Chinese Actress Zhao Wei, who has been officially banned for five years, made her first overseas public appearance on October 20th after the ban. She attended a high-end hair show event hosted by international hair master Kim Robinson in Singapore. When asked if she misses acting, Zhao Wei responded humorously.
On that day, Zhao Wei sported shoulder-length golden-brown highlighted hair with bangs, wearing a dark plaid shirt and a beige long skirt, presenting a casual yet sophisticated look. The venue was packed with people, the atmosphere was lively, and fans kept shouting her name, hoping to hear good news about her comeback.
After the unedited photos and videos of Zhao Wei at the event surfaced online, netizens had mixed reactions. Some pointed out her visibly tanned skin, eye bags, and wrinkles, jokingly commenting, “Offended the makeup artist?” “Time stops for no one” “The indoor lighting is too harsh.” However, some fans praised her good spirit, smiling face, and maintained skin tightening.
When asked if she misses acting, Zhao Wei humorously replied, “It’s alright, everyone can watch reruns.” Although there seems to be no plan for her to return to the spotlight or the entertainment industry, she revealed that she has gradually shifted her focus to behind-the-scenes creative work. Besides writing scripts, she has been influenced by her 70-year-old mother and has taken a liking to “AI short films,” currently experimenting with using AI technology to produce film and television works. She jokingly mentioned that working behind the scenes has less pressure, “and you don’t have to worry about losing weight.”
Once a top-tier actress in mainland China, Zhao Wei has been fully banned since August 2021. Despite her social media accounts being unblocked earlier, she is still unable to film or perform in mainland China, even online live streaming sales have been unexpectedly cut off.
Now 50 years old, Zhao Wei married Singaporean tycoon Huang Youlong in 2008 and has a daughter named “Xiao Siyue.” Huang Youlong was previously reported to be pursued for debts by a venture capital company in Hong Kong, accumulating debts of 1.12 billion Hong Kong dollars. Zhao Wei issued a statement stating that she had been divorced from him for many years, and the debts were not related to her.
As for the reasons behind Zhao Wei’s sudden ban, the authorities have yet to provide a clear explanation, leading to various speculations. Some say she was involved in shell transactions with her former husband Huang Youlong and had close ties with Jack Ma, while others suggest she was caught up in political power struggles. Despite occasional rumors of a comeback in recent years, nothing materialized.
After being banned, Zhao Wei tried to find a way out. Ten years ago, a film she directed, “No Other Love,” was renamed “Honey Needle” and attempted to be released early in 2026. However, due to stern statements from official media like Xinhua News Agency, stating that “artists who violate laws and ethics and unlawfully stage a comeback have no market,” her path to a comeback was blocked. When the film was released, the directorial credit was changed to the name of the original producer, Yuan Mei.
In fact, Zhao Wei starred in several classic works such as “My Fair Princess,” “The Heart of Greed,” and “Painted Skin,” and won the Best Actress award at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2014 for the movie “Dearest.” Until August 26, 2021, when she was officially named and banned, her works were all taken down. With her long absence from the public eye, Zhao Wei, now participating in events overseas, remains under close scrutiny.