# Ma Shaohua

Ma Shaohua (born 23 September 1955) is a Chinese actor best known for portraying historical figures such as Sun Yat-sen and Deng Xiaoping in several films and television series. He became widely known to audiences with Towards the Republic, The Emperor in Han Dynasty, The Rise of the Tang Empire, and Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads.

## Early life and education

Ma was born into a Hui family in Guizhou, on 23 September 1955. After the third grade of primary school, he attended Beijing Opera Class of Guizhou Art School, studying Laosheng. In 1969, he became an actor at the Cultural Work Corps of Guizhou Military District and moved to Guizhou Modern Drama Troupe in 1975. After resuming the college entrance examination, in 1978, he entered Shanghai Theatre Academy, majoring in comedy.

## Acting career

Ma made his screen debut with a supporting role as Sun Yat-sen in Li Dazhao (1989). In 1997, Ma made his film debut with a small role in the war film The Ninth Battalion.
In 2000, he portrayed Sun Yat-sen in the biographical television series Civilian President.
Ma starred as Sun Yat-sen, reuniting him with co-star Zhou Li, who played Song Qingling, in the 2001 biographical film Twelve Years of Wind and Rain.
In 2002, he guest-starred on the historical television series Towards the Republic, playing Sun Yat-sen.
Ma took the lead role as Zhang Daqian in the 2003 biographical television series Legend of Dun Huang: Zhang Daqian.
In 2005, he participated in The Emperor in Han Dynasty as Dou Ying [zh], prime minister of the Han Empire.
Ma co-starred with Ma Yue and Jin Shijie in the 2006 historical television series The Rise of the Tang Empire as Zhangsun Wuji, the prime minister of Tang Empire.
In 2009, he appeared in Ning Hao's black comedy film Crazy Racer, playing the coach of Huang Bo's character. For his role in Yimeng, Ma was nominated Outstanding Actor at the 28th Flying Apsaras Awards. That same year, he was nominated for Best Actor at the 25th China TV Golden Eagle Award for his performance in Stranger.
In 2011, he appeared in the propaganda film The Founding of a Party, in which he played Sun Yat-sen.
In 2014, Ma was cast in the war television series All Quiet in Peking.
Ma's performance in Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads which garnered him Best Actor Award at the 18th Chunyan Awards, Outstanding Contribution Award at the 21st Shanghai Television Festival, and 13th Sichuan TV Festival nomination for Best Actor in Long TV Series.
In 2017, he was cast in the medical drama Surgeons, opposite Jin Dong, Bai Baihe, and Li Jiahang.
In 2021, he portrayed Cai Yuanpei in the propaganda television series The Awakeing Age and joined the main cast of Our Southwest Associated University as Feng Youlan. He also filmed in the biographical historical drama The Pioneer as Sun Yat-sen.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 1997 | The Ninth Battalion | 第九营 | Zhou Tong |
| 2001 | Twelve Years of Wind and Rain | 风雨十二年 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2006 | Being A Son and Comrade | 儿子同志 | Commander Yang |
| 2009 | Crazy Racer | 疯狂的赛车 | Ma Danian |
| 2010 | A Season of Good Rain | 好雨时节 | Ma Hao |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2013 | One Hundred Yuan | 一百元 | Zhu Yude |
| 2015 | Gao Derong | 独龙之子高德荣 | Gao Derong |
| 2018 | | 匠心 | Lu Mingxin |
| 2021 | The Pioneer | 革命者 | Sun Yat-sen |

### Television

| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
| 1989 | Li Dazhao | 李大钊 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 1996 | Hero Without Regrets | 英雄无悔 | Liu Guitian |
| 1998 | Chief Justice | 大法官 | Wang Yuhe |
| 1998 | Commercial Flag | 商旗 | Sheng Xuanhuai |
| 1999 | I'm a Policeman | 我是警察 | Xiao Wenping |
| 1999 | | 铁血警魂 | Lian Keqin |
| 2000 | Civilian President | 平民大总统 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2003 | Towards the Republic | 走向共和 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2003 | Legend of Dun Huang: Zhang Daqian | 张大千敦煌传奇 | Zhang Daqian |
| 2004 | Family Head | 当家人 | Li Tianming |
| 2005 | Surviving Migrant Workers | 生存之民工 | Xie Laoda |
| 2005 | Bloody 1941 | 喋血1941 | Japanese military officer |
| 2005 | Legend of Zhengde | 正德演义 | Tang Rensun |
| 2005 | Happy Face | 欢颜 | Master Liu |
| 2005 | | 一针见血 | Chen Kaiming |
| 2005 | The Emperor in Han Dynasty | 汉武大帝 | Dou Ying |
| 2006 | | 追杀横路靖六 | Wen Shanren |
| 2006 | The Rise of the Tang Empire | 贞观之治 | Zhangsun Wuji |
| 2007 | Undercurrent | 暗流 | |
| 2008 | Legend of the Red Lantern | 红灯记 | Hatoyama |
| 2008 | Be a Big Shopkeeper | 当家大掌柜 | Xiao Zifu |
| 2008 | Secret Train | 秘密列车 | Zhou Mingtian |
| 2008 | Bloody Persistence | 浴血坚持 | Chen Yi |
| 2009 | What a Big Tree | 好大一棵树 | Deng Pingshou |
| 2009 | Stranger | 外乡人 | Xie Changfa |
| 2009 | Guanzhong Gunshots | 关中枪声 | Liang Shoudao |
| 2009 | Yimeng | 沂蒙 | Li Zhonghou |
| 2011 | Holy Gate | 圣天门口 | Xue Da's father |
| 2011 | 1911 Revolution | 辛亥革命 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2012 | | 生死依托 | Zhang Gui |
| 2013 | A Devil Don't Leave | 一个鬼子都不留 | Li Zhankui |
| 2013 | National Defense Student | 国防生 | Zhao Zhikai |
| 2014 | All Quiet in Peking | 北平无战事 | Lin Dawei |
| 2014 | My Son | 我的儿子是奇葩 | Chun Sanfu |
| 2014 | Hometown | 原乡 | Du Shouzheng |
| 2014 | Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads | 历史转折中的邓小平 | Deng Xiaoping |
| 2015 | Feng Zicai | 冯子材 | Feng Zicai |
| 2016 | | 搭错车 | Tong Lin |
| 2017 | Surgeons | 外科风云 | Fu Bowen |
| 2018 | | 黄土高天 | Zhang Tianshun |
| 2019 | In Law We Believe | 因法之名 | Chen Qian |
| 2021 | The Awakeing Age | 觉醒年代 | Cai Yuanpei |
| 2021 | Our Southwest Associated University | 我们的西南联大 | Feng Youlan |
| 2021 | Faith Makes Great | 理想照耀中国 | Wu Dengyun |
| 2021 | The Glory and the Dream | 光荣与梦想 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2021 | The Sword and the Brocade | 锦心似玉 | Marquis of Jingyuan |
| 2021 | | 中流击水 | Sun Yat-sen |
| 2021 | | 国家情怀 | |
| TBA | Ding Baozhen | 民为天之丁宝桢 | Ding Baozhen |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2010 | Stranger | 25th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2011 | Yimeng | 28th Flying Apsaras Awards | Outstanding Actor | Nominated |
| 2013 | Xinhai Revolution | 29th Flying Apsaras Awards | Outstanding Actor | Nominated |
| 2015 | Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads | 13th Sichuan TV Festival | Best Actor in Long TV Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads | 18th Chunyan Awards | Best Actor | Won |
| 2015 | Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads | 21st Shanghai Television Festival | Outstanding Contribution Award | Won |
| 2021 | The Awakeing Age | 27th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| 2022 | The Awakeing Age | 31st China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Supporting Actor | Won |