Ma Yili (, born 29 June 1976) is a Chinese actress. She is known for her roles in the television series My Fair Princess III (2003), Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006), Struggle (2007), The First Half of My Life (2017), Blossoms Shanghai (2023) and To the Wonder (2024), as well as the film B for Busy (2021).
Ma ranked 42nd on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2019.
Early life Ma was born in Hongkou District, Shanghai on June 29, 1976, with her ancestral home in Rudong County, Nantong, Jiangsu. She entered Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1994, majoring in acting, and graduated in 1998.
Career Ma started her acting career in the 1996 television series Vacuum Love Records, in which her sweet appearance and strong-willed character left a deep impression on the audience. However, in the next few years, Ma maintained a low profile on screen.
Ma regained attention through the television series Long Live Our Dreams (2000) and Black Hole (2001) and the film Eyes of a Beauty (2001). She actually shaved her head for her role in Long Live Our Dreams. She gained further popularity after she played the role of Ziwei in the third season of the popular drama My Fair Princess (2003). Next came the hit series Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006), where Ma played an innocent girl who matures through a painful romance. She then starred in the highly popular youth series Struggle (2007). Ma's role as a passionate, direct and optimistic young woman resonated with the thoughts of the young generation, and shot her to widespread fame.
Following her breakthrough, Ma has won various honors and awards, such as the Golden Phoenix Award and Huading Award, and the Best Actress award at the Changchun Film Festival for her role in Life Today (2007), Best Actress award at the Asia Rainbow TV Awards for her role in Marriage Battle (2010) and Best Supporting Actress award at the China Image Film Festival for her role in Tracks Kong Lingxue (2011).
Ma then starred in Two City One Family (2011), which reflects the differences of a couple who come from different cities in China. Ma, who is of Shanghai descent, successfully portrayed the role of a Beijing young lady, and clinched the Best Actress award at the China TV Drama Awards. She then starred in both seasons of Puberty Hit Menopause (2013) which earned high ratings; as well as family drama Little Daddy (2013), directed by her husband Wen Zhang and which she serves as producer.
In 2015, Ma starred in Swan Dive for Love, a series that narrates the story of a white-collar couple striving to make themselves richer amid a series of challenges. She won the Best Actress award at the Huading Awards for her portrayal of a determined and strong-minded career woman. The following year, she starred in Chinese Style Relationship, a critically acclaimed comedy-drama that depicts three Chinese couples as the navigate through life and love. Ma was nominated for Best Actress at the Shanghai Television Festival.
In 2017, Ma starred in romance/family drama The First Half of My Life. Opposite from her usual strong characters, Ma played a struggling housewife in the series. The television series was a major ratings hit in China and was hotly debated on social media sites like Weibo.
In 2018, Ma played a supporting role in the female-centric war film Goddesses in the Flames of War, reportedly receiving no wages for the film. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards for her performance. Another film which stars in, Enter the Forbidden City won the award for Best Film. The same year, she starred in the mystery film Lost, Found alongside Yao Chen; a remake of the Korean film Missing; as well as crime film The Road Not Taken.
In 2023, Ma starred in Blossoms Shanghai, adapted from Jin Yucheng's novel of the same title.
Other activities Ma was appointed the National Ambassador for UNICEF China in 2015.
Personal life While at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1996, Ma dated a senior student for a year. They broke up amicably when Ma entered her senior year and the boy graduated. In 1999, Ma was introduced to director Guan Hu through a friend. In 2000, Guan invited Ma to join the cast of his TV drama Black Hole, and the two began a relationship for four years. They broke up in 2004.
Ma met Wen Zhang when filming together Zhang Li's historical drama Blades in 2005. In 2006, when filming TV series Struggle, Ma was pursued at the same time by her co-stars Wen Zhang and Tong Dawei. She, however, went to date Zhang Bo, Wen's college classmate, soon after when shooting the TV series Where is Happiness. Upon learning of Ma's relationship with Zhang, Wen ended his then relationship and renewed his pursuit of Ma, causing a rift between him and Zhang. Ma left Zhang for Wen, though they briefly broke up in early 2007. They quietly registered their marriage in 2008 without having a ceremony or informing their agencies. On 20 September 2008, they have their first daughter, Wen Zhujun (Ima). In August 2013, when Ma was pregnant with her second child, Wen Zhang and actress Yao Di had an extramarital affair. On July 28, 2019, they announced their divorce on Sina Weibo.
Filmography Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 1993 Liu Haisu Chen Xiaojun 1999 Glass is Transparent Xiao Yazi Kong Yiji Song Hanyu Liao Zhai: Xi Fangping Du Yucui 2001 Love at First Sight Ju Zi Eyes of a Beauty Shi Yu 2003 Sleepless City Su Bao 2007 Life Today Zhao Xiaoyun 2011 Tracks Kong Lingxue Yang Qiuyue Love Is Not Blind Cameo 2012 Cold War Liu Jiehui's wife 2013 Badges of Fury Policewoman Cameo 2016 Cold War 2 Chen Xue'er When Larry Met Mary Cameo 2017 The Founding of an Army Xiang Jingyu 2018 Goddesses in the Flames of War The Road Not Taken Xiao Mei Lost, Found Sun Fang 2019 Enter the Forbidden City My People, My Country
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 1994 Teacher Yin 1995 Sculpture of Life Cameo 1996 Vacuum Love Records Xia Wenxin 1997 Heaven Warriors Yang Zhenmei 1998 The Puppetmaster Chang Qingzhen Children of China Hua Rui Years in Hong Kong Xiao Fang 2000 Long Live Our Dreams Xia Xiaoyan Previous And Present Life Qin Wanying/Shen Xiaohui Our Citizens Lin Yali Sleepless Tonight Li Xiu Perfect Wedding Guide Wang Che 2001 Black Hole Xiao Yun Happy Family Pan Min Return Me the Passion Jin Jiali 2002 Always Keep in Mind Shen Xuanqing The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 2 Yan Ruyu 2003 My Fair Princess III Xia Ziwei Yes, I Love You Lin Juruo 2004 Seven Samurai Mei Xiaoyao Seven Days Shao Jingran 2005 Sister Wu Sister Wu 2006 Blue Sea Cameo Qiao's Grand Courtyard Jiang Xueying Wine Alley Gu Yu Library Lin Ruoyun/ Xie Mingni The Moon and The Sunshine Zhang Xiaoyue The Jinyiwei Guard Noble Consort Zheng 2007 Don't Say Love Is Bitter Yu Diqing Struggle Xia Lin Where Is Happiness Qi Ruogu 2008 Silent Beauty A Ju Locking Love Zhuang Zhiyan 2009 Second Brother Cameo 2010 Marriage Battle Li Mei King of Silk Liang Shun'er Puberty Hit Menopause He Fei'er 2011 Two City One Family Hao Jingni 2012 Beautiful Day Yang Xiaoyi 2013 Puberty Hit Menopause 2 He Fei'er Little Daddy Li Sanmei 2015 Swan Dive for Love Pan Yun 2016 Chinese Style Relationship Shen Yinan 2017 Razor Guan Haidan The First Half of My Life Luo Zijun 2019 On the Road Lu Xiaoou 2020 Miss S Su Wenli 2021 Quiet Among Disquiet Lin Mo 2023好事成双2023Blossoms Shanghai繁花Ling Zi2024To the Wonder我的阿勒泰Zhang Fengxia
Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Category Result 2008 Life Today 15th Beijing College Student Film Festival Best Actress 9th Changchun Film Festival 2009 2nd Huading Awards 12th Golden Phoenix Awards Society Award 2011 Marriage Battle 1st Asia Rainbow TV Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Role Tracks Kong Lingxue 3rd China Image Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Two City One Family 2nd China TV Drama Awards Best Actress 2016 Swan Dive for Love 19th Huading Awards Best Actress Chinese Style Relationship 6th China TV Drama Awards Outstanding Actress 2017 23rd Shanghai Television Festival Best Actress The First Half of My Life4th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China Best Actress 2018 24th Shanghai Television FestivalBest Actress Goddesses in the Flames of War 8th China Movie Channel Media Awards Best Supporting Actress The Road Not Taken 75th Venice Film Festival Focus China: Actress Award2019Lost, Found 10th China Film Director's Guild AwardsBest Actress 25th Huading Awards Best Actress 17th Golden Phoenix AwardsSociety Award 32nd Golden Rooster Awards Best ActressThe Road Not Taken11th Macau International Movie FestivalBest Actress On The RoadGolden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best Actress 2020 Best Choice of Multi-Screen Communication Influential Actress 26th Shanghai Television Festival Best Actress Miss S29th Huading Awards Best Actress (Contemporary Drama) 2022Myth of Love 13th China Film Director's Guild AwardsBest Actress 2025To the Wonder 30th Shanghai Television FestivalBest Actress 2026 33rd China TV Golden Eagle AwardsBest Actress
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