At 44, actress Fei Fei Sun has officially announced her divorce, capturing widespread attention. For many actresses, going through a midlife divorce and making a comeback in acting is a tough path. With time changing appearances and casting challenges, the future seems uncertain — but life must go on, and Fei Fei Sun is proving just that.
Known for her delicate looks, Fei Fei Sun’s filmography, however, lacks truly standout roles. She married her husband, Shi Hong (English name Jack Shi), on June 5, 2014, at Beijing’s Civil Affairs Bureau. Shi Hong is a Chinese-American originally from Fujian, working as a director at Lenovo. Their wedding ceremony took place in Beijing on July 12, 2014. On July 14, 2015, Fei Fei shared candid photos from her pregnancy on Weibo, showing her natural side.
Yet her marriage was far from the picture-perfect image. Recently, she openly confirmed the divorce, expressing gratitude to friends for their concern and saying she feels free — no longer restrained and finally able to be herself, imperfect but whole. Addressing rumors about “failed cosmetic surgery,” she explained that her changing facial appearance was mainly due to persistent puffiness, not excessive fillers. She admitted her face had become stiff and unnatural.
Reflecting on her role in the marriage, Fei Fei said, “I wanted to be the strong woman, but I ended up becoming the ‘big brother’ in other women’s eyes.” She revealed that she bore almost all financial responsibilities, including the house, car, children’s education, and living expenses, while also being the sole caregiver. She warned young women not to get pregnant before marriage, as this can become leverage for the other party to control you. “During the first three months of pregnancy, the father of my child didn’t even buy me a single grape,” she said, urging girls to be cautious.
Her words suggest an unhappy marriage resembling a “widow-style” relationship, where she carried the burden alone. Nonetheless, she did not marry because of pregnancy — the child came after marriage. After nearly 11 years, she chose to reclaim her freedom and make a comeback, refusing to be seen as a victim.
Fei Fei graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and was beautiful in her youth. But over time, her image became more exaggerated, and her acting career hit obstacles. At 44, she mostly plays mother roles, while the industry itself faces a downturn with limited opportunities. Her return to acting likely comes as her child grows up, giving her more time and motivation to work and support the family.
There were rumors that both Fei Fei and Shi Hong had previous marriages, but she denied this, stating this was her only publicly known marriage. Notably, in 2023, she bravely exposed dark sides of the entertainment industry, revealing that during the filming of Blood-Colored Love in 2011, she experienced on-set violence and unfair police handling. She also accused the industry of being involved in a “money laundering drama” chain. At that time, she said she wouldn’t return to acting immediately but wanted to promote reform.
Although Fei Fei has made occasional guest appearances in recent years, she hasn’t acted in new projects since 2022. It’s unclear how successful her comeback will be, but with her years of experience and connections, she seems confident about finding roles. Her return might also attract public attention and bring new opportunities.
Many single mothers in the entertainment industry, like Min Tao Liu, Lin Wang, and Zi Wen Wang, have successfully built their careers while raising children. Fei Fei’s decision to move forward after divorce reflects a modern woman’s independence. Despite an unhappy marriage, she chooses to support herself and her child, while her ex-husband remains absent.
Fei Fei Sun’s story reminds us that challenges are inevitable, but being brave enough to be yourself can still light up your path through hardships.
