Portraying women of resilience

Three years ago, British actress Jodie Comer debuted in London's West End with the one-woman play Prima Facie, a production that earned her the prestigious Olivier Awards for Best Actress the following year. During the award ceremony, the actress from Killing Eve emotionally explained how the play changed her life.

The play revolves around Tessa, a barrister who specializes in defending men accused of sexual assault. Her perspective on the legal system undergoes a profound transformation after she becomes a victim of sexual violence. The role demands intense physical and emotional commitment from the lead actress, requiring her to deliver a high-energy performance with no breaks.

In June 2023, on the other side of the Eurasian continent, Chinese actress Xin Zhilei made her theater debut in the Chinese adaptation of the play in Shanghai.

Xin, 39, also described the experience as life-changing.

It won her the best leading actress award at The 32nd Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Awards and completely altered her perception of acting.

The play required Xin to memorize approximately 60,000 Chinese characters of dialogue. In a 130-minute performance with no intermission, she portrayed and narrated 20 different stories.

To prepare for the physical and emotional demands, she woke up early every day for over three months to memorize her lines while running or climbing stairs. She also attended intensive training sessions at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, working alongside freshmen to hone her skills.

"She isn't shy in the sessions and doesn't put on any celebrity airs. I see her unlimited potential," comments Zhou Ke, director of the Chinese version of Prima Facie.

"The role of Tessa is the most challenging one of my career. After performing in this play, I feel like nothing can defeat me. I can achieve anything if I work hard and set my mind to it," she says.

"Before playing Tessa, acting was just a job to me. Now, I feel a sense of responsibility that comes with this profession. The play not only provided me with personal strength but also allowed me to transmit that strength to the audience through my performance," Xin says.

Xin mentioned that female audience members often sent her letters after her performance.

She recalled one evening after a show, a woman in her 70s had her daughter guide her backstage to meet Xin.

"She hugged me and, with tears in her eyes, thanked me. I will cherish that moment for a long time. It didn't require many words and I didn't ask what she had been through. At that moment, we understood each other. It's moments like these that make me feel being an actress is truly worth it," she says.

Growing up in Hegang, a small city in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Xin initially dreamed of becoming a fashion designer.

However, while studying fashion design at Harbin Huade University, she was scouted by a talent agent who encouraged her to become an actor.

At the time, her family was going through a difficult period. Her father was bedridden due to an accident.

Although Xin had no experience in the acting profession, she was then eager to earn money to support her family.

For the next six years, she remained relatively unknown, working as a model to make ends meet while constantly auditioning for roles.

Her breakthrough came when she landed the lead role in the film Crosscurrent after one of her many auditions.

Despite not knowing how to swim, she performed a series of underwater scenes in a partly frozen river in Beijing.

The film was selected to compete for the awards at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. There, she met Meryl Streep, an actress she deeply admired, and received praise from her idol.

"Crosscurrent made me feel for the first time that I could act, that I was slowly finding a place where I belonged. Acting became enjoyable," Xin recalls.

Since then, she has gained wider recognition through her roles in notable productions, including the film Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield (2017), the hit costume drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018), Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed TV series Blossoms Shanghai (2023), and the suspense film The Unseen Sister (2024).

Xin has always been perceived by her fans as a daring, ambitious, and powerful woman. She actively seeks out acting opportunities and never hides her desire for fame because she believes that it grants actors more choices in their careers.

"With more choices, I hope to take on a wider range of roles," she says.

In Blossoms Shanghai, she plays a mysterious and beautiful restaurant owner. Although not a native, she builds the most successful restaurant on Shanghai's Huanghe Road, deftly managing relationships with the local elite.

In the film Upstream (2024), she portrays a full-time housewife who, after her husband loses his job, suppresses her panic and despair to support her family.

In the recently aired TV series Good Will Society, she plays a neurosurgeon who is calm and professional in the operating room and also humorous and straightforward in her personal life.

Through these diverse roles, Xin has deepened her understanding of women's strength and resilience.

"Through the process of shaping a character, I gradually bring the role to life with every small effort I make. It's only when I complete the role and present it to the audience that I understand who she is. This process is like building with Lego blocks: piece by piece, the character takes shape. Over the past two or three years, I've enjoyed it more," says Xin.

In the Chinese adaptation of Prima Facie, Xin has a favorite line that resonates deeply with her: "In my heart, there has always been a courageous girl. If I were to shrink back, I would lose her."

When asked what characteristics she values the most in herself, she answers without hesitation: "Courage, perseverance, and kindness."