Nie Yuan (born 17 March 1978) is a Chinese actor best known for his numerous television performances, some of his more notable roles include: Qi Tianlei in Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2000); Hu Fei in Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain (2006); Li Ke in Carol of Zhenguan (2007); Zhao Yun in Three Kingdoms (2010), Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West (2011) and Qianlong Emperor in Story of Yanxi Palace (2018).
Early life
Nie was born in Zhenyuan County, Guizhou. His parents named his elder brother and him "Zhen" and "Yuan" respectively to remind them not to forget their hometown (Zhenyuan). When Nie recalled his adolescent days, he saw himself as a "youth-at-risk" then – he secretly joined the Guiyang Dance Class without informing his parents; when he was around 15 and 16 years old, he smoked, got into fights, and ran away from home. His worried parents sent him to enlist in the People's Liberation Army. Nie later enrolled in the Shanghai Theatre Academy after completing his service in the army. However, he behaved insolently in the academy and was almost expelled for poor conduct, but a teacher appealed for him to stay. After this incident, he became more mature and changed his rebellious ways.
Career Nie first started acting when he was still in the Shanghai Theatre Academy. He was a "highly productive" actor, as he described in his own words, "In times when I was playing with my life, I could finish filming one episode in two days. I tried completing filming a 140 episodes television drama and one movie in a year. This can be taken as a record."
In 2000, after graduating from the academy, Nie and his first girlfriend, actress Huang Yi, collaborated in the television drama Wrong Carriage, Right Groom. Nie did not receive much acclaim for his performance while in contrast, Huang Yi was very successful. In 2001, Nie worked on Tianxia Liangcang with director Wu Ziniu, and was noted for his outstanding performance. Following that, Nie acted in the period dramas Love Legend of the Tang Dynasty, Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story, Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties, Hanxue Baoma, Jingcheng Sishao, Han Women, and Carol of Zhenguan, and experienced a surge in popularity for his portrayal of good-looking young men dressed in ancient Chinese costumes.
In 2004, Nie was named by the Chinese media as one of the "Mainland's New Four Young Actors", along with Huang Xiaoming, Tong Dawei and Yin Xiaotian. That year, producer Zhang Jizhong was searching for someone to portray the lead character Yang Guo in his wuxia television series The Return of the Condor Heroes. Nie was a popular choice for "Yang Guo" and he participated in the audition as well, but eventually lost the role to Huang Xiaoming, who was not as popular as him then. Huang Xiaoming's performance in The Return of the Condor Heroes propelled him to fame, while in contrast, Nie did not advance much in his career. It was said that Nie and Huang developed a rivalry over the incident, but in a 2010 interview, Nie admitted that he did feel depressed when he lost the opportunity to act as Yang Guo, but also stated that his feud with Huang Xiaoming is not true.聂远：我的生命充满"阳光"
In 2006, Nie starred in the wuxia drama Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain.
From 2008 onwards, Nie's career took an upturn when he starred in the television series Three Kingdoms (2010) as military general Zhao Yun and Journey to the West (2011) as Tang Sanzang, adaptations of two of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He then acted in the films The Flowers of War as a soldier, The Last Supper as military general Xiang Zhuang, Avalokitesvara as Tang Emperor Li Yi, and Brotherhood of Blades as an eunuch.
Nie gained renewed recognition with his portrayal of Qianlong Emperor in the hit palace dramas Story of Yanxi Palace.
He later starred as Lu Buwei in the historical drama The Legend of Haolan.
Nie participated in the period drama series "Legacy" which will premiere exclusively on WarnerMedia's regional streaming service HBO Go at an unspecified date later in 2021. "Legacy" is a 1920s-set drama that chronicles the lives of the wealthy Yi family and three sisters who vie to inherit their father's shopping mall business. In a time of upheaval and uncertainty, the three sisters set aside their differences to keep the business afloat and save their family. Variety.com. 2021-04-20
Personal life When he was in his third year at Shanghai Theatre Academy, Nie met actress Huang Yi and started a relationship with her. They also acted together as a couple in the television drama Wrong Carriage, Right Groom. They broke up later as they pursued their respective careers.聂远与黄奕曾经甜蜜蜜 曝光新女友否认旧情复燃
Around 2003, Nie started a new relationship with Liu Yun, whom he first met when they were working together in the television series Hanxue Baoma. They were later paired up again in Dahan Jinguo (2004). Nie and Liu separated in 2006.刘芸：与聂远的爱情玫瑰凋零在冬季
On September 28, 2008, Nie married actress Yang Guang. Their wedding was held in Beijing and more than 300 guests were invited.聂远杨光北京大婚 They divorced in 2012.
In early 2014, Nie married actress Qin Ziyue, who had a minor role in Journey to the West (2011). Their daughter was born on May 8 of that year.
Filmography Film Year English title Chinese titleRole Notes/ 2000 滕王阁传奇 Wang Bo Television film 2000 刀锋 Fang Xiao Television film 2002 Ghosts凶宅幽灵 Jiang Hongbin 2004 Love Message简讯一月追 Tan Qiang Cameo 2005 The Road芳香之旅 Liu Fendou 2005 Abao's Story阿宝的故事 Luo Wei 2006 Hidden Tiger卧虎 Policeman 2006 Eastern Legend东方海盗传奇 Young Tang Lang Cameo 2007 大爱无垠 Zhu Yibing 2007 Wonder Women女人本色 Cheng Bicong 2008 Fit Lover爱情左灯右行 Wu Dawei 2011 The Lost Bladesman关云长 Han Fu 2011 The Founding of a Party建党伟业 Chen Qimei 2012 The Flowers of War金陵十三叉 Chinese soldier 2012 The Last Supper王的盛宴 Xiang Zhuang 2013 Avalokitesvara 不肯去观音 Li Yi 2013 Return the Money 啊朋友还钱 Lu Dajun 2013 Target Locked 目标战 Lin Haonan 2014 Brotherhood of Blades 绣春刀 Zhao Jingzhong2017The Warriors勇士Yang Chengbin201796 Hours生死96小时Zhao Yong2018The Blizzard道高一丈Song Chao2018Phantom from the Deep古墓兽影Wu Kui2018Endless Loop 黑暗迷宫 2018Chinese Peacekeeping Forces 中国蓝盔Chen Guoqiang 2019For Love with You 一切如你 2019Spy Wolf Chameleon 碟狼之变色龙 2019 Mao Zedong 1949 决胜时刻 Luo Ruiqing 2019 Towards The River Glorious 打过长江去
Television series Year English title Chinese titleRole Notes/ 1998 百年浮沉 Pei Yexiang 1999 嫂娘 Yunlin 1999 Smart Kid机灵小不懂 Zhengde Emperor 1999 Love Letter情书 Lü Bin Cameo 2000 Wrong Carriage, Right Groom上错花轿嫁对郎 Qi Tianlei 2000 夏日恋语录 Dali Cameo 2000 夺命网路 Xu Bo Cameo; alternative title Ai Buxuyao Chengnuo () 2001 天下粮仓 Qianlong Emperor 2001 如影随形 Zuo Xiaobing Cameo 2001 Love Legend of the Tang Dynasty大唐情史 Bianji 2001 非常情网 Tian Jiang 2001 Lü Bu and Diaochan吕布与貂蝉 Cao Cao Alternative title Diewu Tianya () 2002 Four Marshals四大名捕斗将军 Wuqing 2002 The Eight Hilarious Gods笑八仙 Da'erguai 2002 军港之夜 Xiao Ming 2003 Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story倩女幽魂 Qiye 2003 Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties隋唐英雄传 Luo Cheng 2003 High Flying Songs of Tang Dynasty大唐歌飞 An Qingxu 2003 龙凤奇缘 Fu Jun 2003 Life Concern 人命关天 Chen Tianhua 2003 青天衙门 Lin Youqing Cameo 2004 汗血宝马 Zhao Xizhu 2004 京城四少 Tiedan 2004 Han Women大汉巾帼 Fu Shen 2004 凌云壮志包青天 Wang Chao Cameo 2004 谁主中原 Chongzhen Emperor 2004 The 100th Bride第100个新娘 Xiaogang 2004 Carol of Zhenguan贞观长歌 Li Ke 2005 Eonian Hero逐日英雄 Ouyang Hanqiang 2005 殷商传奇 Zu Mawang Cameo 2005 Leave like the Wind像风一样离去 Fan Yifeng 2006 Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain雪山飞狐 Hu Fei 2006 Red Streamer红幡 Zhang Ziqing 2006 Met As Strangers, Once Acquainted相逢何必曾相识 Zhou Xinyan Cameo 2006 Ming Dynasty大明天下 Mu Yunzhou Cameo 2006 Drifting Life人间浮沉 Wu Shu 2006 Project AA计划 young Tang Lang Cameo 2006 男人的天堂 Zhong Shan 2007 戴着面具跳舞 Suona 2007 Flags of Our Fathers父辈的旗帜 Zhong Hao 2007 天下兄弟 Liu Dong 2009 Shooting from Behind枪声背后 Ye Zhenglong 2010 Three Kingdoms三国 Zhao Yun 2010Hi Neighbourhood嗨！芳邻Gardener 2011 Journey to the West西游记 Tang Sanzang 2012Sheath Knife刀出鞘Liu Yunxiang 2014Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads 历史转折中的邓小平 Cameo2014 花红花火Chen Sanpao2015Flying Swords of Dragon Gate龙门飞甲Zhao Huai'an2015The Legend of Xiaozhuang 大玉儿传奇Hong Taiji2016Will of Steel心如铁Long Ma2017东方有大海Deng Shichang2018Hidden Dragon潜·龙Yang Youxin 2018 Story of Yanxi Palace延禧攻略 Qianlong Emperor 2019The Legend of Haolan皓镧传Lü Buwei 2019 The Plough Department of Song Dynasty大宋北斗司 Cameo2019 Can't Hide The Sun 掩不住的阳光 2019The Listener心灵法医Ming Chuan 2019 Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures 金枝玉叶 Qianlong Emperor 2020 Knock on the Happiness Door 幸福还会来敲门 Huang Zili 2020 The Heritage 传家 Xi Weian 2021前行者Tang Xianping2022Left Right亲爱的小孩Xie TianhuaThe Wind Blows From Longxi 风起陇西Feng YingStories of Lion Rock Spirit狮子山下的故事Xie Fei风云战国之枭雄Tian DanOur Ten Years我们这十年Fang Xingui2023Calming Waves定风波Su Shi2023Only for Love以爱为营Guan Xiangcheng2024She and Her Girls山花烂漫时Zhou Shanqun2024Dark Night and Dawn暗夜与黎明Zheng Yang
Discography Soundtrack appearances English titleChinese titleNotes"Love You Til the End" 愛你愛到底 Theme song of Red Streamer; performed together with Hu KeLegend傳說 Ending theme song of Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain"Whose Bride Are You"你是誰的新娘 Opening theme song of Leave like the Wind
Awards YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult 200912th Golden Phoenix AwardsSociety Award20185th The Actors of China Award Ceremony Best Actor (Web series)Story of Yanxi Palace
References
External links Nie Yuan's official website Nie Yuan's Sina profile page Nie Yuan's blog