After the fall from grace of the biggest star of China’s entertainment industry, Fan Bingbing, Chinese actresses have fallen over themselves trying to replace her as the Chinese femme fatale of choice in Hollywood – and as the worldwide Chinese spokeswoman for famous fashion, jewellery and cosmetics brands.

While none measure up to Fan at the peak of her career in terms of international recognition, a long list of Chinese actresses exert a huge influence in their home market, including Angelababy Yeung Wing, Yang Mi, Zhou Dongyu, Zhou Xun and Zhao Wei.

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While these have long been household names in China’s entertainment industry, we take a look at five lesser known Chinese actresses whose recent rise to superstardom has commentators calling them the next Fan Bingbing.

1. Dilraba Dilmurat

Born in Urumqi in Xinjiang, the 26-year-old became a household name in China for her glowing performance in TV series Eternal Love (2017).

The graduate of the Shanghai Theatre Academy first starred in TV drama Anarhan in 2013 after actress Yang Mi scouted the stunning beauty and signed her up at Yang’s own media agency and entertainment company. While her mentor Yang Mi was listed as the first in a list of 100 most bankable Chinese entertainment stars compiled by CBNweekly last year, Dilmurat was listed in third place, with some online commentators predicting she will soon eclipse Yang, who is six years older than her.

2. Yang Chaoyue

Yang rose to stardom after winning third place on the hit reality show Produce 101, which selected 11 out of 101 girls to form pop band Rocket Girls 101 after four months of gruelling practice. Before that, she was a member of girl band CH2.

The 20-year-old was featured on the cover of China Newsweek after being selected by the magazine as among the most influential Chinese people for 2018, gracing the cover alongside such people as Wang Yifang, elementary particle and accelerator physicist, and Zhu Min, chairman of the National Institute of Financial Research of Tsinghua University and former vice-president of the International Monetary Fund.

3. Wu Jinyan

The Beijing Film Academy graduate is an experienced dancer, having been enrolled in the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy in 2000 and joined the National Ballet of China at the age of 17. The 28-year-old actress came to wide public attention after starring in hit TV period drama Story of Yanxi Palace last year.

Starring alongside the much-more famous Charmaine Sheh Sze-man and Qin Lan, the melancholic-looking actress surprised the audience, portraying a humble maid in the imperial palace who, through sheer resilience, became a beloved concubine of the emperor.

4. Li Qin

The 28-year-old rose to prominence in 2008 after starring in television series The Dream of Red Mansions, and winning the best new actress award at the TVS Award Ceremony. Born in Kunshan in Jiangsu, the birthplace of Kunqu, the actress loves the traditional form of Chinese opera.

Unlike internet-age stars who shot to instant stardom, her career has risen gradually over the past few years after her performances in The Founding of an Army (2017) and Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (2018).

5. Zhao Liying

The 31-year-old actress cut her teeth in the entertainment industry in 2006 after winning a star scouting competition co-organised by Yahoo, Zhejiang TV and Huayi Brothers Media.

Her performances in period dramas have won her legions of fans, with many of the shows she appeared in, including The Journey of Flower (2015) and Princess Agents (2017), breaking viewership records in China.