STAND-OUT ACTORS IN 2021

Bai Jing Ting

Chinese

You are my hero is so freaking good, he's so awkward and cute there, but cool when it comes to action too. Always watched him in variety shows but first time watching his drama, and I'm so impressed. For Ping Pong Life he gained SO MUCH MUSCLE just for the role THE DEDICATION makes him #1 (for now). In Octogenarian the 90s he plays a manipulative  funny douche it shows how versatile he is

Gong Jun

Chinese

Always liked him in other roles but Word of Honor is NEXT LEVEL flirting, mischievous charm. It's even more epic that he's actually pretty chill and quiet in real life and it's actually Zhang Zhe Han who is the outgoing type. Makes his acting even better

Lee Se Young

South Korean

MY KOREAN THRILLER QUEEN. SO GOOD at intense detective/medical roles (Dr. John, Memorist, Kairos) I love her so much 

Liu Yu Ning

Chinese

I'm SO IMPRESSED with Liu Yu Ning's acting  in "The Long Ballad" he's all smiley and sweet in real life but here his acting is so convincing when he's angry it looks like his veins are about to burst lol he's so good. Also I STAN HIS OSTS SO HARD he's iconic

Yu Shu Xin

Chinese

I LOVE HER IN MOONLIGHT. Chu Li is sweet, independent, kind and hardworking. The romance scenes are killer, she's known for her sweet chemistry in romances, cannot wait for her other dramas but I don't think she has any other projects this year

Liu Xue Yi

Chinese

HE'S SO GOOD IN "QING LUO". He was annoying as Hao Chen in Love and Redemption but I kept seeing his interviews on my twitter feed and fell head over heels for him in Qing Luo, he's so sweet, handsome and charismatic. 

Next year will be his year, can't wait for "Love Never Fails" with Yuan Bing Yan 

Zhou Ye

Chinese

Word of Honor is her debut but wow what an impression! Love her can't wait for her drama with Dylan Wang very promising actress

Wang Yang

Chinese

Wang Yang is my ultimate "over 40s" crush. He's so charismatic, and intimidating in "The Rebel". I've seen him in "Perfect Couple" acting as the evil cousin in law, but the republican era, super intelligent and intense character suits him. Definitely my favorite actor from the entire drama!

Shin Hye Sun

South Korean

She slayed in Mr. Queen, love her rom-com roles

Huang You Ming

Chinese

amazing actor from evil roles "Love and Redemption" to hilarious badass senior immortal role in "Word of Honor". He shows up everywhere in my historical dramas and all his works are memorable, he deserves a main lead role!

Jang Dong Yoon

South Korean

Super impressive in The Tale of Nokdu can't wait for his upcoming drama

Mun Ka Young

South Korean

SHE'S STUNNING, love all her drama roles, she does it all melodrama, to rom-com (true beauty is iconic even though I didn't finish it, lol still good)

Wang An Yu

Chinese

He stole my heart in Go Go Squid 2, so charismatic, my eyes are glued to him on screen, need to watch his other dramas

• Love forever love he shows much more authenticity here with his sweet and kind side but of course he is as charming as ever trying to woo the girl. I am a fan of him now excited to see his upcoming drama with Song Zuer

Zhou Yi Wei

Chinese

His portrayal of a righteous general in The Rebel Princess is so perfect, the romance is passionate and the battle scenes are epic

Hwang In Youp

South Korean

Super impressed with his first role in true beauty as Han Seo Jun

Xu Jia Qi

Chinese

Stunning, elegant, mature portrayal as Fu Xuan in Ruyi Pavilion. She's better than Ju Jing Yi for me

Mandy Wong

Hong Konger

She's in every HK drama I watch these days, she can do it all. From really ghetto annoying portrays, housewife, to badass lawyer with personality disorder, Love her roles. She deserves all suceess

Leo Wu

Chinese

Finally got addicted to Wu Lei he's so kind in real life also same age as me can't believe he's fei liu from Nirvana, he's amazing, those eyebrows and intense gaze he's beautiful. Love him and also following Fight Breaks Sphere now 

Michael Miu

Hong Konger

brilliant HK veteran actor, watched 4 dramas of his this year 2 of them were re-watches he can play a villain, a loving family man, or a heroic smart cop, definitely one of the best actors ever

Ni Ni

Chinese

CAN SHE PLEASE ACT IN A NEW HISTORICAL DRAMA? (update she did a new republican drama called Night wanderer her figure is to die for she will look so hot in a qipao)

The most natural actress ever, she's a pro when it comes to acting, her dramas are hit or miss but I still watch cause I love her

William Chan

Hong Konger

impressed me in "Dance of the Storm" I also forgot how good looking he is, that smile, body, and action scenes in this drama is worth watching

Song Joong Ki

South Korean

Mr. Vincenzo Cassano is all the rave on Netflix and it deserves the hype, not my fave kdrama but love the main leads' performances also the tailored suits look great on him

Bobby Au Yeung

Hong Konger

he's great and finally made is comeback this year with Joe ma, too bad the drama is overshadowed with the romance plot instead of being the psychological cop/lawyer drama I hoped for

Deng Wei

Chinese

He plays the cold immortal in "Miss the Dragon"  so well, despite the coldness he has these subtle expressions that hints at his true feelings, I totally fell in love with his character, cannot wait to see his future projects

• THE WAY QIAN XUN looks at Qing Qing  is so genuine and deep this actor is really the standout of the show for me
• Miss the Dragon itself isn't that good, but 2nd couple really shines 

Priscilla Wong

Hong Konger

• rewatched Madam cutie on Duty and her acting is amazing, from rich girl to your average ahjumma down the block, funny, heartwarming, interesting. I should check her other dramas out

Zheng He Hui Zi

Chinese

I fell for Huang Sheng Chi at first in "Ugly Beauty" but she stole the show afterwards especially in eps where the twins were standing side by side she did such an amazing job making each persona distinct and I can tell just from their style/tone and subtle eye narrowing or movements. 

Ou Hao

Chinese

• Lover or Stranger had me shook if it wasn't for his acting, half bad half good I wouldn't be convinced. The acting for suspense dramas have to make you like the character and doubt yourself and come up with wild theories and he DID THAT. Someone cast him in another thriller suspense

Zhang He

Chinese

• I have to admit I always laughed at this actor in supporting roles since he always plays the evil character or the annoying guy but here he just steals your heart as a caring doctor. I was so conflicted and I hate love triangles usually
• ALSO HE'S 36 AND NOT 25  I'M SHOOK yes I know asians don't raisin but he's on that vera wang shizz cause damn 

Xuan Lu

Chinese

1. Best actress in a morally grey character role I've ever seen she's so good in "Dream of Chang An" or "Stand by Me", needs to get leading role ASAP preferably historical dramas, she's so smart and cunning but elegant and slays every scene she's in a wide range of emotions

Yang Yang

Chinese

• haven't watched his dramas in a while tbh I never remembered anything from LOVE 020 when it comes to acting but here in "You are my glory" the EMOTIONS seems so genuine I completely fell for Yu Tu. The tears and deep gazes he directs at Jing Jing the female lead is everything
• Of course he is good looking but this list only counts acting not looks and I was very impressed with him excited to see him in historical romance with Lusi next year