Popular Actress Shockingly Announces Her Retirement, Vents Frustrations

A 26-year-old star is saying farewell to acting just three years after making her debut.

Chinese actress Tian Yuan, nicknamed the “Short Drama Goddess,” began her acting career in 2023, and since then, she has appeared in more than 30 short dramas, including You Mei Gui Xin Dong and Missing You.

On April 2, Tian Yuan announced her retirement and the factors that led her to make this decision, just three years after entering the short drama industry as a freelance actor. When she began acting, she believed it would be her lifelong career, driven by her passion, sincerity, and work ethic.

She has always believed that authenticity lies at the heart of acting, and she endeavored to stay true to that, without compromising or taking shortcuts. However, over time, she began to see the “truth” of the industry; it’s driven by traffic and popularity, and AI is now replacing real performances. According to Tian, actors who refuse to become commodities don’t make it. She emphasized that she isn’t retiring because she gave up, but rather because the conditions of an industry driven by algorithms and online traffic have been gradually wearing her down.