Original article by GRAZIA
This article was originally published on
Jan 8, 2019, Issue 389 on Grazia’s Weibo
Xiao Zhan, who officially debuted in 2016, has already participated in numerous major IP productions, demonstrating rapid growth! Despite this, he remains remarkably low-key, diligently honing his acting skills. With his good looks and hard work, GRAZIA has high hopes for him!
Browsing various lists of “handsome men in period dramas” online, one notices that Xiao Zhan, a relatively newcomer with few works, appears quite frequently. Some netizens even commented, “Is this guy from another era?” Seeing him on set, his features are delicate, his temperament gentle, his voice soft, and his smile warm—almost fulfilling everyone’s imagination of the “spirited and dashing” young man from period romance novels. When asked about it, he simply smiled and said, “It’s alright, it’s just that a certain period drama look suits me.”
After filming wrapped, Xiao Zhan removed his makeup, changed into a sweater and jeans, and relaxed on the sofa, only then showing a slight sign of fatigue. He finished work at 2 a.m. the previous day and got up early again to work on the day of filming. He is currently filming a movie adapted from a major IP, with a packed schedule. For the past two years, Xiao Zhan has been constantly working, joining and leaving film sets almost seamlessly. In “The Untamed,” which recently wrapped filming, he is one of the two male leads, and he prepared thoroughly for it—joining the crew two weeks in advance, running 1000 meters every morning at 7 a.m., then attending martial arts classes, and reading the script in the afternoon. He has many scenes, “I have a chair in the actors’ rest area, but I basically never sit on it. I either sit on a rock on set or on a prop wooden box, waiting for the crew to prepare the lighting and camera before starting work.” “The Untamed” is adapted from the popular novel “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation,” which has a large fan base and has received much attention since filming began. Xiao Zhan said he felt a lot of pressure, but he has done his best to complete the role, “I keep pushing myself to do better and not let my supporters down.”
Wei Wuxian’s personality is quite different from Xiao Zhan’s own gentle and easygoing nature, making the role quite enjoyable to play. “I really like him. He seems carefree and mischievous, but he’s actually a very sensitive, kind and optimistic person, like a child.” Another role, the arrogant bounty hunter Ji Chong in The Wolf, is even more different from Xiao Zhan—a wandering swordsman, dashing and unrestrained. “Compared with my role in The Untamed, they’re two extremes. Every day I had to darken my face, look rough and dirty, and even had a bit of scruff.” The Wolf was filmed over six months in various locations. The most memorable experience was in the primeval forest of Shangri-La, Yunnan, at an altitude of 4900 meters—a place where even walking quickly would leave you breathless. Not only did he have to run, but he also had to film action scenes. “After each take, I had to use oxygen.” But Xiao Zhan felt he gained a lot. “This was my first time, not long after my debut, taking on the role of the second male lead. In fact, my understanding of how to shape a character and make it fully realized may not have been that precise yet. The director and producers were helping me every day and had a very big influence on me. At the time, I encountered many difficulties, but after pushing through them, I realized I had made very great progress.”
Those imperfect characters — with edges, with flaws, and even with personality defects — are exactly the kinds of roles Xiao Zhan wants to try. “That kind of character feels very three-dimensional and also offers greater room for expression.” Right now, he wants to try modern dramas, such as playing a “refined villain.” “However, having acted in many period dramas, the transition to modern dramas will probably be quite difficult. I’m quite looking forward to this challenge.”
Since his debut, Xiao Zhan has gained a large number of fans. However, he remains very calm about his rise to fame, saying, “In the end, one has to rely on their own efforts to go further and longer on this path. I am now taking a calm approach and quietly looking forward to the release of my works.”
GRAZIA (hereinafter referred to as G): You studied design. /then, you must have good taste, right?
Xiao Zhan (hereinafter referred to as X): It’s okay. They (the staff) often complain about my clothes, but I think it’s fine as long as the clothes are simple and comfortable.
G: But this job requires you to be careful not to be too casual.
X: Yes, but in my private life I just wear sweaters and jeans. Basically, it’s all plain colors. I don’t dress up especially for meeting friends.
G: Do you have any particular favorite items?
X: I really like AJ (Air Jordan). I’ll keep up with trends and choose the ones that suit me best.
G: I heard you have a cat? Do you take care of it all yourself?
X: Its name is Nut, a short-legged cat. When it was little, I took care of everything myself, from feeding it medicine to cleaning its litter box. But it wasn’t very healthy and had a weak immune system. I was worried that I was too busy with work to take good care of it, so I sent it home to my parents. Now it’s getting fatter and fatter.
G: Are you a warm and caring guy in real life?
X: Um… I just have a very easygoing personality and I’m afraid of causing trouble for others.
G: What are your hobbies when you’re not filming?
X: There’s no cell phone signal where we’ve been filming recently, so I’ve been reading. I finish one book every day or two. Thrillers, mystery, and dramas are all fine.
G: I noticed you’ve lost weight again…
X: Actually, I’ve been working out, hoping to become more muscular. I’m filming now, so I don’t have much time to go to the gym. After work, I do push-ups and sit-ups at the hotel.
G: What new skills would you like to learn?
X: Piano, snowboard… Besides painting, I also want to have a skill that I can show off anytime, the kind that’s really amazing and makes everyone exclaim “wow” when they see it.
G: You’re from ChongQing, you must love spicy food, right?
X: I used to, but now I get pimples from eating spicy food, so I don’t dare to eat it. But I really miss ChongQing food. Speaking of which, sigh, I’m going to get criticized again. My manager keeps urging me to use face masks, but I’m really lazy. I only use face masks as a quick fix when I look in the mirror and my skin is in really bad condition. Otherwise, I just use toner.
G: Who is your idol in the industry?
X: Many. I especially like Zhou Xun. I watched her “Last Letter” 《你好，之华》and “Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace” 《如懿传》. She is really amazing.
G: What are your expectations for yourself in the new year?
X: I saw a quote the other day: If I told you that you would still be the same as you are now next year, would you accept it? I wouldn’t accept it, so I have to keep moving forward.