Yao Anna (aka Annabel Yao), the little daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, has responded to the controversy surrounding her performance in a recent crime drama, in which she portrays Zhao Younan, a female police officer.

"I accept kind criticism and suggestions, and respect both likes and dislikes, and I still have a long way to go. I believe Zhao will mature and I will continue to grow," Yao said in a post on China's X-like social media platform Weibo on Friday.

As of Sunday afternoon, the hashtag #Yao Anna responds to acting controversy has garnered 300 million views and more than 6,500 related comments.

Some Weibo users criticized Yao's stiffness in her acting and inadequacy in delivering lines, particularly in a scene involving gun searches. Her stiff movements led to mockery from netizens, labeling it as "PUBG-style acting."

On Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, some influencers even parodied her acting.

However, there were also some netizens who pointed out that Yao personally engaged in action scenes such as running and fighting, showing a positive attitude and willingness to endure hardships. They believed that compared with many other actors, Yao's dedication was commendable.

The drama The Hunter concluded on Friday on the Tencent Video platform. Directed by Gao Qunshu and Wan Peng and starring Zhang Songwen and Yao, it tells the story of police officer Zhao Younan (starred by Yao), defeating the drug trafficking group led by Huang Zongwei (starred by Zhang).

"Yao's performance isn't extremely outstanding, but she has got a passing grade...For a young person who works hard, we cannot either praise or criticize excessively," said the director Gao when commenting Yao's performance a comment on February 29.

"Yao doesn't have the temperament of a rich second generation. Her label shines too brightly, overshadowing her efforts. This is unfair," Gao said.

On Saturday, Yao's studio disclosed her participation in a new medical-themed television series, in which she will play the role of a doctor..

Born in 1998, Yao graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Arts and Computer Science. She announced she would embark in the entertainment industry on January 14, 2021. Four days later, she released her first solo single titled "Back Fire."

In July 2021, she participated as a regular guest in the fifth season of the reality show Chinese Restaurant. On May 29, 2022, a short film starring her, titled A Cliff Rises from the Sea, won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Global Times