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Text: Li Yonghao
Editor |
Preamble:
Do you know why an old actor who has played a supporting role for more than 70 years won the honor of "moving China"?
In September 1935, a poor child was born in Tianjin, although his life path was not smooth sailing, but with his perseverance and tenacity, he finally became an unforgettable film classic image in the hearts of the audience.
He is the 89-year-old veteran artist ------ Niu Ben, who won the 2023 "Moving China" Character Award.
A difficult start for a poor child in Tianjin
In September 1935, a poor child was born in Tianjin.
His name was Zhang Xuejing, and he later changed his name to Niu Ben.
Born in turbulent times, he faced many challenges in life from an early age.
Both parents were ordinary laborers, supporting the family with their own hands.
However, the family has suffered one blow after another.
His parents fell ill one after another, and Niu Ben, who was only 6 years old, and his older siblings fell into a difficult situation in life.
After the death of his parents, the eldest brother had to leave his hometown and go to the city to work to maintain the family's food and clothing.
In order to reduce his brother's burden, the young Niu Ben took the initiative to come to the factory to help run errands, even if he didn't even get paid, he was willing to do it.
This poor child experienced the hardships of life early on, but he still maintained a positive and optimistic heart.
Through the recommendation of an actor friend, 11-year-old Niu Ben finally stepped into the showbiz, and his first role was the role of "Little Cow" in the famous anti-Japanese movie "Tale of the Holy City".
Even if it is just a small supporting role, Niu Ben has never relaxed his requirements for himself.
In order to interpret the character in place, he would practice repeatedly before filming until he was fully integrated into the character.
Once, because he was too careful, Niu Ben almost fell into a state of distraction during filming, so he had to ask the director for help and ask him to slap himself hard, and finally found his senses.
Since then, with his almost demanding self-requirements, Niu Ben has slowly grown into an excellent actor.
He never cares about the size of the role, whether it is the protagonist with rich lines or the marginal character who doesn't say a word, he will devote himself to it, and strive to play the role well.
The drama starts from the "little people", and the acting skills are refined and accompanied all the way
Even if it is just a small supporting role, Niu Ben has never relaxed his requirements for himself.
In order to interpret the character in place, he would practice repeatedly before filming until he was fully integrated into the character.
Once, because he was too careful, Niu Ben almost fell into a state of distraction during filming, so he had to ask the director for help and ask him to slap himself hard, and finally found his senses.
Since then, with his almost demanding self-requirements, Niu Ben has slowly grown into an excellent actor.
He never cares about the size of the role, whether it is the protagonist with rich lines or the marginal character who doesn't say a word, he will devote himself to it, and strive to play the role well.
During the filming of the movie "Flying Over the Old People's Home", Niu Ben's character didn't even have a single line, he just had to lie motionless on the bed.
But he still did not relax, repeatedly studied the character's situation, and suggested that the director tie him to the railing next to the bed, trying to express the pain of the old man's loss of voice through the sound of moaning.
For Niu Ben, even if it is a small supporting role, he has to devote all his efforts to interpretation.
He often said: "No matter how small the role is, you must devote yourself to it, and no matter how small the stage is, it must be filled with fireworks." "
In this way, from the unknown "little cow" to the well-known "second and second two" in the whole country, Niu Ben has slowly accumulated his fame in the film industry.
He won the Golden Rooster Award and the Hundred Flowers Award for his role as "Guo Yanzi" in "Wrangler".
Although this is only a supporting role of comedy, the witty humor and simple kindness deduced by Niu Ben deeply touched the hearts of the audience.
Why did an old artist who started from a small person win the honor of "moving China" at the age of 89?
What kind of moving story does he have in his life experience?
The love of a lifetime - the road of mutual support
Although life does not favor Niu Ben too much, emotionally, he has a touching love story.
When he was 19 years old, Niu Ben took a fancy to Wang Huiling at a glance in the table tennis hall.
In order to see her more often, Niu Ben often came to the stadium at the beginning, deliberately looking for her to learn from her, and he didn't mind losing the game.
Eventually, this pure first love quietly brewed.
Wang Huiling was born from a wealthy background and had good family conditions, while Niu Ben was only a small supporting actor at that time with a meager income.
But Wang Huiling was not affected by the difference in appearance at all, and she resolutely married Niu Ben.
After marriage, Wang Huiling played her virtuous and virtuous nature, and kept the house in good order.
With her support, Niu Ben can also devote himself to work without scruples.
Since then, a woman who silently supports her artistic career, and an old actor who has worked silently behind the scenes, have gone through most of her life hand in hand.
Even as the years passed, the relationship between the two has not diminished in the slightest.
It's a pity that Wang Huiling finally passed away in Niu Ben's grief.
In order to let his wife get better care, Niu Ben took the initiative to move into a nursing home.
Although his children were willing to take care of him, he insisted on living on his own, not wanting to cause trouble to his family, and on the other hand, wanting to continue to maintain their former lifestyle.
This simple and touching love story has undoubtedly become a major support for Niu Ben's life.
In the grief of losing his beloved, he still insisted on his beliefs and pursuits, and used his perseverance and tenacity to interpret the character of a true artist.
Loyal to the party, people-oriented artistic pursuit
In addition to his steadfastness in his love life, Niu Ben is also tenacious in his artistic pursuits and political stance.
On the road of art, Niu Ben has always been committed to creating the role of "little people", presenting the living conditions and inner changes of ordinary people to the audience in the most realistic way.
Whether it is "Guo Chenzi" in "Wrangler" or "The Second Two" in "Old Tavern", he portrays these characters vividly and vividly, which makes the audience have a strong resonance.
Even if he is over eighty years old, Niu Ben's acting skills have not diminished at all.
In "Old Tavern", the lonely and stumbling back of the "old two" he played is unforgettable.
This old man, who has to drink two taels of wine every day, under Niu Ben's interpretation, has both character and integrity, and is full of loneliness that warms people's hearts.
Over the years, Niu Ben has won the Golden Rooster Award, the Hundred Flowers Award and other awards by virtue of his acting skills, and has been praised by industry insiders as "an old artist with both virtue and art".
He often said that he was suitable for "punctuation" roles, and that as long as he did his best for each role, he would be satisfied.
In addition to his persistence on the road of art, Niu Ben's loyalty to political beliefs has also been throughout his life.
Niu Ben, who was born in 1935, witnessed the poverty of his family when he was a child, and deeply felt the salvation of the Communist Party.
Therefore, he has always dreamed of becoming a qualified member of the Communist Party of China, demanding himself according to the standards of party members, and fighting for the cause of communism.
In order to realize this dream, the 83-year-old Niu Ben finally got his wish and joined the Communist Party of China.
When he applied to join the party, he wrote touching words: "I grew up in the urban poor under the suffering of China, and my family was poor, and it was the Communist Party that rescued our family and gave me a new life." "
This veteran artist has adhered to his loyalty to the party and the people all his life, and interpreted the social responsibility of a true artist with his own practical actions.
What is there about the life experience of a child who has suffered since childhood, who has worked tirelessly on the road of art and steadfast in his political beliefs?
The legendary life that moved China
On the evening of April 8, 2024, the 89-year-old Niu Ben won CCTV's 2023 "Moving China" Character Award.
This is undoubtedly the highest praise for his lifelong artistic pursuits and political beliefs.
From a child born in a poor family in 1935 to an old artist known throughout the country, Niu Ben's life journey is undoubtedly magnificent.
In his lonely childhood, he started his acting career at the age of 11 with his persistence and tenacity.
From the unknown "little cow" to the nationally eye-catching "second and second", he used his acting skills and sense of responsibility to engrave the images of countless ordinary people on the screen.
Even for some small roles without lines, he never relaxed his requirements, but devoted himself to it, striving to bring it to life.
It is this superb acting skills and professionalism that have allowed him to accumulate a wide reputation and influence in the art circle.
In his personal love life, Niu Ben also has a touching love story.
He met and knew his first love Wang Huiling, and walked through most of his life hand in hand.
Although the family conditions of the two are very different, Wang Huiling resolutely married him and has been silently supporting his artistic career.
Until the last moment of his life, Niu Ben never forgot his thoughts and apologies for his wife.
In addition to his persistence in artistic creation and personal life, Niu Ben's loyalty to political beliefs has also been consistent.
Since he was a child, he has personally felt the salvation of the Communist Party, and he has always dreamed of becoming a qualified member of the Communist Party of China, demanding himself according to the standards of party members, and fighting for the cause of communism.
finally joined at the age of 83, which undoubtedly became a highlight of his life.
It is precisely with this persistent pursuit of art, loyalty to political beliefs, and deep attachment to his beloved that the 89-year-old artist finally won the honor of "moving China".
His life experience explains to us how a real "little person" can use his tenacity and responsibility to become a hero who attracts the attention of the whole country.
Epilogue:
It is precisely with this persistent pursuit of art, loyalty to political beliefs, and deep attachment to his beloved that the 89-year-old artist finally won the honor of "moving China".
His life experience explains to us how a real "little person" can use his tenacity and responsibility to become a hero who attracts the attention of the whole country.