Angelababy

Biography

Angela Yeung Wing (Chinese: 杨颖; pinyin: Yáng Yǐng; born 28 February 1989), better known by her stage name Angelababy, is a Chinese singer, model and actress. In 2013, she was chosen by Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly as one of the New Four Dan Actresses. In 2016, she won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Mojin: The Lost Legend. She was a cast member of variety show Keep Running from 2014 to 2023.

== Early life == Angelababy was born in Shanghai, China to a Shanghainese mother and a father from Hong Kong, who is of half German and half Chinese descent. Her birth name is Yang Ying (Cantonese: Yeung Wing). Her father runs a fashion business in Shanghai. She gained an interest in fashion as a child under her father's influence. She said in an interview, "Even though he [her father] sells more mature clothes, I loved going to his store and trying on new outfits and mixing and matching them. It was fun. I think that's how I developed a passion for fashion". Yang Ying moved to Hong Kong when she was thirteen, and signed a modeling contract with Style International Management at the age of 14. Although her English name is Angela, she was sometimes called "Baby" during her primary and secondary school years. She combined these two names to form her stage name, Angelababy.

== Career ==

=== 2007–2009: Beginnings ===

Angelababy began her career as a model at 14, frequently collaborating with her agency mate Janice Man, presenting themselves as a twin-sister duo. Together, they quickly gained popularity in Hong Kong and co-founded a streetwear brand CHOICE, but their friendship ended in 2008. Angelababy debuted as an actress in the movie Trivial Matters in 2007, where she had a 5-minute cameo appearance in the film, followed by a supporting role in 2009 Hong Kong film Short of Love.

=== 2010–2013: Rising popularity === Angelababy had major roles in two of her 2010 films, before her first leading role in the 2011 film Love You You alongside Eddie Peng. She sang a duet with JJ Lin entitled "Bottom of the Heart" as part of the movie's soundtrack. In 2012, Angelababy starred alongside Mark Chao in romance film First Time, a remake of the 2003 Korean film ...ing. Her performance in First Time won her the Most Anticipated Actress award at the 13th Chinese Film Media Awards. She then starred in both instalments of wuxia film Tai Chi, portraying a martial artist. In 2013, Angelababy starred in Tsui Hark's crime action film Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon, playing a beautiful courtesan. She won the Most Popular Actress award at the 21st Beijing College Student Film Festival for the film.

=== 2014–2022: Mainstream success === In 2014, Angelababy joined the cast of Keep Running, the Chinese version of the South Korean variety show Running Man. The series was a major hit in China, and propelled Angelababy into a household name. The same year, she starred alongside fellow Keep Running member Michael Chen in romance film Love on the Cloud, which was a moderate success at the box office. Angelababy was crowned "Weibo Goddess" and "Weibo Queen" for the year 2014. Angelababy made her Hollywood film debut in Hitman: Agent 47 with a minor role. She then starred in Mojin: The Lost Legend, based on the popular tomb raiding novel series Ghost Blows Out the Light. The film became the highest-grossing Chinese-language IMAX film in China, with US$27.1 million (before being surpassed by The Mermaid). Angelababy won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards for her role, but was criticised for her mediocre acting and lackluster performance. The same year, she starred in her first television series, historical drama Love Yunge from the Desert based on Tong Hua's novel Song in the Clouds. In 2016, Angelababy played a supporting role in the Hollywood science fiction film Independence Day: Resurgence. The same year, she was listed as one of Forbes' inaugural 30 under 30 Asian Celebrities under the film, music, television and sport category. In 2017, Angelababy starred alongside Wallace Chung in the historical drama General and I. Although the drama was a commercial success, she received criticism for her acting and for using stunt doubles. In 2018, she starred in the modern workplace drama Entrepreneurial Age alongside Huang Xuan. In 2019, Angelababy starred in the modern drama My True Friend as a property agent alongside Deng Lun. In 2021, Angelababy was cast in the drama Twilight alongside Ren Jialun.

=== 2023–present: Hiatus and comeback === Angelababy's career slowed down since her divorce from Huang Xiaoming in 2022 and was seriously derailed in October 2023, when she reportedly attended Lisa's Crazy Horse show in Paris, France. Some Chinese netizens argued that Angelababy's attendance at such a show violated China's prohibitory regulations on entertainers from participating in activities involving pornography or obscenity, and thus called for her to be banned. On 4 October, the Crazy Horse cabaret officially stated on Instagram that Angelababy had never attended the show. On 1 November 2023, Angelababy's accounts on various Chinese social media, including Sina Weibo, were muted, while her Douyin account was restricted from being followed (and was later muted as well). Subsequently, CCTV, China's state broadcaster, erased from its Weibo account videos of her performances at national galas, and she withdrew from the hosting group of the show Running Man after 10 years. On 30 January 2024, Angelababy's accounts on Weibo, Douyin, and other platforms were unmuted, but she remained partially blacklisted in mainland China. In June 2024, when the Running Man spin-off was broadcast, Angelababy's appearance was censored. The following month, the costume drama Everlasting Longing, starring her, obtained a web drama broadcasting license, signaling her official clearance after the Crazy Horse controversy. In January 2025, Angelababy made her comeback with two web shows: Everlasting Longing, followed by the period thriller Back for You.