Chinese actress Ma Li – who recently became the first comedian to win the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress – says too often comics are not considered serious artists.
Established in 1962 and decided by audience votes, the Hundred Flowers Award is one of China’s oldest and most prestigious film awards.
Internationally renowned actresses such as Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, and Zhou Xun are previous winners.
On August 4, Ma, from Liaoning province, northeast China, won the award for her portrayal of the character Li Maojuan in director Zhang Yimou’s film Article 20.
She plays a brave and protective mother, a character which deeply resonated with the mainland audience.
The 42-year-old kissed the trophy at the awards ceremony and tearfully delivered her speech.
“It took me 20 years from stage plays to films to this Hundred Flowers Award. The process was arduous, and I even thought about giving up because comedy is often unrecognised in the film industry. But I love acting too much, so I persevered,” Ma said.
“This award is a recognition for all comedians. I will carry this honour forward.”
One online observer praised Ma’s win as a “highlight moment” for comedians.
“Her comedic roles have broken people’s prejudices about comedy. Her films always make people reflect on life after laughing.”
In 2013, she made her debut in the country’s Spring Festival Gala, performing a skit with the famous comedian Shen Teng.
That year, the gala attracted a staggering audience viewing rate of 31 per cent on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
In 2017, Ma won the Golden Dragon Award for Best Actress for her role as a sports reporter who swaps souls with a male boxer in the comedy film Never Say Die.
Then, in 2019, Forbes released their China 100 Celebrities List, ranking Ma at 59.
However, the talented star’s life has not been without challenges.
In 2021, she told CCTV that she had suffered from depression and had retreated from the outside world for a year.
She expressed anxiety about her appearance and said that being labelled as “funny” prevented her from being cast in serious roles, which caused her significant distress.
With the support of friends and family, and with effective treatment, she gradually overcame her depression and returned to the comedy stage.
In July, the latest data showed that the total box office revenue of films starring Ma exceeded 22 billion yuan (US$3 billion), making her the highest-grossing Chinese actress.
She has 9.5 million fans on Weibo.
One online user wrote on the platform: “Congratulations to Ma. We look forward to seeing more of your excellent films.”
“The characters Ma portrays are full of the breath of life. She is like the friendly and humorous big sister living next door,” said another.
