Ju Jingyi and Zhang Jingyi's Acting Isn't the Worst! Netizens Rank the 10 Worst Actresses in 2026 Chinese Dramas, with the Top Spot Criticized as 'Wooden' and 'Only Acting by Glaring'

In 2026, new Chinese dramas have been released one after another, generating buzz across genres such as historical, xianxia, urban, and period dramas. Female actors' performances have become a hot topic in Douban's comment sections. Criticisms range from stiff expressions, mumbled lines, over-exaggerated emotions, lack of character depth, and unchanged acting styles over the years. Names like Jin Jing, Wang Herun, Gulnazar, Zhang Jingyi, Ju Jingyi, Yang Zi, and Liu Haochen have been called out. This ranking is based on negative comments about acting, dialogue, facial expressions, body language, and character development in 2026 Chinese dramas on Douban, sorted by the number of likes and frequency of similar opinions. Here is the top 10 list of actresses with the worst performances in 2026 Chinese dramas.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 10: Jin Jing in 'Moon鳞绮纪' 'Moon鳞绮纪' stars Ju Jingyi, Chen Duling, Zeng Shunxi, and Tian Jiarui, with Jin Jing playing Murong. This character is tied to the erased memories of Yanbi and Wu Wangyan, uncovering forgotten pasts through stories and painted worlds, and becomes a key driver in later episodes. Jin Jing received fewer negative comments than those ranked higher, but the criticism was clear. One netizen said, 'The acting and production of the entire drama are acceptable, but Jin Jing and her great-grandmother are the only parts that break immersion,' noting that 'her lines, acting, and the plot all fall slightly short.' Another comment stated, 'This role doesn't suit Jin Jing,' feeling 'awkward' in a dark and aesthetic story.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 9: Wang Herun in 'Fated to Be Together' 'Fated to Be Together' stars Ren Jialun and Wang Herun, with Wang playing Xin Mei, a cultivator from the Tianyuan Sect. Born with a divine body, Xin Mei bears the fate of being a 'widow-maker' and hastily marries to change her destiny, accidentally becoming the wife of Lu Qianqiao, the cursed young master of the Zhan Gui Clan. Later, she enters the capital to avenge her deceased husband and gets caught in a conflict between sects and the three realms. Criticism of Wang Herun's performance centers on character depth and consistency. One viewer criticized her 'poor understanding of the role,' saying Xin Mei's emotions are 'flat, disjointed, and superficial.' The character should balance the pride of a prodigy with the vulnerability after losing her status, but the performance only shows weakness. Some viewers described her expression as 'dumb-looking,' significantly weakening the character's contrast and highlights.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 8: Gulnazar in 'Jade Tea Bones' 'Jade Tea Bones' stars Gulnazar and Hou Minghao, with Gulnazar playing Rong Shanbao, the daughter of a tea master. A young scholar, Lu Jianglai, infiltrates the Rong family to investigate a massacre case, leading to a game of cat-and-mouse with Rong Shanbao, who controls the family's tea business. They later team up amid family power struggles, tea industry competition, and mystery-solving, while Rong Shanbao faces internal family power battles. Gulnazar's beauty and makeup received praise, but her acting was questioned. One viewer praised the drama for finally featuring a female lead who truly controls her business and choices, then added, 'The leads are wooden,' saying Rong Shanbao's expressions and tone lack variation during emotional probing, family crises, and business confrontations. Her intelligence and scheming are conveyed only through script lines.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 7: Zhang Jingyi in 'Wild Dog Bones' 'Wild Dog Bones' stars Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi, with Zhang playing Miao Jing, a resilient woman. Orphaned young, she grows up with Chen Yi, a non-relative, and later escapes her small town through academic success to become an automotive engineer. Years later, she returns to Tengcheng to face Chen Yi, childhood trauma, and unspoken feelings. Criticism of Zhang Jingyi focuses on dialogue delivery and emotional intensity. One viewer said the leads 'can't portray complex characters' and lack chemistry, even calling them 'only suitable for photoshoots.' Another popular comment criticized 'two wooden actors delivering such poor performances.' Her original voice lines also drew attention, with netizens noting that despite years in the industry, her speech remains 'muddled,' undermining the rawness and suppressed emotions expected in a small-town story.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 6: Zhu Zhu in 'Honey Words' 'Honey Words' stars Zhu Zhu and Wallace Chung, with Zhu playing Xu Miyu, a wealthy housewife. On her wedding anniversary, she discovers her husband's betrayal, divorces, and leaves her old life to work as a hotel cleaner. She restarts her career, eventually becoming a sales star, and develops a professional and romantic relationship with the hotel's general manager, Ji Feng. Criticism of Zhu Zhu centers on overly theatrical acting. One netizen bluntly said, 'Zhu Zhu is so artificial,' noting that even after transitioning from a wealthy wife to a cleaner, her demeanor, makeup, and gestures still carry a strong 'celebrity aura.' Another high-liked comment criticized the actors as 'looking like they've had too much hyaluronic acid.' Others described the drama as 'awkward in plot, dialogue, and acting,' saying her emotional reactions to betrayal, financial loss, and career restart are too flat.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 5: Ju Jingyi in 'Thousand Scents' 'Thousand Scents' stars Ju Jingyi and Song Weilong, with Ju playing Jiang Lifei, an orphan from Qingqiu. Initially living as a wild 'Little Pestle,' she discovers her mysterious bloodline and fate tied to the Jianmu goddess after entering the Chufeng Academy. She meets Lei Xiuyuan, the young master of the Yaksha Clan, and their love is tested by clan feuds and a curse of reincarnation. Criticism of Ju Jingyi focuses on her fixed makeup and acting style. A high-liked Douban comment criticized that her roles 'serve the actress, not the character,' saying 'her acting is terrible in every drama, like she's shooting a photo shoot.' Others described her performance as 'permanent makeup + fixed acting,' relying on frowning and glaring to express emotions, failing to differentiate between Jiang Lifei's early wildness and later solemn awakening.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 4: Bao Shangen in 'Scorching Summer' 'Scorching Summer' stars Bao Shangen and Zhou Keyu, with Bao playing Zhou Wan, a seemingly obedient, top-student girl. In high school, she approaches the wealthy, rebellious Lu Xiyao to pay for her grandmother's medical bills, but they fall in love. After a misunderstanding separates them for years, they reunite at work and confront the wounds of youth. Criticism of Bao Shangen covers expression, emotion, and character believability. Some viewers said her 'emotional handling is inaccurate,' while others felt Zhou Wan 'looks like a weak student pretending to be a top student.' One comment said she gives off an 'artificially cute romance drama vibe,' bluntly suggesting 'take acting classes.' High-liked comments called the leads 'wooden' and 'two big logs,' saying their tragic romance lacks emotional intensity.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 3: Wang Churan in 'What a Mess' 'What a Mess' stars Wang Churan and Cheng Lei, with Wang playing Wang Cuifah, a modern office worker. She accidentally transmigrates into a novel as the villainous concubine Yu Wan Yin, discovering that the tyrant Xiahou Dan is also a modern transmigrator. They use their knowledge of the original plot to maintain a chaotic facade while secretly collaborating to escape their doomed fate. Criticism of Wang Churan focuses on comedic timing and character contrast. One netizen said she 'looks like a wooden block,' with voice and expressions not matching. Another high-liked comment said the leads 'act too hard, as if shouting through a megaphone that this is a light comedy.' Original readers said Wang's appearance fits the concubine role, but her acting is flat, failing to distinguish between the modern office worker's sarcasm, palace survival anxiety, and clear-headed calculation during power crises.

2026 Worst Actress in Chinese Drama No. 2: Yang Zi in 'Family Business' 'Family Business' stars Yang Zi and Han Dongjun, with Yang playing Li Zhen, the youngest daughter of a Ming Dynasty ink-making family in Huizhou. The family tradition forbids passing ink-making skills to women, but when the business declines, Li Zhen enters the industry, using her talent and business sense to support the family. She evolves from rival to partner with Luo Wenqian, facing family conflicts, tribute ink cases, and industry crises. Yang Zi's negative comments ranked high in likes. A comment with over 1,600 likes criticized, 'She can't act without shouting now,' saying Li Zhen's strong personality