When the silver-haired old Mr. Niu Ben stepped on the award stage of "Moving China", the audience was deeply moved by his rich acting career.
However, when his bio was shown on the screen, some viewers were taken by surprise. Some people questioned why Niu Ben was selected as one of the "Top Ten People Who Moved China"?
Despite his dedication as an actor, it seems to some that he doesn't make a shocking move. So, what is unique about Niu Ben?
On the stage of "Moving China 2023 Person of the Year Ceremony", Niu Ben's speech was full of affection and strength. He profoundly expounded the essence of film art - first and foremost the art of serving the people.
He reminded everyone that a true love for cinema should not be limited to superficial glamour, such as applause and garlands, but should stem from the love and dedication to the art of cinema itself.
Niu Ben also candidly shared the hardships he experienced during the filming.
He has suffered from injuries in almost every joint, but whenever he is faced with a new shooting task, he always throws himself into the intense work before his body has fully recovered. To this day, he still bears the scars he had from the filming on his body.
The years are like a song, and Niu Ben's lover Wang Huiling has always been by his side and never abandoned. Their fate began when they met at the table tennis table at the age of 19, and the two have spent more than 60 years together.
However, in 2019, 84-year-old Niu Ben lost his beloved wife. In order to avoid seeing things and thinking about people, he chose to move into a high-end pension apartment with an annual fee of up to 1.5 million yuan.
This decision has aroused more doubts and confusion from the outside world, and some people even think that his luxurious lifestyle is inconsistent with the image of "moving Chinese characters".
In the face of doubts, we should perhaps understand more deeply the meaning of "Moving Chinese Characters". It is not only a recognition of direct social contributions, but also a recognition of industry models.
From this point of view, it is not difficult to understand why Niu Ben can win this award. Niu Ben's artistic path began by chance. At that time, director Shen Fu was preparing to shoot the movie "Tale of the Holy City", and he was missing a small actor.
On the recommendation of his neighbor Xie Tian, Niu Ben got this opportunity. Under the guidance of Xie Tian, Niu Ben showed a good talent for acting. He played the role of "Little Calf" in the movie, a role that gave him his first taste of film and television acting.
At first, he was still an ignorant child, overwhelmed by the camera, until the director's harsh criticism and slap brought him to tears, but it also unexpectedly stimulated his acting potential. Since then, he has been appreciated by director Shen Fu and has more acting opportunities.
Niu Ben has since focused on his acting career, and became famous in one fell swoop with the role of "Guo Zhenzi" in "Wrangler". The sentence "Lao Xu, do you want a wife?" The classic lines have become a public mantra, marking that his acting skills have been widely recognized.
What is little known is that Niu Ben's original name was Zhang Xuejing. Before going to Hong Kong in 1948 to make films, Xie Tian gave him a new name - "Niu Ben", which means that he is as industrious and tenacious as an ox. This name has also become his emblem.
Niu Ben's artistic contributions are not limited to the field of performance, he has also made important contributions to the country's cultural export. More importantly, he always sticks to his original intention and responsibility.
Even after making remarkable achievements in the film industry, he still chose to return to the mainland and continue to devote himself to the film industry of New China. In his career spanning more than 70 years, Niu Ben has created many unforgettable roles.
From movies to TV series, every role is a testimony to his artistic heart. His superb performance has not only touched countless audiences, but also won him numerous honors.
He once said: "The mission of an actor is to tell life and touch people's hearts through characters. Now nearly 90 years old, he still insists on doing it himself on the front line of filming without an assistant, showing his dedication and love for his acting career.
About his lifestyle choices is actually responsible for the quality of life in his later years.
The high-quality services and facilities provided by the high-end senior living apartment are very necessary for an elderly person like him; At the same time, he also maintained a low-level and frugal habit in life, and sponsored hundreds of poor students and donated to build a number of nursing homes.
He also spends most of his salary on public welfare, and even sometimes refuses to accept remuneration in order to better shape the character; He insisted that the purpose of making movies was to serve the people, not simply to seek fame and fortune.
Even after his injury, he continued to complete the filming mission and joined the Chinese Communist Party at an advanced age, demonstrating his strong belief and love for life and career.
His career has almost covered an important stage in the development of Chinese films, from opera films to modern films, and has vividly interpreted the roles; In order to restore the life of the characters more realistically, he will also experience and learn related skills himself.
His persistence and dedication are only to present the most real and vivid character image to the audience on the screen, so that every little person has his own voice; This pursuit of art and care for humanity is undoubtedly a powerful force that touches people's hearts.
It may be surprising to see an actor receive such an award, but in those doubts, we may only see the superficial appearance, but not the selfless dedication they have made to art and society.
The value of an artist lies not only in their artwork, but also in the dedication and sacrifice behind them; Therefore, Niu Ben won the honor of "Moving China 2023 Person of the Year", which is not only an affirmation of him personally, but also an encouragement and vigilance to the entertainment industry.
At the same time, we should also see that Niu Ben is not the first actor to win this award, Jackie Chan and Pu Cunxin have also won this honor before.
In the current entertainment industry, some actors have caused controversy due to their lack of hard-working spirit, they may have achieved something in terms of skills, but they are difficult to compare with Niu Ben in terms of spirit and character.
Perhaps the controversy and discussion brought about by Niu Ben's being named "moving Chinese characters" is also an expansion and deepening of the meaning of "moving China"; Reputation is always accompanied by controversy, but the real emotion comes from everyone's empathy and understanding of the story.
After learning about Niu Ben's experience, we should look at the results of this selection with a more tolerant and fair attitude; I hope that Niu Ben's story can inspire more actors to pursue a higher artistic realm.
Niu Ben's life has set an example for those who come after him - true art is not only for performance, but also for touching people's hearts and inspiring thinking.