Zhao Jinmai

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhao.

Zhao Jinmai (Chinese: 赵今麦; born 29 September 2002) is a Chinese actress.^[1] She is best known for her roles in the children's films Balala the Fairies: The Magic Trial (2014) and Balala the Fairies: Princess Camellia (2015), the sci-fi film The Wandering Earth (2019), and the drama series Growing Pain (2019), A Little Thing Called First Love (2019), Reset (2022), The Princess Royal (2024), and Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (2024). She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2024.^[2]

Zhao Jinmai
赵今麦
Zhao in December 2018
Born	(2002-09-29) 29 September 2002 (age 22) Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Other names	Angel Zhao
Alma mater	Central Academy of Drama
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2010–present
Notable work	Film: The Wandering Earth (2019) TV series: Growing Pain (2019) A Little Thing Called First Love (2019) Reset (2022)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	赵今麦
Traditional Chinese	趙今麥
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhào Jīnmài

Early life and education

Zhao was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China on 29 September 2002.^[3] Her father is a chemistry teacher.^[4] Zhao was known for maintaining exceptional grades in school while working as a child actress.^[5][4]

In 2020, Zhao was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama, China's top drama school, as the best-ranked incoming student in the Department of Acting.^[6] She graduated in 2024.^[2]

Career

Zhao started her acting career as a child actress in the early 2010s. She participated in several television series and films, in particularly the fantasy children film Balala the Fairies.^[7] In 2016, she starred in the urban family drama A Love for Separation, which was popular and introduced Zhao to a wider audience.^[7] In 2017, Zhao starred in the modern drama My! Physical Education Teacher.^[8] In 2018, Zhao starred in the comedy film Go Brother! adapted from Chinese manhua/webcomics Please Take My Brother Away!.^[9]

In 2019, Zhao starred in the sci-fi film The Wandering Earth adapted from Liu Cixin's novel, where she played the female lead, Han Duoduo. The film has become one of the highest grossing films in China and led to increased recognition for Zhao.^[10] In the same year, she gained recognition for her role in the family drama Growing Pain.^[11] She also played the lead female role in the youth romance drama A Little Thing Called First Love.^[12] Forbes China listed Zhao under their 30 Under 30 Asia 2019 list, which consisted of 30 influential people under 30 years old who have had a substantial influence in their fields.^[13][14]

Filmography

Films

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Notes/Ref.
2014	Balala the Fairies: The Magic Trial	巴啦啦小魔仙之魔法的考验	Ling Meiqi (Maggie)	[15]
2015	Balala the Fairies: Princess Camellia	巴啦啦小魔仙之魔箭公主
2018	Go Brother!	快把我哥带走	Miao Miaomiao	[9]
2019	The Wandering Earth	流浪地球	Han Duoduo	[16]
	A Sedan	小轿车	Li Li	Filmed in 2015
2022	One Week Friends	一周的朋友	Lin Xiangzhi	[17]
	Ode to the Spring	你是我的春天	Xiao Mai	[18]

Television / web series

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Notes/Ref.
2012	Cannot No Mother	不能没有娘	Xiang Di	[citation needed]
2013	When the Heart Meets the Benevolence	当人心遇上仁心	Xiao Sanya	[citation needed]
2015	Balala the Fairies: The Riddle of the Notes	巴啦啦小魔仙之音符之谜	Ling Meiqi / Maggie	[19]
2016	A Love for Separation	小别离	Jin Qinqin	[7]
2017	My! Physical Education Teacher	我的！体育老师	Mary	[8]
	Love is the Source of Joy	爱是欢乐的源泉	Zhang Tong
2019	Growing Pain	少年派	Lin Miaomiao	[11]
	A Little Thing Called First Love	初恋那件小事	Xia Miaomiao	[12]
2020	Reborn	重生	Chen Rui	[20]
	Together	在一起	Rong Yi
2021	The Blessed Girl	玲珑	Huotu Linglong	[21]
	Brilliant Girls	爱的理想生活	Wen Xiaoyang	[22]
2022	Reset	开端	Li Shiqing	[23]
	Growing Pain 2	少年派2	Lin Miaomiao
2023	Stand by Me	那些回不去的年少时光	Luo Qiqi
2024	Amidst a Snowstorm of Love	在暴雪时分	Yin Guo	[24]
	The Princess Royal	度华年	Li Rong	[25]
2025	Drifting Away	漂白	Zhen Zhen	[26]
TBA	Our Generation	樱桃琥珀	Lin Qile	[27]
	Shine on Me	骄阳似我	Nie Xiguang	[28]

Variety shows

Year	English title	Chinese title	Role	Notes/Ref.
2019	FOURTRY	潮流合伙人	Cast member	[29]
2022	Divas Hit the Road Season 4	花儿与少年4		[30]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Results	Ref.
2018	Guangzhou College Student Film Festival — Students' Choice Award	Favorite Supporting Actress	Go Brother!	Nominated	[31]
2019	4th Golden Blossom Internet Film and Television Awards [zh]	Best Newcomer	Growing Pain; A Little Thing Called First Love	Nominated	[32]
	2019 China TV Drama Awards	New Generation of Youth Performer	Growing Pain	Won	[33]
	1st China Film Critics Association [zh] Awards	New Performer of the Year	The Wandering Earth	Nominated	[34]
2020	7th The Actors of China Awards	Best Actress (Green Group)	—	Nominated	[35]
2021	3rd Asian Contents Awards	Best Newcomer Actress	The Blessed Girl	Nominated	[36]
2022	35th Huading Awards	Best Actress in Chinese Modern Dramas	Reset	Nominated	[37]
2023	2022 Baidu Boiling Point Metaverse Night	Boiling Point Breakthrough Actress	—	Won	[38]
	1st "New Horns" Drama Director's Night	Breakthrough Actress of the Year	Reset	Won	[39]
2024	2024 Television Series of China Quality Ceremony	Female Drama Star with Full Media Attention of the Year	Amidst a Snowstorm of Love	Won	[40]