On July 28, 2019, Xiao Zhan had an extremely packed schedule, working all day filming Ten O’Clock Reading 《十点读书》and I Want to Talk to the World 《我想和世界谈谈》, before rushing off to film People’s Daily Online Friends Chat《友聊》interview. He didn’t even have time for lunch that day.
On August 16, 2019, People’s Daily Online’s “Friends Chat” in-depth interview with actor Xiao Zhan was launched. The conversation centered on his career transition, growth as an actor, and his perspective on public opinion and fame.
In the interview, Xiao Zhan spoke candidly about his self-doubt when transitioning from singer to actor—especially during the filming of Fights Break Sphere and The Wolf. Coming from a non-professional acting background, he experienced shaken confidence. He admitted that in front of the camera, he once felt like he had “lost himself,” and often questioned whether he was truly suited to be an actor.
When discussing his role as the male lead in The Untamed, he described it as a key turning point—from quantitative change to qualitative transformation. He emphasized that the process matters more than any single moment, noting that what appears to be sudden success is actually built on long-term accumulation and persistence.
Regarding outside opinions, he said he approaches them rationally—absorbing the good and filtering out the negative. He summed up his mindset with the line: “Life is short—don’t waste time on people who dislike you; you don’t even have enough time to like others.”
On the label of “traffic” (popularity), Xiao Zhan views it as both recognition and attention—something that brings motivation as well as pressure, pushing him to do better. He also remarked, “Having come from a low point, I’m not afraid of losing anything again,” reflecting his resilience.
This interview is widely regarded as an important window into understanding his depth of thought, highlighting the balance he maintains between rationality and sensitivity.
Quotes
“从低谷而来，就不会再害怕回到这个地方，因为觉得没有什么可以再失去的了，就努力地要往上走，往前走就行。”
“Having come from the bottom, I’m no longer afraid to go back to where I started, because I feel I have nothing left to lose, so I just work hard to move upwards and forwards.”
“我觉得是热爱，就你发自内心的想去做这件事，这就是无尽的动力，比任何鸡血、任何马达都好用，它就是一个无穷无尽的能量。”
“I think it’s passion, the genuine desire to do something from the bottom of your heart. That’s endless motivation, more effective than any motivational drive or any kind of engine. It’s an inexhaustible source of energy.”
“其实我的想法跟初衷一直都很简单，就是说我要做好，我要做好，一定要做好。”
“Actually, my thoughts and initial intentions have always been very simple, which is I want to do well. I want to do well, I must do well.”
“人生很短，不要把时间浪费在讨厌你的人身上，喜欢别人的时间还不够呢。”
“Life is short. Don’t waste your time on people who dislike you. You don’t even have enough time to like others.”
“前方的路是什么样，大家都很好奇，可能恰恰就是这么一份好奇感，然后让我才能一直往前走。”
“Everyone is curious about what the road ahead will be like, and perhaps it is precisely this curiosity that allows me to keep moving forward.”
