75-year-old actor plays teen girl in drama, kisses younger co-star, triggers 'grandma' debate

Actor Su Wanqing’s transformation into a teenager relies heavily on makeup, beauty filters, and what critics and supporters alike acknowledge as decades of on-screen experience. (Image credit: YouTube)

A 75‑year‑old Chinese actor has ignited a widespread debate after portraying a teenage girl and performing a kissing scene with a much younger male co‑star in a recent micro‑drama. The role, featured in the vertical series Splendid Tranquility, shows the veteran playing Su Wanqing, an 18‑year‑old embroiderer who rises from humiliation to marry King Jing. The drama, made up of two‑minute episodes, aired in February and quickly went viral.

The actor’s transformation into a teenager relies heavily on makeup, beauty filters, and what critics and supporters alike acknowledge as decades of on-screen experience. But the controversy ballooned after the show included a passionate on-screen kiss with her co‑star, a 45‑year‑old actor — an age gap of roughly 30 years. The scene was rehearsed extensively and filmed from multiple angles, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

‘Like a grandmother kissing her grandson’

Online reaction has been starkly polarised. Critics argued the casting strained believability, with one viewer saying the kiss looked like “a grandmother falling in love with her grandson.” Others accused her of refusing to acknowledge her age, suggesting she should transition into more mature roles. Some even questioned whether the casting was deliberately engineered for attention, comparing it to other short dramas designed to provoke.

Several viewers expressed discomfort at seeing a septuagenarian embody a character written as an adolescent, with one remarking: “Why is she so insistent on playing a young girl?”

Supporters praise her as a trailblazer

Supporters, however, defended the performance, calling her a pioneer who challenges deeply rooted age biases in the entertainment industry. Many pointed out that older male actors frequently appear opposite significantly younger women without triggering similar backlash. One user wrote: “Liu dares to challenge age boundaries and has paved the way for older actresses.”

Industry observers also highlighted her long career of playing wide age ranges, noting that she famously portrayed characters from adolescence to old age decades earlier. Fans described her continued ambition at 75 as admirable, quoting her statement that “this is exactly the age to pursue my career.”