Tiānyǔ; born 12 July 1986), also known as Ray Ma, is a Chinese singer and actor. He graduated from the Beijing Film Academy.

## Career
### Early life

Ma was born to an ethnic Hui family in Wucheng county, Dezhou, Shandong, China. At the age of 5, his mother passed away due to suicide, and subsequently, his father left the family due to debts. Ma, along with his two sisters, went on to live with their elderly grandparents.
To support his family, at the age of 16, Ma relocated to Beijing, where he began working in various capacities. During his time as a bartender in Beijing, he encountered individuals associated with the entertainment industry who recognized his potential. They suggested that he pursue a career as an actor and advised him to undertake the entrance examination for the Beijing Film Academy.
In the absence of a clear career path, Ma followed the suggestion. Grappling with shyness during the auditions, Ma decided to participate in the talent competition My Hero (2006) to bolster his self-confidence.

### 2006–2008: Debut as a singer

In 2006, Ma became the regional champion for the Wuhan area and came sixth in the final round of My Hero; he was elected the most popular contestant.
In 2007, Ma released his first album Beautiful Light. The album was well-received, and topped the Asia Music Chart for Chinese albums. Ma won two newcomer awards at the China Billboard Award Ceremony, and Most Popular Singer awards at the 5th Southeast Music Chart Awards and 11th Tencent Star Award Ceremony. "The Death of Gentleness" from the album was also chosen as one of the Top Ten Songs of the Year.

### 2009–2013: Acting debut and breakthrough

Ma made his acting debut in the film Evening of Roses, based on a novel of the same name by Cai Zhiheng. In 2010, he played the character Jia Baoyu in the historical television series The Legend of Daiyu.
Ma first gained public attention in 2011 when he starred in wuxia drama The Vigilantes in Masks alongside Wallace Huo and Cecilia Liu. He won the Breakthrough Actor award at the 2011 Youku Television Index Awards. He then starred in Hunan TV's family drama Treasure Mother Treasure Girl (2012), which topped viewership ratings. The same year, he had a guest starring role in Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky, which was well received by the audience.
In 2013, Ma starred in the comedy film, The Cosplayers, and was chosen as the Most Promising Film Actor for his performance.

### 2014–present: Rising popularity

Ma gained an increase in popularity after starring in the wuxia drama Young Sherlock (2014). His portrayal of the elegant and dandy Wang Yuanfang was critically praised. He continued his success streak with dual roles in Swords of Legends (2014), which was a huge commercial success. The same year he released a single titled "Narcissus". The song received positive reviews from both the media and fans and topped various music charts in China.
In 2015, Ma joined the cast of travel-reality show Sisters Over Flowers, and sung the theme song titled "Let Time Rewind in the Wind" for the show. The same year, he starred in the comedy film Surprise. The film broke a million admissions and Ma received acclaim for his dynamic portrayal of a "tragic hero". Ma received the "Outstanding Male Artist" award at the Esquire Man at His Best Award.
In 2016, Ma starred in the epic fantasy drama Ice Fantasy, based on Guo Jingming's best-selling novel City of Fantasy, playing the role of the silent and mysterious ice prince, Ying Kongshi. He became known to wider international audience following the airing of the drama. The same year, he released the album Flower in Hand to celebrate his 10th anniversary since debut.
In 2017, Ma ranked 95th on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list.
In 2018, Ma starred in the crime action film A Better Tomorrow 2018 by Ding Sheng. The same year, he starred in the television series historical drama Secret of the Three Kingdoms, playing Liu Xie; and romance melodrama All Out of Love.
In 2019, Ma starred in romance melodrama River Flows To You alongside Zheng Shuang, and romance environmental drama My Mowgli Boy alongside actress Yang Zi.

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | English title | Chinese title |
| 2007 | Beautiful Light | 宇光十色 |
| 2008 | Fly | 飞 |
| 2009 | The Longest Night in Shanghai | 夜上海 |
| 2010 | Bright Moonlight | 月光晴朗 |
| 2010 | Confidence | 自言自宇 |
| 2013 | Out of the World | 世界之外 |
| 2016 | Flower in Hand | 手花 |

### Singles

| Year | English title | Chinese title |
| 2006 | Only Missing Autumn | 只欠秋天 |
| 2007 | Happy Story | 快乐童话 |
| 2007 | "We Are Ready" | 我们准备好了 |
| 2008 | "One World One Dream" | 世界的梦想 |
| 2008 | "Believe in Love" | 相信爱 |
| 2008 | "Give You My Energy" | 给你我的力量 |
| 2011 | "Save the World" | 拯救世界 |
| 2014 | "Narcissus" | 纳西索斯 |

### Soundtracks and promotional songs

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album |
| 2014 | "Falling Flowers" | 落花 | Young Sherlock OST |
| 2014 | "Orchid Bell Song" | 兰铃曲 | Swords of Legends OST |
| 2015 | "Let Time Rewind in the Wind" | 让时光在微风中倒流 | Sister Over Flowers OST |
| 2015 | "The Things We Want to Do and Accomplish" | 想到和做到的 | Kung Fu Mother-in-Law OST |
| 2016 | "Love As Sakura" | 愛如櫻 | Ice Fantasy OST |
| 2016 | "Whose" | 谁 | Edge of Happiness OST |
| 2016 | "Summer" | 念夏 | Edge of Happiness OST |
| 2018 | "The Everlasting" | 生生不息 | All Out of Love OST |
| 2019 | "Loving La Vie En Rose" | — | River Flows To You OST |
| 2019 | "My Motherland and I" | 我和我的祖国 | — |

### Other appearances

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Notes/Ref. |
| 2017 | "Bringing Moonlight on the Road | 带上月光上路 | Performance for CCTV Spring Gala |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Curse of the Golden Flower | 满城尽带黄金甲 | Medicine boy | Support Role |
| 2009 | Evening of Roses | 夜玫瑰 | Lan Heyan | Support Role |
| 2010 | Illusion Apartment | 异度公寓 | Meng Yifan | |
| 2011 | East Meets West | 东成西就 2011 | | Cameo |
| 2013 | The Cosplayers | 百万爱情宝贝 | Ye Chong | |
| 2015 | Love Without Distance | 土豪520 | Yu Haiyan | |
| 2015 | Surprise | 万万没想到 | Mu Rongbai | |
| 2015 | The Little Prince | 小王子 | Fox | Voice-dubbed |
| 2017 | The Founding of an Army | 建军大业 | Lin Biao | Support Role |
| 2018 | A Better Tomorrow 2018 | 英雄本色4 | Zhou Chao | |
| 2019 | Mao Zedong 1949 | 决胜时刻 | War correspondent | Support Role |
| 2021 | 1921 | | Li Xian Gen | Support Role |
| 2022 | Ordinary Hero | 平凡英雄 | Song Hui | Cameo |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | You Are My Dream | 你是我的梦 | Ma Yu | Cameo |
| 2010 | The Legend of Daiyu | 黛玉传 | Jia Baoyu | |
| 2010 | The Vigilantes in Masks | 怪侠一枝梅 | He Xiaomei | |
| 2011 | Scarlet Heart | 步步惊心 | Huang Di | Cameo |
| 2012 | Precious Mother, Precious Girl | 宝贝妈妈宝贝女 | Zhang Hanzhe | |
| 2012 | Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky | 轩辕剑:天之痕 | Lü Chengzhi | Support Role |
| 2013 | Romantic Heroes of the Tang Dynasty | 唐朝浪漫英雄 | Fei Ying | Cameo |
| 2013 | Hot Mom Qiao Da | 辣妈俏爸 | Yuan Zhida | |
| 2013 | Longmen Express | 龙门镖局 | Qingdong | Cameo |
| 2014 | Lady's House | 淑女之家 | Su Zhiwen | |
| 2014 | Young Sherlock | 少年神探狄仁杰 | Wang Yuanfang | |
| 2014 | Swords of Legends | 古剑奇谭 | Fang Lansheng | Support Role |
| 2014 | Romantic Kitchen | 浪漫满厨 | Mi Qing | |
| 2014 | Sunshine in Me | 骄阳似我 | Singer | Cameo |
| 2015 | In the Dream to Find the Answer | 四手妙弹 | Wen Shaohui | Support Role |
| 2015 | The Gossip Girl | 米粒向前冲 | Meng Yan | |
| 2015 | Time To Love | 抓緊時間愛 | Wen Jun | Support Role |
| 2015 | Kung Fu Mother-in-Law | 功夫婆媳 | Huang Lezong | |
| 2016 | Edge of Happiness | 缘来幸福 | He Mu | |
| 2016 | Singing All Along | 秀麗江山之長歌行 | Yan Ziling | Support Role |
| 2016 | By Marriage to Remember | 毛丫丫被婚记 | Xiang Hui | Special appearance |
| 2016 | Ice Fantasy | 幻城 | Ying Kongshi / Li Tianjin | |
| 2016 | Beauty Private Kitchen | 美人私房菜 | Li Ma | |
| 2017 | Ice Fantasy Destiny | 幻城凡世 | Ma Tianci / Ying Kongshi | |
| 2018 | Secret of the Three Kingdoms | 三国机密 | Liu Xie / Liu Ping | |
| 2018 | All Out of Love | 凉生，我们可不可以不忧伤 | Liang Sheng | |
| 2018 | The Best Meeting | 最好的遇见 | Xiang Hui | |
| 2019 | Scouring Marriage | 亲爱的婚姻 | Li Xiaojun | |
| 2019 | River Flows To You | 流淌的美好时光 | Qi Ming | |
| 2019 | My Mowgli Boy | 我的莫格利男孩 | Mo Ge Li / Xia Ye / Wolf |
| 2020 | Heroes in Harm’s Way | 最美逆行者 | Tu Ziqiao | |
| 2020 | Unbending Will | 石头开花 | Dai Zhiqiang | |
| 2021 | Humans | 你好，安怡 | Li Yao | |
| 2023 | Divine Destiny | 尘缘 | Ji Ruo Chen | |
| 2024 | The Happy Seven in Changan | 喜卷长安城 | Shang Guan Gu Chuan | |

### Variety show

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 2015 | Sisters Over Flowers | 花样姐姐 | Cast member |
| 2016 | Let Go of My Baby Season 1 | 放开我北鼻 | Cast member |
| 2017 | Let Go of My Baby Season 2 | 放开我北鼻 | Cast member |
| 2019 | We Grew Up | 我们长大了 | Cast member |
| 2019 | The Inn | 亲爱的·客栈 | Cast member |
| 2021 | The Wonderful Life | 生活真美好 | Cast member |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2007 | 1st Star Style Awards | Top Ten Fashion Idol | — | Won |
| 2007 | 1st Baidu Entertainment Hot Point | Top Ten Songs | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2007 | 1st Baidu Entertainment Hot Point | Popular Music Video Award | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2007 | 11th "Qicai" Award Ceremony | Top Ten Songs | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2007 | 11th "Qicai" Award Ceremony | Most Popular Male Singer | — | Won |
| 2007 | 6th China Gold Record Award | Newcomer Award | — | Nominated |
| 2007 | 11th Tencent Star Award Ceremony | Most Popular Male Singer | — | Won |
| 2007 | China Billboard Award Ceremony | Most Promising Newcomer | — | Won |
| 2007 | China Billboard Award Ceremony | Best Selling New Album | Beautiful Light | Won |
| 2007 | 7th China Original Song Award | Best-selling Album | Beautiful Light | Won |
| 2007 | 5th Southeast Music Chart Awards | Most Popular Singer | — | Won |
| 2007 | 5th Southeast Music Chart Awards | Top Ten Songs | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2007 | Music Radio China Top Chart Awards | Top Broadcast Song of the Year | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2008 | 7th 9+2 Music Pioneer Awards | Top Ten Songs | "The Death of Gentleness" | Won |
| 2008 | 7th 9+2 Music Pioneer Awards | Newcomer of the Year (Mainland) | — | Won |
| 2008 | 4th Sina Internet TV Festival | Popular Blogger Award | — | Won |
| 2008 | 4th Sina Internet TV Festival | Newcomer of the Year | — | Nominated |
| 2008 | 12th "Qicai" Award Ceremony | Best Male Singer | "Fly" | Won |
| 2008 | 12th "Qicai" Award Ceremony | Top Ten Songs | "Still Together" | Won |
| 2008 | 12th "Qicai" Award Ceremony | Best Music Video | "Green Clothes" | Won |
| 2008 | Music Radio China Top Chart Awards | Top Broadcast Song of the Year | "Green Clothes" | Won |
| 2009 | Music Radio China Top Chart Awards | Song of the Year | "Green Clothes" | Won |
| 2009 | Music Radio China Top Chart Awards | Recommended Album | Fly | Won |
| 2009 | 2nd Baidu Entertainment Hot Point | Top Ten Songs | "Still Together" | Won |
| 2011 | 11th 9+2 Music Pioneer Awards | Musical Improvement Award | — | Won |
| 2011 | 11th 9+2 Music Pioneer Awards | Trend Singer of the Year | "My Dear, Where Are You?" | Won |
| 2011 | 1st Youku Television Index Awards | Best Breakthrough Actor | The Vigilantes in Masks | Won |
| 2011 | 1st Fashion New Power Awards | Fashion Artist Award | — | Won |
| 2014 | 4th LeTV Movie and Drama Awards | Most Promising Film Actor | The Cosplayers | Won |
| 2014 | 2nd Youku Young Choice Awards | All-Rounded Artist Award | — | Won |
| 2014 | 11th Man at His Best Awards | Fashion Male Artist Award | — | Won |
| 2015 | 12th Man at His Best Awards | Outstanding Mainland Artist | — | Won |
| 2016 | 1st KuGou Music Awards | Most Popular Digital Album | Flower in Hand | Won |
| 2016 | 1st KuGou Music Awards | Platinum Artist Award | Flower in Hand | Won |
| 2016 | 2nd OK! Fashion Attitude Awards | Influential Male Celebrity | — | Won |
| 2016 | Baidu Entertainment Awards | Person of the Year | — | Won |
| 2017 | Weibo Awards Ceremony | Breakthrough Actor | — | Won |
| 2017 | 11th Writers Rich List | Best-Selling Author | Ray Me | Won |
| 2018 | 34th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Founding of an Army | Nominated |
| 2018 | 15th Esquire Man at His Best Awards | Fashion Artist Award | — | Won |
| 2018 | 15th China Philanthropist List | Charity Star of the Year | — | Won |
| 2019 | Golden Bud – The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival | Best Actor | River Flows To You, My Mowgli Boy | Nominated |