Where there is Yan Ni, there is laughter, and she likes to put a smile on her face, combined with a slow speaking speed. If you praise her for acting well, she will say shy and shy, "Thank you, always encourage me, then I will rush forward." I think I still need the encouragement of others to play more excellent roles. This summer, the two movies starring Yan Ni "School Dad" and "The Last Truth" were released successively, and she interpreted two completely different roles in the film. For the praise from the outside world, she believes that there is still a lot to dig into herself.
Yan Ni said that being an actor is always ready for the next role. Photo by Beijing News reporter Guo Yanbing
In the interview, in the face of any problem, she does not evade, does not limit, and speaks endlessly. Even sensitive issues such as age and feelings, she does not shy away from others. Today, her work output is not as much as before, she believes that actors need to be quiet and precipitated, and has also become a person who loves to think: "I like it very much when she calms down, precipitates, practice, and thinks repeatedly." But silence doesn't mean stopping, and when I'm not filming, I listen to all kinds of music, watch movies, read books, and arm myself with these. When you choose to be an actor, you must always prepare yourself for the next role. ”
Six years ago, in an interview with a reporter from the Beijing News, Yan Ni said that "all kinds of style" is her life. This word is also imprinted on Yan Ni because of the classic character Tong Xiangyu, "Tong Xiangyu is amorous, everyone must describe me like this through this character." I don't know what the real me is. Some time ago, I asked my ex-boyfriend, 'Excuse me, what do you think I am?'" and he said, 'You're cute, but you also have ignorance'. I think it's good, it shows that I still have a lot to know about the world, and if I don't know a little bit to explore the world, it shows that I still have a way to go. ”
Kim Hee-mei
A woman who is desperate
Such people must exist
Yan Ni believes that people like Jin Ximei must exist.
Jin Ximei in the movie "The Last Truth" is a prisoner sentenced to death, a massage girl, and a mother who is alone with her son to survive at the bottom. Jin Ximei has experienced a failed marriage and is not accepted by her son, and she can meet the love given to her by Ma Shuangxi (Tumen) in her life, which is almost a true love in a desperate life. When producer Huang Xiaoming read the script for the first time, he quickly had the appearance of Jin Ximei's actor in his mind, none other than Yan Ni. But in Yan Ni's opinion, this is a very dramatic character that she rarely gets, and the existence of this person has authenticity. After taking over the role, she set herself a goal to let the audience truly feel the mood and situation of the character through limited lines and space, which was a challenge for her. So Yan Ni started from many aspects such as obeying the Tao, plus the help of directors, screenwriters and others, after all, artistic creation requires team strength, and only by working together can we stand out.
In "The Last Truth", Jin Ximei, played by Yan Ni, hides a lot of secrets.
After the filming, Huang Xiaoming said that for Yan Ni's performance, "everything that should be praised is finished, and no amount of praise is enough": "She is very competitive in acting, I especially understand, she has her own ideas and understandings, when these conflict with the ideas of the director and other actors, the soft side of her personality appears, at this time we sit down together, to talk, to try, to find a more moderate way." During this period of acting, Sister Ni was too deeply invested, especially when the emotional need to explode, I was especially worried that she would not be able to come out of the role, so I always accompanied her and made her happy. Yan Ni said that she was more grateful to Huang Xiaoming and the director for giving her the space to perform: "You know, I can't speak clearly, which is also a problem that makes me very painful." Zhang Jiayi always 'complained' about me, 'What are you talking about, don't say it' (learn Zhang Jiayi's dialect), but Xiaoming, as the producer, listened to me very patiently. The most important thing is that he understood and gave me a lot of tolerance. ”
"The Last Truth" is the first time Yan Ni has played opposite Tumen, and she never expected that this was also the last time.
In December 2021, Tumen passed away due to illness. "I miss him so much," she says, adding that Tu Men's resonance for her is not only in the play, but also from the performance itself. She remembers that when she first met Tumen, the other party gave her a "kiss hand gift", a small action that just reflected the undercurrent affection between the characters Ma Shuangxi and Jin Ximei, played by the two in the film. At that moment, she was Jin Ximei, and Tumen was Ma Shuangxi: "Because Jin Ximei's profession is special and she is also a bitter woman, his action also expresses respect between characters." There was also a scene where he was smoking in bed, and I asked him 'can I put the ashtray on you?' and I touched his body directly. He said yes, and suddenly he pulled his clothes a little bigger, and at that moment I had the feeling of performing. Mr. Tumen's performance does not have any stylized things, it is the most real and flexible response, which touches me very much. ”
In the movie "The Last Truth", Jin Ximei played by Yan Ni (left) and Ma Shuangxi (right) played by Tu Men are a couple.
Liu Zhenzhen
Helplessness, struggle, tragedy
She is a precious character
In another summer hit movie "Learning Dad", Yan Ni handed over a completely different role from Jin Ximei, her name is Liu Zhenzhen.
In "Learning Dad", Liu Zhenzhen's first scene was to make a "marriage contract" with Lei Dali played by Huang Bo in the temple to worship Buddha and pray, which looks very faithful, but in fact she "sold" herself for 100,000 yuan. Compared with the identity of the "chicken baby king", Yan Ni sees the weakness of Liu Zhenzhen: "This character has a lot of tragic colors, although it is indifferent on the surface, but the heart has been struggling." She didn't know whether it was good to blindly force her children to 'roll', coupled with the blow of marriage failure, the child passed the exam, won the award and left her, but she could only sigh 'what is the use of a room full of awards'. "Mother this kind of role Yan Ni has not played, count it carefully, there are no less than ten before and after." And Liu Zhenzhen is precious to actresses of my age, she is helpless, people can empathize, I still have a lot of thoughts about this role, because the space is limited and not fully displayed. But the performance of Chinese-style education, coupled with the ability to work with Huang Bo, made me feel obliged. Many times when playing "Learning Dad", Yan Ni will also reflect on herself, and this movie, which directly hits the "parental involvement" and "parent-child relationship" in her opinion, will bring some inspiration to people after watching the movie.
In the movie "Learning Dad", Liu Zhenzhen, played by Yan Ni, is a "chicken and baby king" on the surface, but he struggles at the inner level, and he doesn't get along with his daughter smoothly.
And Yan Ni in real life has almost no barriers and conflicts when communicating with her daughter Zou Yuanqing. The identity of the actor makes her full of apologies for the child. When her daughter needed her the most, she couldn't accompany each other anytime and anywhere, and every time she said this, Yan Ni was full of guilt, but she was more pleased that she and her daughter got along like sisters: "Yuan Yuan understands things earlier than other children." Because of the single-parent family, she has to take care of her grandparents, and her thoughts have matured relatively early, and we have always had an exchange of ideas. All I can do is provide her with the conditions for a good life, many things have to follow the laws of nature, and I never want to make decisions for her. Yan Ni also saw her daughter Zou Yuanqing's love for acting, coupled with being able to endure hardships, being able to really pay for what she liked was the right choice: "I asked her 'do you really like it', and she was sure that she liked acting." The first time she filmed, she could only sleep three hours a day, she could insist, she had the quality of an actor, at least her physical fitness was okay (laughs), so let's rest assured to chase her dreams. ”
Tong Xiangyu
We used to be blank slates
It may be hard to go back now
The public's wide understanding of Yan Ni comes from the sitcom "Wulin Gaiden", which has almost become a label that she can't get rid of, and "Tong Treasurer" (Tong Xiangyu) has also become another name for her in the public context. From her debut as an actor to now, this play has been constantly watched by the audience, and she has also tried a lot of other types of acting work after this drama, such as formal drama, family ethics, history, urbanity, and has many masterpieces, but every time people mention Yan Ni, it is still difficult to bypass the three words "Tong Xiangyu".
Yan Ni is very clear that the outside world loves Tong Xiangyu in "The Legend of Wulin", although this "mention" to some extent even makes people ignore other roles she created, and some people will bluntly say that this is the "peak" of her acting career, and she believes that "no matter how much you act later, it will be difficult to surpass". For such a statement, she does not escape and will not be sad, laughing and saying that she "really feels nothing", "The focus of the audience will always be on the classics, remember her (Tong Xiangyu) and this drama, what am I sad about?" I have always said that if anyone remembers this work fifty years later, what a blessing for the actor that it can maintain the popularity of the audience for so long. It is equivalent to creating a peak in my first starring role, which is a big affirmation. Of course, there is still hope to create another peak in life, but it can not be sought, with me alone can not reach it, more about cooperation. So all I can do is be ready and if a better character arrives, I can catch it. ”
The sitcom "Wulin Gaiden", which was once popular throughout China, is still a classic now.
In the popular "emotional killing" and "memory killing" today, this legendary classic IP that is regarded as "electronic squeezed vegetables" by countless audiences will not wait for the day when the original cast returns and continues the classics. Over the years, Yan Ni has been asked "how long will it take to see a new one", and several leading actors are clear about the weight of this sitcom in the hearts of the audience, but if there is no continuation of reality, then only stride forward. "If the script is really good and everyone has intentions, then act, it's nothing. But can people go back to that time, when we didn't know anything, everyone was a blank slate. Everyone is like that, there is no burden, acting is not afraid of anything, there are no constraints, and it is right to do anything, but it may be difficult to go back now. ”
In recent years, from "Mountain and Sea Love" and "Loading Stage", to "Breakout" and "Youth Pi 2", as well as "Grandma's New World" broadcast not long ago, and two movies in the summer, Yan Ni has attracted much attention with several works and has been nominated for awards. She chose a different role to jump out of the public's inherent perception of her, but she also denied that it was a deliberate transformation, comedy will always be her lifelong love, "It is said that comedy is more difficult to perform, and everyone's cognitive aesthetics of comedy are also different, which is definitely not easy." For me, if I can act in all genres and can also act in comedy, that's really great. Actors want to tap their different potentials through roles, and I have reached a certain age, hoping to have my own expression, such as Jin Ximei is very rich and dramatic, and Liu Zhenzhen, very realistic and indifferent. These characters find me because they trust me, and all I can do is always be ready, come, take the characters down, it's a kind of growth. ”
Yan Ni
Only "extra short"
No "specialty"
Not long ago, Yan Ni followed the crew of the movie "Learning Dad" to Liu Genghong's live broadcast room and danced on the spot. This jump, even film producer Huang Bo did not expect that Yan Ni was like a clear stream. #Yan Ni jumping to play me##Yan Ni jumping to out-of-body # and other topics quickly appeared on the topic list, netizens laughed for a few days and saved a full set of emojis. "After the jump that day, many people sent me videos, screenshots, GIFs, all kinds of memes, writing 'go you', 'your leader and you' and so on, to be honest, I didn't find anything funny at the time. But then I think about it, and it's really funny to look at my 'performance'. I really couldn't jump that day, I ran for such a long time on the roadshow, I had to dance for an hour and a half, and I had to dance twice when I got to "Dragon Fist", I said 'I am a dragon or a tiger, I can only coil at the mouth of the cave' 'I really can't jump, you guys jump'. Yan Ni recalled the scene to the Beijing News reporter, "Seeing that everyone used these memes to express their mood, I didn't use them much, and I started to use them in the future (laughs)." ”
Many people say that Yan Ni is cute, the more she lives, the more casual and calm, and even comes with a "slight sense of drunkenness", it seems that when anything comes to her, there is nothing that cannot be solved. In Yan Ni's understanding, when people reach this age, they will have more experience and life experience, their ability to control roles is stronger, and their state will become more leisurely and relaxed. Especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as age, aging, and anxiety, she never hides, "I am such an ordinary person, and I am not an immortal, so I naturally have to face problems." "Actually, I don't know how far or where this road can go, but based on my heart's love, I still want to continue walking and acting. Teacher Li Xuejian once said that 'it is still the best to eat a box lunch', because he is willing to film and stay in the crew. Me too. Box lunches may not be delicious, but you will find indescribable creative pleasure and stability in the spiritual world. ”
Yan Ni believes that her innate conditions are not dominant, but she has met many nobles along the way to help. Photo by Beijing News reporter Guo Yanbing
Yan Ni firmly believes that she is a very lucky actor. She believes that in the case of "congenital conditions are not dominant", whether it is the early drama troupe or the mentors and friends she meets along the way, she has provided great help, which makes her always maintain a sense of awe and humility for performance. Especially after seeing young actors, she is very willing to play and communicate with them, hoping to help the "new blood" in these film and television works like those who have helped her: "Last time people asked me what I had specialties, I didn't think of it for half a day, I said 'I have special shorts, no specialties'. Some time ago, a friend told me that Hu Ge sent him a photo of when we took "Life Apocalypse", in fact, everyone still misses the creation at that time. Two days ago, a good friend of Hu Ge came to see me, I was much older than that friend, and then I sent a photo of us to Hu Ge and asked him, 'Is it quite a good match'? I said, I mean I'll be more and more compatible with you in the future (laughs). ”
Dialogue
Yan Ni: When people calm down, it is also a kind of practice
Beijing News: In recent years, in terms of movies, your output is not as good as before, and you are more picky?
Yan Ni: Indeed, the process of choosing a play now will be a little slower. Although I am already this age, I also hope to break through the stereotypical character image of the past, and I constantly refute myself every time I choose, and I think for a long time. But I will read any script that comes to me, but the speed is relatively slow, because I really read it word by word, and after reading it, I still need to think carefully and talk to myself.
Beijing News: How to define whether it can break through or surpass, for example, everyone now says more often that "Yan Ni is not only Tong Xiangyu", you will also have this desire?
Yan Ni: I hope to make a breakthrough, but it doesn't mean that I want to break through "Tong Xiangyu", and I am very grateful for this role until now. But actors do need to constantly dig into different things in their bodies, and also want to pursue something in new roles, which is my biggest motivation for choosing a play. In the face of any drama, I definitely don't work, but to really find the person I play, the process is very painful. But this is the case in any creation, and I have to constantly discuss with the director, the actor, and the screenwriter to make me a character completely.
Beijing News: Does this seem a bit out of place in today's era of rapid development?
Yan Ni: I believe the audience, they want to see an actor bring them something different. Anyone who appears too often is bound to have aesthetic fatigue. So the actor must reflect on himself, I will think every day after the end of work, "how did I shoot today's scene, if that would be better, how to rearrange the back that did not reach today", this habit is too important, only by constantly thinking and reflecting on myself can we do a good job.
Beijing News: Now you have the right to choose the role, but you will also encounter the "confusion of middle-aged actresses" that is often discussed in the industry.
Yan Ni: There will definitely be troubles and troubles, after all, I am not a god (laughs), but I don't seem to think about these things very well. To be fair, middle-aged actresses still have a lot of opportunities now, such as Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett, they have a greater charm, a trait that is difficult to have without sufficient experience, at least not yet. So it's acting that makes others see the charm and potential in you, and since I can get to this stage, why think about those troubles. What you have to fight at this stage is the texture of your work.
Beijing News: In other words, do you think there is more to be dug into the actor Yan Ni?
Yan Ni: A few days ago, senior teacher Li Wenqi sent me a message. At that time, I didn't film, and he and Mr. Guo Da took me to "go to the cave" to perform something. He said that he saw "Bullfighting" on TV, which was the first time he watched it, and he said that although I didn't have many scenes, he could feel a kind of energy transmitted by me, and said that he hoped that I could be alone in the future. I was very touched to have such a senior who encouraged me and sincerely hoped that I could be better.
Beijing News: Your smile seems to heal people's hearts, so can you also be self-consistent personally?
Yan Ni: I also have lonely times, almost alone for so many years, I will definitely be lonely and lonely. Sometimes when people are alone or quiet, it is also a practice. But I am not a righteous practitioner, I am also a layman, and there will definitely be times when it is difficult to dispel the loneliness.
Beijing News: In that interview in 2018, you lost a lot of weight. There will always be discussions about the appearance of actresses in the industry, do you still care about these now?
Yan Ni: Everyone has to face the change of age. I am an ordinary person and lament the passage of time. But I'm an actor and I can play [roles] in this age group or older. You don't have to think so much before creating a character, when you reach a certain age and have a certain experience, you can definitely have another charm, and my responsibility is to bring this charm to everyone. For example, that day, you felt very fun, very happy, and very happy for me, which is unattainable. In fact, actors do not rest, life is also a reserve for themselves, acting is the need to refine these accumulations in life, these are far greater than the care of appearance.
Beijing News: I asked you in that interview, do you still believe in love? What now?
Yan Ni: Of course, of course, you have to believe it. Always optimistic, always believe in love!
Beijing News reporter Zhou Huixiaowan
Chief Photographer Guo Yanbing
Chief Editor Wu Dongni
Proofreader Zhao Lin