The TV series "Flowers" directed by Wong Kar-wai is being broadcast on CCTV, and You Benjing, who plays the role of "uncle", has become popular again, and her popularity and acting skills have even crushed powerful young and middle-aged actors such as Hu Ge and Ma Yili.
In the hearts of many middle-aged and elderly people, You Benchang is closely connected with "Jigong" and has become an irreplaceable classic.
At last year's TV drama quality ceremony, You Benchang also won the honor of "Quality Master", which made the stars in the audience give a standing ovation.
However, although his acting career with You Benchang is brilliant, his life experience is also legendary:
He has become a monk twice, has been running for 30 years, is a late bloomer in his 50s, accompanies his wife to fight cancer, and sells houses and films, he has practiced kindness and sincerity all his life, and has become the eternal light in the hearts of the audience.
You Benchang was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province in the 30s, and has 5 older sisters.
When he was 6 years old, a monk predicted that he would have a bad fate, but if he took refuge in Buddhism, he would find good results.
At that time, You Benchang was indeed frail and sickly, and his parents often took him to the hospital to see a doctor.
Hearing what the monk said, his father handed You Benchang over to the Fazang Temple in Shanghai.
During his years in the temple, You Benchang grew up healthily, reading Master's books every day, and had a soft spot for the character of "Jigong".
However, when he was 15 years old, You Benchang was still taken home by his parents, who expected him to be able to start a family like ordinary people.
After returning home, under the influence of his sisters, You Benchang gradually developed a strong interest in theatrical performance.
In high school, he actively participated in the activities of the school's theater troupe, and was selected to join the art troupe with his superb acting skills, and was escorted to the Shanghai Theater Academy.
After graduation, You Benchang joined a theater in Beijing and officially started his acting career.
However, due to his physical appearance being different from the mainstream aesthetics of the time, he mostly played a supporting role in the troupe. This performance is nearly 30 years.
In the past 30 years, You Benchang has worked hard to hone his acting skills and live a serious life. He married a female doctor and gave birth to a lovely daughter.
You Benchang thought that he would be an ordinary actor like this all his life and live an ordinary life, but he didn't expect that at the age of 58, he received a phone call that changed the rest of his life.
That day, You Benchang was filming in Dalian, and his wife called him and said: Shanghai TV is going to shoot the TV series "Jigong", and asked him to try out the drama in the crew when he is free.
When You Benchang heard this, he was happy and agreed.
After filming, he hurried to the crew, the director didn't say a word, and gave him a question on the spot: "What do you think Jigong should look like?"
You Benchang was excited after listening to it, Jigong's appearance has been in his mind for decades, didn't the director ask the right person?
He wanted to give a verbal description, but after thinking about it, he said, "Can I show you directly?"
After speaking, regardless of whether the director agreed or not, he performed a live performance, and he still used Shanghai work.
After reading it, the director pointed at You Benchang and said three words: "It's you!"
This is the first starring work in You Benchang's acting career, and he regards it as a treasure and accepts the low salary without hesitation.
The crew first faced Jigong's makeup photos, and everyone had a headache about what kind of image to show Jigong's appearance and appearance.
At this time, You Benchang had a dream, and the image that appeared in the dream became the key to solving the problem. Under the discussion of the crew, the appearance of "Jigong" was designed according to the appearance of You Benchang's dream.
Due to the limited funds of the crew, You Benchang suffered a lot during the filming process.
Once, You Benchang filmed the scene of Jigong eating elbows. The big elbow looked fragrant, and he ate it well, but in fact, the elbow was already stinking.
After this scene, You Benchang had diarrhea for several days.
There is also a scene of "eating" the board, which tests You Benchang's perseverance.
In pursuit of a realistic effect, he asked the person who hit the board to hit it with real force, causing him to be hit by the board so that he couldn't straighten his waist.
When the daughter came to visit the class, she happened to witness this scene, and when she saw her father's back staggering on her waist, her daughter was so distressed that she burst into tears.
However, You Benchang comforted his daughter with a smile and said: "Dad doesn't hurt at all, these are all performances, and they are all fake." ”
It can be said that it is You Benchang's persistence and dedication that has created an irreplaceable image of Jigong in the hearts of the audience.
After the broadcast of "Jigong", You Benchang became popular all over the country, but in fact, because of the low salary at the beginning, You Benchang did not make much money because of this drama.
You Benchang doesn't care about these at all, what he cares about is that he is over half a hundred years old, and finally starred in a good work recognized by the audience.
Soon after becoming famous, in 1991, You Benchang announced his temporary retirement because he wanted to accompany his wife.
You Benchang's wife was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and his wife once said: "Benchang, your career has not been easy so far, you don't care about me." ”
You Benchang replied like this: "Compared to family, fame and fortune are nothing. I played Jigong, he is not an ordinary person, if I abandon you, am I worthy of the image of Jigong?"
In this way, You Benchang stayed at home for 4 years and took good care of his wife, until his wife's condition improved and stabilized, he started to take over the drama again, and he also volunteered to teach teenagers to act.
In the rehearsal of the drama "Master Hongyi", You Benchang not only bore the copyright fee of the play, but also personally organized the actors, rented the theater, and paid labor fees to the actors.
However, after discussing with his wife, he decided to sell his house in Beijing to fill the financial gap.
Although after several consecutive performances, the troupe did not make a profit, and even "had no income", You Benchang faced it calmly.
"We have a stable retirement salary, which is enough to meet our living needs," he said. We don't have much desire for money. ”
The purpose of his rehearsal of "Master Hongyi" is not to pursue wealth, but to let more people know how to lend a helping hand when others are in need.
In the 2023 TV series "Youth Song Xing", You Benchang played the role of "Master of Forgetting Worries", allowing the audience to witness his acting skills again, and some viewers commented: "One move is better than in the anime." ”
Now, You Benchang is over ninety years old, and he is even more kind with his shaved head. Although his wife Yang Huihua is full of gray hair, she is still in good spirits.
Their daughter You Sihan also stepped into the showbiz and became a well-known screenwriter, participating in the creation of many film and television dramas such as "Ancient Temple" and "Falling from the Sky".
Now, You Benchang, who has reached his old age, is in a tranquil mood and at ease like the wind.
The corner of Jigong, which has been 38 years ago, seems to be a late blooming flower in his life, blooming with a different kind of brilliance.
He and the character achieve each other, true and false, false and true.
Looking back on his life, You Benchang has no regrets and shows calmness.
(The picture comes from the Internet, invaded and deleted)