Huang Xuan

Born and raised in Lanzhou, Gansu, China, Huang graduated from Beijing Dance Academy in 2008.^[1] He made his film debut in The Shaft the same year.^[2] Among his notable projects in earlier years were The Dream of Red Mansions and Driverless.^[3]

Huang rose to fame in 2014 with his performance in the television series Red Sorghum and film Blind Massage,^[4][5] and was awarded the Rising Actor award at the China TV Drama Awards.^[6] He also played supporting roles in The Golden Era directed by Ann Hui; as well as music film Blue Sky Bones directed by Cui Jian; where he received praise for both his performances.^[7][8] In 2015, Huang starred in historical drama The Legend of Mi Yue and earned the title of "People's First Love" for his role as Huang Xie.^[9][10]

In 2016, he won the Best Actor award at the Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China for his role as Zhu Qiyu in the historical-medical drama The Imperial Doctress.^[11][12] The same year, he starred in The Interpreter,^[13] which became the highest rated drama of the year.^[14]

In 2017, he starred in the crime thriller film Extraordinary Mission directed by Alan Mak.^[15] He won the Best Action Movie New Performer award at the Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards for his performance in the film.^[16] The same year, Huang starred in the fantasy drama Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy by Jin Hezai, set in the fictional universe of Novoland.^[17] He was also cast as the male lead in Youth, a coming-of-age film directed by Feng Xiaogang;^[18] and starred in Chen Kaige's fantasy mystery film Legend of the Demon Cat.^[19]

In 2018, Huang was cast in Cao Baoping's upcoming film The Perfect Blue, alongside Fan Bingbing.^[20] The same year, he starred in the modern workplace drama Entrepreneurial Age.^[21]

In 2019, Huang starred in the spy action drama Sniper directed by Guo Shubo and Bie Ke.^[22] The same year he starred in romance film Only Clouds Know directed by Feng Xiaogang.^[23]

Huang spoke about his first two relationships during his 2017 appearance on The Jin Xing Show, though he did not reveal their names. His first relationship was with a schoolmate while he was studying at Guangdong Dance School during his secondary education. The relationship lasted three years but ended when Huang moved to Beijing after graduation to continue his studies, while she stayed in Guangdong. His second relationship, also with a schoolmate, took place during his time at the Beijing Dance Academy. This relationship lasted four years but ended a year after his university graduation.^[24][25]

Huang was briefly in a relationship with actress Li Qian after collaborating on Feng Xiaogang's film Back to 1942, which began filming in October 2011. The relationship ended by early 2012. In 2016, Huang was rumored to be dating South Korean actress Song Ha-yoon. He later clarified on The Jin Xing Show that the relationship ended before it officially began, partly due to a language barrier: "We tried to start a relationship but quickly realized we weren't compatible, so it ended shortly thereafter."^[24][25] In September 2024, Huang announced that he was in a relationship with a British Chinese model, though he did not reveal her name.^[26]

In 2021, Huang terminated his endorsement contract with the clothing manufacturer H&M after it criticized China for human rights violations against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region of China where cotton for clothing products is grown.^[27]