Four Dan Actresses

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The Four Dan actresses (Chinese: 四旦 or 四大名旦 or 四小名旦 or 四大花旦 or 四小花旦) are the four most bankable actresses in China. Guangzhou Daily first used the term to reference Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Wei, Zhou Xun, and Xu Jinglei in July 2000, when they were all in their 20s.[1] It gained widespread use in China following a series of interviews with them by Southern Metropolis Daily from December 2001 to January 2002.[2][3][4][5] The media have made repeated efforts to elect the "New Four Dan actresses" thereafter, but the acceptance and recognition of these new lists have not matched that of the original Four Dan actresses.

Originally, a dan was a male actor who portrayed a leading female character in Peking opera. The term "Four Dan" was first coined in the 1920s to refer to four popular dan actors: Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun, and Xun Huisheng.

The Four Dan actresses

Li Bingbing (b. 1973), graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Fan Bingbing (b. 1981), graduate of the Shanghai Xie Jin-Hengtong School of Arts (now Shanghai Normal University), gained fame soon after the quartet in the early 2000s. They were sometimes mentioned together as "Four Dan and Two Bing" (四旦双冰).[6][7] Shu Qi (b. 1974), a Taiwan-born actress who gained fame in the late 1990s, and Tang Wei (b. 1979), a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama who gained fame through Lust, Caution (2007), were sometimes mentioned together as "Four Dan Two Bing One Shu One Tang" (四旦双冰一舒一汤).[8][9]

New Four Dan actresses and '85 flowers

From 2005, the media have made repeated efforts to elect "New Four Dan actresses" (新四小花旦).

2009 version by Tencent:[10]

2013 version by Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly:[11]

The four actresses from the 2013 version were all born after 1985. Along with three other actresses who were born around 1985– Tiffany Tang (b. 1983), a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Zhao Liying (b. 1987) and Liu Yifei (b. 1987)–they are now usually known together as the '85 flowers (85花).[12]

New Four Dan actresses of the "post-'90s" generation

In August 2016, Southern Metropolis Daily conducted a survey among 173 million netizens and 110 professional media and industry insiders. After a series of voting, four actresses who were born after 1990 (90后四小花旦) were picked.[13][14][15]

New Four Dan actresses of the "post-'95s" generation

Since 2018, the media have made efforts to elect "New Four Dan actresses" among those were born after 1995 (95后四小花旦).

2018 version by Sohu Entertainment:[16][17]

2019 version by CCTV-6:[18]

2022 version by Sina Entertainment:[19]

Similar titles

The Chinese media have made similar efforts to elect the "Four Sheng actors" (四大小生), but the acceptance and recognition of these lists have not matched that of the Four Dan actresses. The most popular version of the "Four Sheng actors" includes Chen Kun, Deng Chao, Liu Ye, and Huang Xiaoming, who are now known in Chinese as "Four Middle(-aged) Sheng actors" (四大中生).

In addition, in the early 1990s, Hong Kong's most popular male stars were collectively referred to as the "Four Heavenly Kings" (Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai). Later, Taiwan also introduced four male idols labelled "Four Younger Heavenly Kings" (Alec Su, Nicky Wu, Jimmy Lin and Takeshi Kaneshiro).

References

  1. 综述：谁是中国影视界新"四大名旦"？(附图) [Overview: Who are the new "Four Great Actresses" of Chinese film and television? (with photos)]. Guangzhou Daily (in Chinese). July 18, 2000. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024 – via Sina Entertainment.
  2. "四大名旦"访谈之章子怡：就是一个小女孩(图) [Interview with Zhang Ziyi, one of the "Four Great Dan Actresses": She's Just a Little Girl (Photo)]. Nanfang Daily (in Chinese). December 19, 2000. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014 – via Sina Entertainment.
  3. "四大名旦"之周迅：这张俏脸让人一见难忘(图) [Zhou Xun, one of the "Four Great Dan Actresses": Her beautiful face is unforgettable (Photo)]. Southern Metropolis Daily (in Chinese). December 27, 2000. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014 – via Sina Entertainment.
  4. 四大名旦之徐静蕾：像邻家女孩 自信很漂亮(图) [Xu Jinglei, one of the Four Great Dan Actresses: Confident and Beautiful Like a Girl Next Door (Photo)]. Nanfang Daily (in Chinese). January 2, 2001. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014 – via Sina Entertainment.
  5. 四大名旦访谈之赵薇：比小燕子更真实更可爱(图) [Interview with Zhao Wei, one of the Four Great Dan Actresses: More Real and Adorable Than Little Swallow (Photo)]. Nanfang Daily (in Chinese). January 17, 2001. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014 – via Sina Entertainment.
  6. 从"四旦双冰"到"四杨双丽"，娱乐圈的女明星越来越差！ [From "Four Dan and Two Bing" to "Four Yang and Two Li", the quality of female celebrities in the entertainment industry is getting worse!]. Sohu (in Chinese). October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. "四旦双冰"才是女演员的正确打开方式 [The "Four Dan Actresses and Two Bings" represent the true gold standard for actresses]. Sina (in Chinese). November 8, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. 女演员一番电影票房榜：杨幂第三、赵薇第七、周迅第九、舒淇第十 [Top-grossing films featuring leading actresses: Yang Mi (3rd), Zhao Wei (7th), Zhou Xun (9th), Shu Qi (10th).]. QQ News (in Chinese). June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  9. 四旦双冰一舒一汤是谁 [Who are the "Four Dan Actresses," "Two Bings," "One Shu," and "One Tang"?]. Sohu (in Chinese). December 9, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  10. Zhang, Zailin (April 27, 2009). 内地新"四小花旦"、"四大小生"出炉(图) [The new "Four Little Actresses" and "Four Little Leading Men" of mainland China have been announced (with photos).]. China News Service (in Chinese). Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  11. "10年之后再评花旦" [Reviewing Hua Dan again after 10 years]. SM Weekly (in Chinese). January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  12. Hong, Mingqi (February 25, 2025). 六朵最强85花：赵丽颖刘亦菲领跑 有人飞升有人快掉队 [The Top Six Actresses Born in 1985: Zhao Liying and Liu Yifei Lead the Pack—Some Are Soaring, While Others Are Falling Behind]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  13. 郑爽周冬雨杨紫关晓彤 90后四小花旦新鲜出炉！_太平洋时尚网图库 [Zheng Shuang, Zhou Dongyu, Yang Zi, and Guan Xiaotong: The "Four Little Dan" of the post-90s generation have been revealed!]. Pacific Fashion Network. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  14. 90后“四小花旦”,谁能成角儿 [Among the "Four Little Actresses" born in the 1990s, who will become a leading lady?]. Qilu Evening News (in Chinese). September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2026 – via Sina Entertainment.
  15. Zeng, Jun (July 10, 2019). 郑爽关晓彤杨紫周冬雨 90后"四小花旦"悄然洗牌？ [Zheng Shuang, Guan Xiaotong, Yang Zi, and Zhou Dongyu: The "Four Little Actresses" of the post-90s generation are quietly being reshuffled]. People's Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  16. Lee, Eva; Liu, Tina (January 14, 2019). 陸媒評比「新四小花旦」出爐！歐陽娜娜第四名被酸憑什麼，一同上榜的還有她們..... [Mainland media’s selection of the “Four New Little Actresses” is out! Why was Ouyang Nana ranked fourth? They were also on the list...]. Cosmopolitan (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  17. 95后新四小花旦杂志硬照，关晓彤表现力强，欧阳娜娜发展潜力强 [Magazine photos of the "New Four Dan Actresses" born after 1995: Guan Xiaotong shows strong expressive power, while Ouyang Nana demonstrates great potential for future development]. Sohu (in Chinese). May 27, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  18. 央视评选新生代四小花旦 张雪迎上榜关晓彤遭质疑 [CCTV selects the new generation of four young actresses, Zhang Xueying is on the list, Guan Xiaotong is questioned]. NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  19. Guo, Yinan (November 30, 2022). 95后四小花名单公布 你最喜欢谁？ [The list of the four most popular actresses born after 1995 has been released. Who is your favorite?]. China Internet Information Center (in Chinese). Retrieved June 6, 2026.