Yang Mi’s portrayal of a farmer in her new drama sparks controversy.

Recently, the new drama “Sheng Wanshuo,” starring mainland Chinese actress Yang Mi and featuring rural themes, has started filming. Pictures released by Reuters of Yang Mi in her role as a “village woman” quickly went viral, leading to widespread attention and discussion.

In the set of Reuters photos, Yang Mi, with bangs, portrays the “village woman” wearing a loose, dark-colored cotton jacket with a slightly protruding belly, standing in the front yard with two other actresses. Her fair and smooth skin contrasts starkly with the darker skin of the rural women beside her.

To many viewers, Yang Mi’s “great condition” seems mismatched with the vintage feel and setting of the plot, almost like a collision between reality and fantasy. Some have pointed out that Yang Mi’s fair skin has become an “obstacle” for her portrayal of this role.

In the plot of “Sheng Wanshuo,” Yang Mi plays the lead character Ning Xiuxiu, who was originally the daughter of the village’s richest man but encounters a mishap. After being kidnapped by bandits, Ning Xiuxiu’s wealthy father refuses to pay ransom to save his daughter and instead marries Ning Xiuxiu’s younger sister to her fiancé.

The series of actions by the wealthy father causes Ning Xiuxiu to lose emotional attachment to her family, leading her to sever ties with her father and marry a peasant. The story revolves around Ning Xiuxiu’s growth as a character post-marriage, no longer being the respected young lady, now having to work on the farm with her husband.

From promotional videos of the production, it is evident that among the cast, Yang Mi stands out with the fairest and most radiant complexion, not resembling someone going through hardships no matter how one looks at it.

Some netizens commented, “It’s really hard to evaluate Yang Mi’s rural woman look. With her glowing fair skin and unique makeup, she doesn’t seem like a rural woman at all, appearing like she is from a different era compared to the two background actors.” Since the release of the Reuters photos, the online community has been critical, stating that this visual disparity not only makes Yang Mi appear out of place but also raises questions about her suitability for the role.

Yang Mi seems to be having a rough year, with her recent drama “Harbin 1944” receiving mixed reviews after airing, followed by her comedy-mystery film “Nothing a Hot Pot Can’t Solve” performing poorly at the box office. During the “May Day” holiday release, the film only grossed 52 million yuan in 5 days before being abruptly pulled from theaters. Additionally, her performance as a “fox demon” in the period drama “Fox Fairy Xiaohongniang: Moon Red Edition” caused backlash with criticisms of heavy editing.

Of note, “Fox Fairy Xiaohongniang: Moon Red Edition” marks Yang Mi’s return to portraying a “fox” character following her role as “Qingqiu Fox Emperor Female Fox Bai Qian” in “Three Lives Three Worlds: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms.” Her ethereal appearance in the past work received much acclaim and contributed to the drama’s high viewership.