Zeng Li has long been described as a “hidden gem” in the entertainment industry and is often called the “once-in-a-century beauty” of the Central Academy of Drama. Actor Bao Jianfeng once commented on her, saying, “You can see her beauty not because she is extraordinarily beautiful, but because you are lucky enough to witness it.” The label of “legendary campus beauty” also came from him.
In a top drama school filled with outstanding-looking students, being recognized as a campus beauty already means standing out. Naturally, this raises a long-standing question: why has Zeng Li, with such widely praised looks, never truly become a top-tier star?
Recently, Zhang Ziyi shared a photo with Zeng Li, and many people were reminded that the two were actually classmates. Their cohort also included Qin Hailu, Hu Jing, and Mei Ting—an exceptionally strong lineup. Before seeing the photo, many assumed that Zeng Li, known for her looks, would dominate the frame. Yet in terms of overall screen presence, Zhang Ziyi appeared more striking.
This leads to a common discussion in the industry: the difference between “bone-structure beauty” and “surface-feature beauty.” Zhang Ziyi is often seen as a classic example of an actress with strong bone structure—her facial framework is well-defined and stable, with features that hold up extremely well on the big screen. As she aged and the softness of her early years faded, her facial structure became even more prominent, giving her a presence that grows stronger over time.
Zeng Li, on the other hand, fits more into the category of “surface-feature beauty.” Her features are refined and gentle, and she looked especially striking when she was younger. However, this type of beauty relies more on underlying bone support, and with time, signs of aging tend to become more visible. In recent photos, differences can be seen in areas such as the nasolabial folds and the eye area, which naturally become more noticeable in direct comparisons.
That said, an actor’s career is clearly not determined by facial structure alone. Zeng Li and Zhang Ziyi debuted around the same time, during an era when competition was extremely fierce and multiple aesthetic standards coexisted. Zeng Li’s look sits somewhere between the bold “Hong Kong-style” and the more classical mainland aesthetic, which made her elegant and proper, but not an obvious fit for any dominant trend of that time. This also meant she needed strong roles to truly establish her position.
She did have memorable appearances, such as in Boy and Girl (2003) and New Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (2005), but she never quite encountered a role that fundamentally changed her career trajectory. Over the years, she has continued acting, often in supporting roles, and only in recent times has the label “hidden gem” been frequently brought up again.
From this perspective, rather than being simply “overlooked,” it might be more accurate to say that she missed one or two truly decisive opportunities. For actors who become widely known, it is usually a combination of suitable appearance, the right era, and several perfectly timed roles.
Zhang Ziyi’s selection by Zhang Yimou and her subsequent rise built a very clear big-screen image for her. Zeng Li, meanwhile, has followed a quieter and more steady path.
So when looking at their photo together, it is perhaps less about “who is more beautiful,” and more about how different physical types, different opportunities, and different key roles can ultimately lead actors to very different career paths.
