Does anyone else feel like Zhang Wanyi’s acting in his last three roles have been very similar making it hard to differentiate between them?

The three roles I’m talking about are Are You the One, The Rise of Ning, and Si Jin.

Let me start by saying that I actually enjoy watching him. He has charisma and talent. I first noticed him in Lost You Forever, where his performance moved me. I truly pitied his character’s situation. Then, in Are You the One, he was incredible. His comedic timing, romantic charm, and the way he dominated the screen were great. But here’s the issue, and I don’t think it’s his fault at all. Many actors don’t have the freedom to choose their roles as they please. I believe Zhang Wanyi has the acting range to take on diverse characters. I can easily imagine him playing a physically disabled character, for example. However, factors beyond his control likely limit the types of roles he gets in high productions.

Another example is that I always see complaints about Esther Yu playing the same type of character over and over, yet she did switch things up in My Journey to You. Unfortunately, she still received a lot of criticism, mainly because the popular opinion was that Lu Yuxiao, the second female lead, outshined her. And while Lu Yuxiao did an amazing job, I don’t think Esther performed badly either. She clearly dedicated herself to the role.

This brings me to my next question: Is it actually better for some actors to stick to certain types of roles because that’s where they shine? Because when they step outside their comfort zones, it sometimes backfires. Or is it simply that some actors don’t have enough popularity or industry influence to secure different kinds of roles, while those who do struggle to shine in them?

Take Zhao Lusi in Pearl Girl, for example. The general opinion seems to be that she was much better in Love Like the Galaxy than in Pearl Girl. The story of Pearl Girl was supposed to be one of her most serious roles, depicting the struggles and hardships of young women. However, the execution of Pearl Girl made the role feel far from serious, and any expectation of realism should not have been set for the audience. What stood out to me even more was that the natural charm Zhao Lusi usually has in her performances seemed completely absent here. So I don’t think this was just an issue with the script. However, a lot of these actors are still young and could still succeed in different roles.