Recently, 57-year-old actress Zhang Yuyan participated in the filming of the seventh season of the reality show “The Joyful Journey of Middle-aged Men” alongside You Anshun, Yang Ziyi, and Zang Ruixuan, forming a group to travel to Taoyuan and Zhubei. Previously known as the “fairy living in the clouds,” everyone’s impression of Zhang Yuyan changed after the trip, with Yang Ziyi even becoming a fan.
Zhang Yuyan has a fresh and unique temperament, displaying acting skills with ease. Her debut work, “Last Generation of Sons and Daughters,” was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Bell Awards. She continued to excel in works such as “Dream of the Red Chamber” and “Shocking Daughter-in-law,” becoming a well-known representative of elegant female actresses. With many roles in tragic dramas, she later moved to mainland China to film, until her return to the Taiwanese drama circle in 2017 with the eight o’clock drama “Family,” where she portrayed an open-minded mother.
In 2023, she participated in director Wu Nianzhen’s stage play “Qingming Festival,” revealing that Wu Nianzhen was her screenwriting lecturer in college. Deeply impressed by his literary works, she had long desired to challenge classic literary series and engage in different levels of dramatic performances, hence her involvement in Wu Nianzhen’s stage play. Unlike her past roles as a tragic daughter-in-law, this time she played a vibrant woman full of life.
The male lead in the stage play “Qingming Festival” is Golden Bell Award winner You Anshun. In an interview for the “Taiwan Celebrity Hall of Fame,” both actors recalled a time years ago when they coincidentally worked on different sets at the same studio. Despite not being in the same production, they could feel Zhang Yuyan’s ethereal presence, with You Anshun commenting, “Working together this time, her elegance truly shines through.”
Zhang Yuyan noted that You Anshun lived up to his name, exuding a sense of ease and expressing admiration for his passion for work.
Having previously worked together, both actors found themselves invited to participate in the reality show “The Joyful Journey of Middle-aged Men” and were already familiar with each other.
During a recent interview on MyVideo, Yang Ziyi and Zang Ruixuan both shared how their impression of Zhang Yuyan completely changed after the trip.
Zang Ruixuan expressed her initial concern that the outdoor activities she planned might be too much for the delicate-looking Zhang Yuyan, thinking she wouldn’t dare to participate. However, she was surprised by Zhang Yuyan’s courage and enthusiasm. Zang Ruixuan mentioned, “I thought she was just a fairy dwelling in the clouds, but she fearlessly joined us in trekking through the mountains and rivers, having a great time. It completely defied my expectations; she’s not just a fairy but also a nature-loving fairy!”
Yang Ziyi described Zhang Yuyan, saying, “Everything she does exudes a fairylike aura while also being down-to-earth.”
Laughing, Yang Ziyi added, “Having grown up watching Zhang Yuyan playing Lin Daiyu and in flower series, I immediately became a fan after traveling with her. This sister is absolutely adorable! I believe after watching the show, everyone will want to keep her as a pet.”