Among all the characters in the Chinese drama The Lead (主角), Yi Qin’e stands at the emotional and narrative center of the story. Played by Liu Haocun, the character’s decades-long journey reflects not only the rise and fall of a Qin Opera performer, but also the struggles, sacrifices, and resilience of several generations of traditional artists.
Adapted from Chen Yan’s Mao Dun Literature Prize–winning novel of the same name, The Lead is set against the backdrop of Qin Opera culture and is produced under the supervision of famed filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Directed by Li Shaofei with Zhang Jiayi serving as artistic director, the series carries a strong sense of realism and historical depth. At the center of this world is Yi Qin’e, whose life becomes a symbol of both personal endurance and artistic devotion.
Yi Qin’e begins as a poor shepherd girl living in the mountains. Her fate changes when Hu Sanyuan, a percussion master played by Zhang Jiayi, brings her into the Ningzhou Opera Troupe. At first, she is nothing more than a kitchen helper and errand girl, quietly surviving at the bottom of the troupe hierarchy. She is not introduced as a naturally dazzling heroine. Instead, the character is initially awkward, restrained, and even somewhat dull in social situations.
However, it is precisely this silent stubbornness that gradually becomes her greatest strength.
As the story unfolds, Yi Qin’e slowly grows within the harsh environment of the opera troupe. Through relentless training, emotional setbacks, and the pressures of changing times, she transforms from an unnoticed apprentice into the troupe’s leading performer and eventually earns the title of “Queen of Qin Opera.”
Along the way, her relationships with the people around her shape both her career and emotional life. Her bond with her mentor Hua Caixiang, played by Qin Hailu, is filled with both admiration and conflict. Meanwhile, figures such as Liu Hongbing (Dou Xiao) and Feng Xiaoxiao (Zhai Zilu) become deeply entangled in her emotional world, representing love, ambition, sacrifice, and regret.
Unlike many traditional “strong female lead” dramas, The Lead does not portray Yi Qin’e as someone who effortlessly conquers every obstacle. Her success comes through suffering, compromise, humiliation, and emotional endurance. The drama repeatedly emphasizes the cost of surviving as both an artist and a woman during a turbulent era.
This realism is one of the reasons the character has resonated strongly with viewers.
The production team also invested heavily in visually representing Yi Qin’e’s transformation over different stages of life. Through carefully designed costumes, hairstyles, and stage makeup, the series distinguishes her growth from rural girlhood to mature opera legend. Every era of her life carries a distinct texture and atmosphere.
To prepare for the role, Liu Haocun reportedly underwent months of Qin Opera and dialect training. She learned stage movement, vocal techniques, and performance mannerisms associated with traditional opera in order to make the character feel authentic. Compared to her earlier youthful and modern screen image, Yi Qin’e marks one of the most demanding roles of her career so far.
What makes Yi Qin’e particularly compelling is that Qin Opera is never merely a profession for her. It becomes the emotional force that allows her to endure pain, loneliness, and fate itself. Even when life repeatedly pushes her toward despair, her attachment to the stage remains unwavering.
Liu Haocun once described the role by saying, “One moment on stage takes decades beneath it.” That line perfectly captures the spirit of the character.
Ultimately, Yi Qin’e’s story is not simply about becoming a famous performer. Her true transformation lies in evolving from being “the lead on stage” into becoming the true lead of her own life. By the end of the story, she no longer lives solely for applause, fame, or external validation. Instead, she finally understands what art, identity, and personal freedom truly mean to her.
That is why Yi Qin’e has become one of the most discussed characters from The Lead. Beyond the historical setting and opera backdrop, audiences are responding to the quiet but powerful determination at the core of her character — a woman who never fully surrenders to hardship, no matter how brutal life becomes.
