Preamble:
Why is Zhang Guoqiang, who once disappeared, so contented now?
Pursuing the truth about the disappearance of celebrities seems to have become a kind of life interest for many people.
When the figure that once shined on the screen suddenly disappears from view, people are always full of curiosity - where did he or she go, what happened, what happened to cause the disappearance, or did he simply change careers and stop acting?
A family of drama struggles to grow up slowly
In 1969, Zhang Guoqiang was born in a drama family in Heilongjiang.
His father was the owner of a local theater and his mother was a well-known actress.
Almost all of the family is closely related to drama and acting.
Growing up in such an environment, the genes and artistic atmosphere of performance have subtly influenced Zhang Guoqiang's growth.
Zhang Guoqiang has a lively and cheerful personality, smart and clever, but his academic performance is average.
However, in terms of drama performance, he has shown amazing talent since he was a child - without being taught by his parents, Zhang Guoqiang can always instinctively grasp the key points of his lines, and use exaggerated expressions and movements to vividly interpret a role, which attracts the surprise of the family.
In the impromptu performances of several family gatherings, Zhang Guoqiang successfully made everyone present lean forward and laugh.
In this way, with the praise and encouragement of his parents, relatives and friends, Zhang Guoqiang gradually established his ideal of engaging in drama performance in the future.
Finally, on the eve of the college entrance examination, he relied on his family influence to successfully enter the performance department of Heilongjiang University of Arts.
Regarding this news, Zhang Guoqiang radiated unprecedented vitality and ambition, as if he suddenly saw himself shining on the stage of tomorrow's drama.
However, no one expected that Zhang Guoqiang had just entered the university campus and officially began to gain a firm foothold in the drama industry, and the entire industry suddenly began to decline at the end of the 80s.
The artists of the originally large-scale drama theater have transformed into the film and television industry to survive, and the traditional art of drama has gradually declined.
As the youngest son in the family, Zhang Guoqiang could have relied on his parents and other relatives to find a small position in the local theater.
But perhaps it was because of his self-esteem, or because he saw the prospect of the vigorous development of the film and television industry, before his parents could make a suggestion for a way out, Zhang Guoqiang carried simple luggage and resolutely got on the train to Beijing under the envious or incomprehensible eyes of his classmates on campus.
That was the arduous journey of five years of North Drifting.
The first time he left his family to survive alone, Zhang Guoqiang did not regret it soon as most people think.
On the contrary, in order to realize his dream of stardom, he lived like an ascetic: living in a dark and damp basement only a few square meters in size, huddled with a dozen strangers to share a small bathroom, and eating the simplest and cheapest steamed buns and pickles every day.
During the day, he carried a humble burden and wandered in Beijing's major film and television bases, struggling to find any opportunity to perform on stage.
Whenever the casting director asks for "a group performance that requires acting skills", Zhang Guoqiang always plucks up the courage to rush forward to audition first.
However, when he first arrived, he didn't have any connections, and he was often squeezed out by all kinds of familiar faces and related households in the first step.
Even if the occasional audition goes well, you often only get a pantomime role for a few seconds of footage.
Such setbacks have been staged again and again, and after a few years, Zhang Guoqiang has no chance to perform officially.
The initial ambition was gradually worn away.
The idea of going home halfway also comes to mind.
However, at this time, Zhang Guoqiang always reminds himself that in this long and lonely waiting process, it is a good time to experience his will and accumulate acting skills.
Perhaps, it is precisely because of the perseverance and perseverance accumulated in the process of waiting in the north drift that later achieved his wonderful performance in "Soldier Assault".
The supporting role of "Unprecedented" breaks through the dilemma of acting
In 2005, when Zhang Guoqiang was about to be defeated by this indifferent circle, he finally waited for his first opportunity - a costume TV series called "Unprecedented", which needed a middle-aged supporting actor who spoke the Heilongjiang dialect and had some funny colors.
Thinking of his hometown and the many comedic roles he had performed on the stage of dramas in the past, Zhang Guoqiang decided to take a gamble.
In that era when there was no resource sharing, such a rare opportunity was like a flat boat in the sea.
Unexpectedly, with his rich acting experience, Zhang Guoqiang's performance on the first day of audition won unanimous praise from the director and the actors in the same crew.
Soon, he got the opportunity to perform in this supporting role.
Although there are few scenes and the salary is meager, this is undoubtedly a breakthrough for Zhang Guoqiang, who has been in turmoil in the film and television industry.
With his outstanding performance in "Unprecedented", Zhang Guoqiang has gradually accumulated contacts and reputation.
So after this drama, Zhang Guoqiang naturally starred in several TV series such as "Chang Longji" under the matchmaking of his friend Wu Liansheng.
Although most of them are still supporting roles and tricks, the salary and exposure have been several times higher than in the past.
In this process, Zhang Guoqiang also practiced acting skills with many famous artists in the industry and accumulated rich acting experience.
He also realized that if he didn't step up his efforts during this precious time, this opportunity would soon be re-seized by other rising stars.
As a result, Zhang Guoqiang began to devote himself to every performance opportunity, abandoning the pride and arrogance of his youth, and humbly learning from every director and opponent.
Gradually, Zhang Guoqiang, a well-rounded and mature performer, also gained a firm foothold in this circle.
However, just when his career finally improved, Zhang Guoqiang's love life and family were not satisfactory.
Because of the long-term wandering abroad for development, he and his first wife in his distant hometown gradually drifted apart after giving birth to a son, and finally the physically and mentally exhausted two chose to divorce.
After the divorce, Zhang Guoqiang has been living in guilt and self-blame.
He had to continue to travel around Beijing to barely pay his monthly child support and fulfill his responsibilities as a father.
But this also caused him to be almost unable to accompany his son to grow up, and his relationship with him became more and more estranged.
And the culprit of all this is this cold circle.
Because of this, Zhang Guoqiang feels more and more that the burden on his shoulders is increasing day by day.
He has no way out, this time he must succeed in the entertainment industry to make up for his past regrets.
"Soldier Assault" was an instant hit
In 2006, with his friend Wu Liansheng matching again, Zhang Guoqiang successfully passed the selection with his rich performance experience accumulated over the years, and finally won an important role called "Gao Cheng" in the high-profile war-themed drama "Soldier Assault" at that time.
This officer's image has a complex personality and needs to be performed with rich connotations, which requires extremely high acting skills from the actors.
To everyone's shock, Zhang Guoqiang, who was nearly 40 years old at the time, played this role perfectly.
He integrated his tenacity, perseverance, and free and easy qualities from his years of struggle into the character of Gao Cheng, making the inner world of the whole character full and three-dimensional, with both form and spirit.
In the subsequent hit broadcast of "Soldier Assault", Zhang Guoqiang stood out for a while with his excellent acting skills and successfully attracted attention.
Countless audiences have sought to discuss the role of "Gao Cheng", and Zhang Guoqiang has really become popular and famous, and countless film and television and advertising invitations have followed one after another.
At the same time, at a blind date party, Zhang Guoqiang also met Wang Xiaonan through a mutual friend - a beautiful girl who is 7 years younger than him and is known as "a copy of Maggie Cheung".
The two fell in love at first sight and soon entered the palace of marriage.
Wang Xiaonan is not only beautiful and generous, but also empathetic, and has never complained about Zhang Guoqiang.
Under her three-year love offensive, Zhang Guoqiang gradually unloaded his inner defense line and opened his heart.
With the help of Wang Xiaonan, a virtuous helper, the long-standing estrangement between Zhang Guoqiang and his son has gradually dissolved.
The warm picture of a family of three living in harmony also made up for the trauma and regrets in his heart for many years.
All of this is thanks to Wang Xiaonan, a patient and loving woman.
Perhaps, on the road of life, everyone needs such a selfless confidant to dissolve the scars in their hearts and open a new chapter of happiness.
Epilogue:
Today, Zhang Guoqiang is over half a hundred years old, and he has gradually faded out of the front line, and he is no longer as keen on fighting for fame and fortune as he was when he was young.
He began to learn to appreciate the small fortunes in life, and would selectively participate in some TV series roles that he was interested in, and occasionally take on some print advertisements.
In addition to these odd jobs, Zhang Guoqiang lives a plain but healthy life most of the time, accompanying his family and always having a contented heart.
It is precisely because of letting go of the obsession of chasing fame and fortune that Zhang Guoqiang's life has become more simple and beautiful.
And when we pursue the mystery of those "disappeared" stars, we may also be able to understand from Zhang Guoqiang's life experience: Artists who choose to stay away from the public eye may not necessarily have encountered some accidents.
On the contrary, they may also live a different, more peaceful and comfortable life.
Everyone has their own rhythm of life, and choosing to leave the familiar environment and pursue the inner voice is a kind of courage in itself.
Therefore, at no time should we easily judge the choices of others.
Because everyone's journey is unique and resonant.
We just need to remind ourselves to be more understanding and considerate of other people's experiences, rather than rushing to define them.