Lance Joseph Martinez

8 Chinese Stars Who Went From Idols to Acclaimed Actors

Article (news)

Career paths don&#x27;t always follow a straight line, and for many stars, their first passion becomes the stepping stone to even greater success. In the entertainment industry, it&#x27;s not uncommon for artists to reinvent themselves, taking on new opportunities that allow their talents to shine in different ways.Many of today&#x27;s biggest Chinese actors began their careers not on television or film, but on the stage as idols and singers. Over the years, they successfully transitioned into acting, proving their versatility while earning critical acclaim and a growing fan base.Whether they debuted as members of idol groups or as solo artists, these Chinese stars have successfully made the leap from music to acting. Here are 10 Chinese actors who started their careers as idols before becoming some of the industry&#x27;s most recognizable names today.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Daniel Zhou<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784708452869[image] - 7358804.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @daniel.__.zhou</div><div> </div>Kicking off our list is one of the most talked-about Chinese actors on the international scene today, Never-Ending Summer star Daniel Zhou.Before making a name for himself as an actor, the 24-year-old first pursued a music career. In 2018, he joined Jay Walk Studio as one of its 14 trainees before officially debuting with the boy group BEST in 2019.Daniel later competed in Produce Camp 2021 (also known as CHUANG 2021), where he consistently ranked among the competition&#x27;s top contestants. He ultimately finished in 10th place, earning a spot in the multinational boy group INTO1. Even after finding success in acting, Daniel has remained active in music. Alongside his growing film and television career, he continues to release new songs and perform in concerts and tours across China.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Esther Yu</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784708631578[image] - 8152894.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @estheeerrrr</div><div> </div>Among the stars who have successfully reinvented themselves is Esther Yu, also known as Yu Shuxin. Before becoming one of China&#x27;s most sought-after actresses, she first captured the public&#x27;s attention as an idol, proving that her talents extend far beyond the stage.Although she had already appeared in several television dramas, Esther&#x27;s breakthrough came in 2020 when she competed on the hit survival show Youth With You 2. Her bubbly personality and charm quickly made her one of the competition&#x27;s standout trainees.After months of competition, Esther finished in second place, earning a spot in the project girl group THE9. Following the group&#x27;s disbandment in December 2021, she shifted her focus to acting, where she has since become one of the industry&#x27;s biggest stars through hit dramas and leading roles.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Jackson Yee</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784708798575006VJhk2ly1ien5izc59jj32p81suqv6.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from Jackson Yee&#x27;s Weibo</div><div> </div>Before becoming one of China&#x27;s biggest stars and topping the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list for two consecutive years, Jackson Yee first made a name for himself as an idol.His journey in the entertainment industry began when he joined the Hunan TV talent show Up Young, where, despite being eliminated, he caught the attention of TF Entertainment and was invited to train with the company. Before his official debut, Jackson also released his first solo single, &quot;Dream Skyscraper.&quot;In 2013, Jackson officially debuted as a member of the hugely successful boy group TFBoys, quickly rising to fame across Asia.While continuing his music career, he also built an impressive acting résumé, starring in acclaimed films such as A Little Red Flower, Nice View, Full River Red, Big World, and Resurrection. His performance in Big World earned him the prestigious Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor, officially making him one of the stars in China.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Ju Jingyi<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784708928658[image] - 7371196.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @jujingyi_kikuuu </div><div> </div>Before becoming known for her leading roles in hit Chinese dramas such as Legend of Yunxi and The Legend of White Snake, Ju Jingyi first rose to fame as a member of the popular idol girl group SNH48.She joined SNH48 in 2013 after successfully passing the group&#x27;s second-generation auditions, quickly emerging as one of its standout members. As her popularity soared, Ju made history by becoming the first member to rank No. 1 in SNH48&#x27;s General Election for two consecutive years, solidifying her status as one of the group&#x27;s biggest stars.In late 2017, Jingyi officially graduated from SNH48 to pursue a solo career under Star48. Since then, she has successfully balanced acting and music, establishing herself as one of China&#x27;s most recognizable actresses while continuing to release music as a solo artist.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Lay Zhang<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784709081918[image] - 8352769.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @layzhang</div><div> </div>Of course, this list wouldn&#x27;t be complete without Lay Zhang. Before becoming one of China&#x27;s biggest stars, Lay first rose to international fame as a member of the legendary K-pop group EXO under SM Entertainment.As his popularity continued to grow, Lay successfully expanded his career into acting in his home country, starring in several high-profile film and television projects while maintaining his music career. His influence has also been recognized by Forbes China Celebrity 100, where he has consistently ranked among the country&#x27;s biggest celebrities.Over the years, Lay has appeared in films alongside international stars, including Jackie Chan in Kung Fu Yoga, before going on to headline popular Chinese movies such as No More Bets, A Legend, and Kung Fu Soccer. Today, he continues to balance both acting and music, making him one of the few artists to thrive in both industries.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Snow Kong</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784708498114[image] - 5082732.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @sherrykong7777</div><div> </div>Before making a name for herself as an actress, Kong Xueer—better known as Snow Kong—spent years pursuing her dream of becoming an idol.She began her journey as a trainee under South Korean entertainment company JYP Entertainment before returning to China to compete in several survival programs. Snow eventually debuted as a member of the girl group LadyBees in 2016 before later joining the hit survival show Youth With You 2 in 2020.Finishing eighth in the competition, Snow earned a spot in the project girl group THE9, where she further grew her popularity as an idol. Following the group&#x27;s disbandment, she gradually shifted her focus to acting, starring in hit Chinese dramas such as The Double, Blossom, Blood River, and Pursuit of Jade, becoming one of the industry&#x27;s rising actresses.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Tan Jianci</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784709191458[image] - 2682134.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @jct1005_tan </div><div> </div>Before becoming one of China&#x27;s most recognizable actors, Tan Jianci first pursued a career in music as a member of a boy group.The 35-year-old star, now known for his performances in dramas such as The Advisors Alliance, Secret of the Three Kingdoms, Winter Begonia, Under the Skin, and Lost You Forever, trained for several years under Taihe Rye Music before making his debut as a member of the boy group M.I.C under the stage name JC-T. The group officially debuted in 2010 after winning the finals of the talent competition MIGU Star Academy.Even after establishing himself as a sought-after actor, Tan has never left his music career behind. He continues to release new music and hold concerts, successfully balancing both his careers as a singer and an actor.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Wang Yibo</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784709267559[image] - 2971343.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Photo from @yibo.w_85</div><div> </div>Today, Wang Yibo is one of China&#x27;s biggest stars, but before becoming a sought-after actor, he first rose to fame as an idol.The multi-hyphenate entertainer trained under Yuehua Entertainment in South Korea before making his debut in 2014 as a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group UNIQ. As the group&#x27;s main dancer and rapper, Wang quickly gained a loyal fan base across Asia.While continuing his music career, Wang successfully transitioned into acting, earning widespread recognition through dramas such as Love Actually, Gank Your Heart, The Untamed, Legend of Fei, Luoyang, Being a Hero, and War of Faith. He later expanded his career to the big screen, taking on leading roles in films including Hidden Blade, Born to Fly, and One and Only.<div> </div>Lead photos from @estheeerrrr and @layzhang

Whether they debuted in idol groups or as solo artists, these Chinese stars successfully transitioned from music to acting and are now among the industry's most recognizable names.

Whether they debuted in idol groups or as solo artists, these Chinese stars successfully transitioned from music to acting and are now among the industry's most recognizable names.

List: Chinese Stars Who Went From Idols to Successful Actors

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List: Chinese Stars Who Went From Idols to Successful Actors

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published July 23, 2026 10:35 AM PHT

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Updated July 23, 2026 10:36 AM PHT

Read More:

Lay Zhang

Esther Yu

Snow Kong

Ju Jingyi

Wang Yibo

Daniel Zhou

Jackson Yee

Tan Jianci

Chinese Drama

Chinese idols

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