Wang Yichen is a well-recognized actress in Chinese television, known for her performances in titles such as One Family Doesn’t Speak Two Languages, Wu Yunduo, Ice Fantasy, The Best of Youth, Court Battle, Sword Snow Stride, A Lifelong Journey, Rose of the Blade, Labyrinth in the Tree Shadows, and The Rise of the Wasteland. Her acting roles span multiple genres, but what sets her apart from many actors is her earlier life experience: she once served as a special forces soldier.
Born in 1982 in a modest family in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, Wang Yichen originally had a straightforward life path. She studied taxation at a vocational school and never imagined pursuing acting. Life, however, brought unexpected opportunities—she was admitted to the PLA Arts College and spent three years in the military as a special forces soldier. Later, she joined the cultural troupe and gradually developed a passion for acting.
Once she entered the entertainment industry, Wang Yichen displayed uncommon dedication. For the sake of acting, she pushed herself with remarkable persistence, sometimes even taking unconventional approaches to win roles that could help her grow.
In 2009, director Guan Hu prepared the drama Yimeng and insisted that all actors must be from Shandong and able to speak the local dialect. Wang Yichen longed to participate, yet as a Jiangsu native with fair skin and no dialect background, she had no advantage. Determined not to give up, she tanned herself under the scorching sun daily and learned the dialect from Shandong friends. During auditions, she claimed to be from Shandong and successfully passed using the accent she had practiced.
Soon after joining the crew, her true origin was discovered. Guan Hu was angry and wanted to replace her immediately, as her deception violated his casting principle. Crew members, however, had witnessed her effort and pleaded on her behalf. With sincere apologies and strong resolve, she eventually persuaded the director to give her a chance—on the condition that if her performance fell short, she would still be replaced.
Wang Yichen then trained even harder. A short line of dialect could take her three days to perfect. She spent half a month living in the filming location before shooting began, working in the fields with local villagers, pulling corn and tilling the land under the burning sun. Her effort and commitment moved everyone around her.
Her portrayal ultimately convinced Guan Hu, who later invited her to appear in Cow. Following this, she took part in works such as Wu Yunduo, Hey, Old Man!, and The Best of Youth, solidifying her presence in the industry.
Her journey, however, was not without difficulty. In one production, colleagues warned her about a temperamental female lead. Wang Yichen didn’t mind at first, but the issue surfaced immediately during their first scene together. The lead actress had changed all the lines without informing her, leaving Wang completely lost during the shoot. Later, when repeated NGs occurred, Wang suggested testing both the original and modified version of the scene, only to be shouted at: “Do you know who the lead is? You have no influence on this drama.”
Despite facing continuous sarcasm and pressure, she endured and completed the project.
In 2022, the drama A Lifelong Journey brought her new attention through her portrayal of Wu Qian. Although the character wasn’t likable and even sparked criticism online, the negative response ironically highlighted her convincing performance.
Now at 43, Wang Yichen remains single. She has expressed hopes of meeting someone truly compatible, someone with whom she can communicate deeply. As she continues appearing in new works such as The Rise of the Wasteland, viewers once again see her steady, grounded acting—and many hope she finds fulfillment both in her career and in life.
