“My Fair Princess” is one of the classic television works of Chinese drama. At the time of its broadcast, the show achieved ratings of over 50%. This was also the series that catapulted young actors like Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, and Alec Su to stardom overnight.
According to Sohu, the relationship among the actors on set was quite good. Lead actress Zhao Wei, in particular, was well-liked by her co-stars thanks to her intelligent and charming personality. “Emperor” Zhang Tielin had a great fondness for Zhao Wei, often praising her for her excellent acting skills and quick wit, predicting that she would have a successful future, even becoming a great director.
The only person who dared to scold Zhao Wei directly was none other than “Emperor” Zhang Tielin himself, who had a close father-daughter-like bond with her. Zhang shared, “The atmosphere on the set of My Fair Princess was wonderful. We cared for each other like family. Even today, if I’m filming near Ruby Lin, Zhao Wei, or Fan Bingbing, they will always come to visit me. They still call me Emperor. Despite the generational gap, we had a very close relationship.”
In 2001, at the peak of her fame, Zhao Wei became embroiled in a major scandal when she wore a dress featuring the flag of Nazi Japan. She was heavily criticized online for her lack of awareness and was even assaulted with waste in public. Zhang Tielin defended her, saying, “She may not be my daughter, but I care for her as if she were. I told her not to worry about public opinion. As actors, we just need to focus on our performance. What we wear doesn’t matter; we shouldn’t overthink it.”
In May 2013, when Zhao Wei made her directorial debut with So Young, which was a success both critically and commercially, Zhang Tielin was overjoyed for his “daughter,” saying, “I’m so happy for Zhao Wei.”
However, the close relationship took a hit when Zhao Wei failed to attend a panel at the Beijing Film Academy in June 2013, which Zhang had personally invited her to. Upset by her absence, Zhang accused her of being ungrateful and irresponsible. When asked if he had seen So Young, Zhang sharply responded, “Why should I watch that film?”
According to Sohu, Zhao Wei later called Zhang to apologize and explain the situation. Although their relationship was no longer as close as it once was, it wasn’t completely broken.
In 2018, Zhao Wei, serving as the host of Chinese Restaurant, invited Zhang Tielin to appear on the show, which was filmed in France. They reminisced about their time filming My Fair Princess, with Alec Su (Fifth Prince) also joining theThe Only Person Who Dared to Scold Zhao Wei as “Ungrateful”m on the show.
In 2019, Zhao Wei invited the cast of My Fair Princess to appear on Actors, Please Take Your Place, where she was a judge. Cast members who played characters like Liu Qing and Liu Hong, along with Zhang Tielin, made an appearance.
According to Sohu, Zhao Wei is often praised for her high emotional intelligence and outgoing nature, which has earned her many friends in the entertainment industry. Although she had intense competition with Fan Bingbing at one point, the two were later seen laughing together on stage, with Zhao even investing in one of Fan’s films.
Zhao Wei and Zhou Xun, once rumored to have had a fallout while filming Painted Skin, generally avoided discussing each other. However, when they met at events or at Ruby Lin’s wedding, Zhao Wei always appeared friendly and cheerful.
Once one of the most powerful figures in the Chinese entertainment industry, Zhao Wei has been banned from the arts for various reasons. Now, at 48, she seems to have stepped away from acting and has not participated in any public activities. According to Sohu, she and her husband Huang Youlong had amassed over $1 billion from their business ventures.
As for Zhang Tielin, despite his successful career with iconic roles in series like The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan, Lü Buwei, and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, his personal life has been marred by scandals, including accusations of abandoning his daughter and lover. Zhang’s regal and commanding presence on screen often landed him roles as an emperor.
