The Best Role I’ve Ever Played is Being a Dad

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Countless people dream of becoming a star. What’s more, in the age of social media stardom and seemingly overnight viral fame, the dream of being “discovered” and making it onto the big screen is, for the first time, both infinitely far and just within reach.

For parents, this dream can be terrifying. The film and theater industries are notorious for breeding starving artists, and that’s if you break into the industry. To pursue stardom seems to mean a life of waiting tables while waiting on callbacks from the last audition. So the question stands: What does it really take to be a star?

Qin Hanlei is the embodiment of an aspiring actor’s dream realized. From movies to TV shows and internet dramas, the young actor who used to reenact scenes from Andy Lau movies in his bedroom is now bringing his own characters to life on screen.

Some of the many films and shows Qin has acted in include《非正式爱情 Informal Love》，《爱情狂想曲》，《三十那年 Thirty Years Ago》，《假装不正经》，《民警的诺言》 ，《爱爱囧事 Love Story》，《雨城故事 To Rain City With Love》，《青春期1、2、3 The Age of Puberty 1,2,3 》(which got over 20 billion views)、《上位》、《女人公敌 Women’s Enemy》.

But the path to stardom never comes without its challenges. Qin says his mother cried when he told her he wanted to be an actor. She worried for him, and not without reason. But Qin wasn’t going to give up. With the unwavering support and encouragement of his father, Qin began taking acting classes and soon graduated from 中国传媒大学 (Communication University of China) and began his acting career. Today, he’s starred in dozens of films and TV shows, and his mother secretly watches all his performances.

Now, however, Qin has a young daughter of his own. I asked him if he’d support her if she one day decided to follow his path and also pursue a career in acting.

Much to my surprise, however, the answer was a resounding “no.” Qin says he’s seen firsthand how harsh the industry can be, and he’s not wrong.

In China, many people still regard acting as a career path chosen by those who don’t do well in school, and everyone knows how difficult the job market can be. Qin says the hardest thing about the acting industry is its 内眷 Nèijuàn, directly translated to “inside-turning.” Neijuan refers to the endless cycle in which, no matter how hard you work, there will always be people working harder, often without sleep or food, forcing you to also push yourself past the limit just for the slimmest possibility of an advantage. Qin and his colleagues say acting is an industry where it feels like there are more actors than viewers, with few available roles and a seemingly endless ocean of people wanting to make it.

Furthermore, acting is considered 青春饭, qīngchūnfàn, a phrase that literally translates to “youth food.” But Qin believes that acting isn’t necessarily a career that starts and ends in your youth. When you’re young, there are roles for young people. When you’re old, there will be roles for old people. Simply put, if you’re good enough, you can act your whole life. Having said that, Qin adds that aspiring actors should focus on studying and have something to fall back on in case acting doesn’t work out.

It’s important to acknowledge the difficulties that come with pursuing acting. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Qin has these tips for aspiring actors to help them do just that.

Passion, passion, passion

Qin’s number one key to success is passion. In a career as difficult as acting, it’s critical that aspirants are willing to push through any hardships along the way. Qin says there were many times in his career that he’d go hungry, but every time he chose to stay in the game, explaining “Acting was like a child to me. I just couldn’t give it up.”

Looking back, Qin realizes he truly loves acting. No matter how grim things look, he says, if you stick it out and truly love what you are doing, you’ll eventually start landing roles and realizing how much you’ve learned.

Patience

There’s a saying among those in the profession that actors spend most of their lives waiting. From waiting for auditions to callbacks to facing rejections, aspiring actors must have the patience and faith to wait and, perhaps more importantly, persevere. Even as a successful actor, Qin says he still spends half the day waiting on set for some big star to finish shooting before he even steps on stage.

Have an open mind towards self-improvement

Like any other career path, Qin says you must always be willing to learn more. The worst thing an aspiring actor can do is become lazy and adapt a mindset of how you “should” perform. Qin urges young actors to watch other performances and always push themselves to improve.

Qin tells me of a time when he was denied a role before he even auditioned. The reason? Not because he wasn’t good enough, but because he didn’t “look” the part. This is the sad truth about the industry. You can have all the patience and passion in the world and still be rejected for things beyond your control.

But Qin says that blow inspired him to push himself to learn more. He says he woke up at 6am every day and read the book《演员的自我修养》more than 20 times. Qin says he knew he may not be as experienced or as good looking as some people in the audition room, but his ability to learn and his constant thirst for knowledge gave him confidence. He took that confidence to the audition room, using it to land roles.

Behind the shiny facade of fame, acting is no walk in the park. Many spend their entire lives waiting to be discovered. But it’s not impossible. Qin is living proof that it can be done. And once you have these three things, you’re already halfway to success.

Photo credits: Qin Hanlei

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