Exclusive Interview with Chen Duling: Her Own Creator

Chen Duling is an actress celebrated for her refined acting skills and distinctive Eastern elegance. She rose to prominence with her breakout role in The Left Ear and later garnered widespread acclaim for her nuanced portrayal of Zhuang Hanyan in the television series When the Wild Geese Return, which achieved top ratings among viewers.

As a LOEWE brand ambassador, she has appeared at Paris Fashion Week in custom-designed looks, captivating international audiences with her poise and grace. Through her work, she has become a bridge for global youth to engage with Chinese culture, seamlessly connecting Eastern aesthetics with global storytelling and actively promoting cross-cultural exchange.

Looking back on your growth at this stage of your career, what do you feel is the biggest difference between who you are now and when you first started?

The biggest change has been my mindset. When I first began acting, I was unfamiliar with the craft and often felt nervous and insecure. I cared too much about others’ opinions and felt immense pressure. Now, I have clearer goals and greater confidence in taking on different types of roles. I pursue what I want to try without overthinking.

Marie Claire has long focused on women’s independence and multifaceted identities. How do you perceive the relationship between gentleness and strength in contemporary women? Has this perspective influenced your own life choices?

I don’t believe gentleness and strength are in conflict, nor do they need to be balanced. Every woman can express herself differently—she can be gentle and strong at the same time, or simply strong. What matters most is finding the state that feels right and comfortable in the present moment.

You’ve portrayed many different characters throughout your career. Outside of those roles, what side of Chen Duling do you hope readers can see through this fashion shoot?

I hope audiences can discover different sides of me through my work. During a fashion shoot, once I step onto the set and sense the atmosphere, I naturally immerse myself in the moment. What the photos capture is mostly my most genuine self at that time.

As the cover star of Marie Claire Serbia, do you know much about Serbia? If given the opportunity, how would you like to experience the country and its culture?

I’ve always looked forward to visiting Serbia. I’ve heard it’s very welcoming to introverts, and that the sunsets are beautiful. Just imagining sitting by the river, sipping coffee while watching the sunset already feels incredibly peaceful.

If you had to describe the next phase of your life in three keywords, what would they be? What new possibilities are you most excited to explore, personally or professionally?

Three keywords: Moving Forward, Evolving, Steadfastness.

Moving Forward means continuing along my path as an actress.
Evolving means constantly refining my skills and bringing new works to the audience.
Steadfastness means having greater confidence in my choices and moving toward clearer, better goals.

There are still many things I haven’t tried, and I hope to experience them all when time allows.

Through the Path of Roles, She is Her Own Recreator

In front of the lens, with clusters of flowers as the backdrop, she is the one who chooses to dance in the music box. Once humbly calling herself „the moon that reflects light,“ yet it is she who holds the prism in her palm, translating every gathered beam into a unique liveliness. Those distinctive personality undertones and vivid on-screen moments are traces of her gently deconstructing and reassembling her „self,“ allowing it to grow anew within the contours of her roles.

Playfulness is her essence, conviction her dance step. Carrying the warmth of all who walk alongside her, she transforms every version of „I“ in the script of her life into an irreplaceable landscape.

 

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A post shared by Marie Claire Srbija (@marieclaire.rs)

Talent: Duling Chen @du_chenduling

Production Company: TheMATELIER @the_matelier

Executive Producer: M.cHen 

Line Producer: Rain

Assistant Producer: Phoebe

Styling Consultant: Lily_Lee

Photographer: Dalong Yang 

Stylist: April-Jfine 

Makeup: Helong Jin

Hair: Lucas Liu

Set Design: Huihui/Ju

Concept: Kiki Li

Writer: Phoebe 

Photography Assistant: Meng

Assistant Stylist: lizi/yujie 

Makeup Assistant: Miao Wang

Hair Assistant: xena/Fei

Location: YOUME SPACE