Fei Qiming (费启鸣)

Fei Qiming is a pioneer of the “internet celebrity to actor“ transition in China. He shot to fame in 2017 with a single 15-second Douyin video that went viral, earning over two million likes. His clean-cut, “national first love“ look and signature line “If your ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend both fell into the water, would you let me be your boyfriend?“ made him one of the earliest breakout stars of the short-video era. Rather than resting on his internet fame, he made the bold decision to sign with a talent agency and pursue acting professionally, becoming a symbol of the “post-90s“ generation redefining the rules of the idol industry.

Breakthrough Role Fei‘s breakthrough role came in 2018 with his acting debut, the youth drama I’m Waiting for You in the Future (《我在未来等你》). He played Liu Dazhi, a 17-year-old protagonist navigating youth and self-discovery. For a non-acting graduate, the role was a major challenge: he studied scripts obsessively, observed real-life details, and even kept a character diary to capture the authentic “youthfulness“ of the role. The performance marked his official entry into the entertainment industry and laid the foundation for his acting career. Since then, he has built an extensive filmography across genres, including the historical drama The Emperor‘s Strategy, the urban drama Stand by Me 2, the fantasy series Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, and the crime thriller The Vanished, demonstrating his range as a versatile performer.

Public Perception Fei Qiming occupies a complex and often contradictory space in the public eye. On one hand, he is respected for his work ethic and professional growth, having been selected for the prestigious “Starry Sea“ Young Actors Program in 2023, and is praised by industry experts as a model for the “internet-native“ generation of artists redefining the entertainment industry. Off-screen, his charitable work—quietly donating supplies during the pandemic and supporting flood relief efforts—has earned him genuine goodwill. On the other hand, his acting skills remain a subject of intense debate. Critics point to his non-professional background and argue that his performances can feel uneven. His casting in the highly anticipated sequel Day and Night 2 (《白夜破晓》) as a forensic specialist sparked particular backlash, with audiences questioning whether his clean-cut image suited the role and accusing him of being a “resource actor“ who lands major projects through connections rather than talent. Some viewers have even said that his involvement in a production can discourage them from watching. Today, Fei Qiming remains a polarizing figure: a former internet sensation who has worked hard to build a serious acting career, yet continues to face skepticism about whether he truly belongs in the industry. His journey is a testament to both the opportunities and the limitations of the “internet celebrity to actor“ path in China‘s entertainment industry.