Not 'Love Like the Dust' or 'My True Friend'? Angelababy's 10 Worst-Rated Chinese Dramas: This One Drama Earned Her the Title of 'Queen of the Staring Face Acting'

Angelababy (Yang Ying) possesses striking looks and high fame, but since entering the Chinese drama industry, she has repeatedly sparked discussions over her acting, character portrayal, and script quality. From 'Love Like the Dust' and 'The God of Wealth' to the netizen-mocked 'Green Screen Self-Appreciation' in 'The Proud Youth,' many of her works remain audience favorites for low ratings. This article compiles Angelababy's already-aired Chinese dramas by Douban ratings, excluding films, variety shows, and unreviewed works, and combines netizen short reviews to rank her 10 worst-rated dramas.

Angelababy's 10th Worst-Rated Drama: Zhong Meibao in 'Skyscraper' | Douban Rating: 7.9

'Skyscraper' is a suspense drama centered on a female murder case, beginning with the death of store manager Zhong Meibao in a skyscraper. Police piece together her final days through testimonies from residents. Angelababy's Zhong Meibao is the key figure in the case—beautiful and gentle on the surface, yet hiding long-unseen pain.

Audience reception of the overall production quality is generally positive, with some praising its 'cinematic texture and tone' and noting 'ab's performance wasn't bad.' Others described her performance as 'not breaking immersion,' suggesting the character's mystery and limited screen time helped her avoid lengthy emotional scenes that often expose her acting weaknesses.

Angelababy's 9th Worst-Rated Drama: Luna in 'Shadow Trail' | Douban Rating: 5.8

'Shadow Trail' is a short suspense drama blending a Republican-era setting, mystery cases, and comic elements. The story follows police officer A Lai, rescued by a mysterious woman named Luna, who then follows her comic clues to uncover a disappearance. Angelababy's Luna is enigmatic and central to connecting multiple cases and A Lai's memories.

Audience praise focuses more on visuals and actor appearances than plot, with viewers bluntly stating 'the plot is garbage, but the actors are too good-looking,' and others appreciating the 'retro yellow-red tones' for their mix of Hong Kong and Korean drama vibes. Overall, the atmosphere is praised, but story coherence and character development are seen as failing to sustain suspense.

Angelababy's 8th Worst-Rated Drama: Liu Xia in 'Twilight Heart Covenant' | Douban Rating: 5.3

'Twilight Heart Covenant' is an urban romance starring Ren Jialun and Angelababy, about psychologist Liu Xia and screenwriter Qi Lianshan becoming roommates by chance, growing closer through supporting each other's work and creative struggles. Liu Xia is rational and gentle, often helping clients overcome psychological issues.

Some viewers found the drama smoother than expected, praising 'the meta-drama within the drama' and 'baby's natural performance.' Negative feedback focused on flat pacing and lack of facial expression, with some calling her acting 'expressionless' and criticizing the plot as 'as bland as plain water.' The polarized reactions show viewers liked the meta-drama format but struggled to invest in the romantic development.

Angelababy's 7th Worst-Rated Drama: Yin Yike in 'What Love Should Be' | Douban Rating: 5.3

'What Love Should Be' centers on an age-gap romance, with Angelababy playing Yin Yike, a cosmetics company employee who handles work and relationships well but has long been emotionally controlled. After reuniting with childhood friend Xu Guangxi, she begins reevaluating what kind of life and love she truly wants.

Fans called it a 'light, sweet drama perfect for eating with meals' and said it 'exceeded expectations,' praising the natural chemistry and comfortable atmosphere. Others criticized the romance as 'too fake,' with character traits and plot developments overly idealized—sweet scenes abound, but realism is lacking.

Angelababy's 6th Worst-Rated Drama: Jun Qiluo / Jun Feifan in 'Love's Melody' | Douban Rating: 5.2

'Love's Melody,' adapted from Xi Juan's novel 'The Captured Bride,' features Angelababy as Jun Qiluo, eldest daughter of the Jun family in Yan'nan City, who disguises herself as a man named Jun Feifan to run businesses. After being captured by Xuan Lie, chief of Beixuan, the two evolve from enemies to lovers, tested by family interests and tribal conflicts.

The leads' visuals are a focal point—some mocked 'two wooden actors—do you really enjoy watching this?' while others admitted 'they actually look perfect together.' Some said 'their looks are okay' but criticized 'no acting, no chemistry,' reflecting audience approval of costumes and styling but disappointment in emotional depth and performance synergy.

Angelababy's 5th Worst-Rated Drama: Zhang Yinyin in 'Love Like the Dust' | Douban Rating: 5.1

'Love Like the Dust,' adapted from Yan Yujiangnan's novel, is a xianxia drama where Angelababy plays Zhang Yinyin, the bright and bold senior disciple of the Xixuan Sect. Mistaking Ji Ruochen (Ma Tianyu) for a celestial, she brings him into the sect, entangling them in conflicts between immortals, humans, and demons.

Audience reactions were split—some bluntly said 'please stop acting,' criticizing her expressions and movements as 'too stiff and mechanical.' Supporters argued the character suited her well, saying 'her acting improved a lot.' The debate centers on whether her lively scenes felt natural and if heavier emotional scenes were convincing.

Angelababy's 4th Worst-Rated Drama: Cheng Zhenzhen in 'My True Friend' | Douban Rating: 4.3

'My True Friend,' set in the real estate industry, stars Angelababy as Cheng Zhenzhen, a rookie agent paired with Deng Lun's Shao Pengcheng. Through helping various clients, they witness family, marriage, and life struggles behind housing deals, as Cheng strives to become a top agent.

Criticism focused on the lead actress's performance and believability, with netizens saying 'only Deng Lun has good acting' and criticizing the workplace plot as overly idealized, with characters intruding into clients' private lives—unrealistic compared to actual real estate work. Despite stars like Deng Lun and Zhu Yilong, the main storyline and character development failed to win over most viewers.

Angelababy's 3rd Worst-Rated Drama: Yun Ge in 'Love in the Clouds' | Douban Rating: 3.9

'Love in the Clouds,' adapted from Tong Hua's novel, features Angelababy as Yun Ge, a girl raised in the desert seeking Emperor Liu Fuling in Chang'an to fulfill a childhood promise. Mistaking someone else for him, she meets Meng Jue and gets drawn into palace power struggles and romantic entanglements.

Netizens said 'the biggest highlight and biggest disappointment is Angelababy'—her looks and ancient costumes were eye-catching, but she failed to portray Yun Ge's evolution from innocent girl to wounded woman. Later episodes saw claims of 'improving,' but overall, costume design, adaptation pacing, and emotional depth sparked controversy.

Angelababy's 2nd Worst-Rated Drama: Na Lan in 'The Startup' | Douban Rating: 3.7

'The Startup,' a workplace drama set in the mobile internet industry, stars Huang Xuan as software engineer Guo Xinnian and Angelababy as investment analyst Na Lan. Na Lan, knowledgeable in capital markets, supports Guo in developing a messaging app, and romance blooms.

Angelababy's performance gap with co-stars Huang Xuan and Zhou Yiwéi drew online criticism—some mocked her 'queen of the staring face acting,' others said 'she hasn't changed at all in years.' Though Na Lan was meant to be a calm, capable elite, many viewers felt her emotions relied too much on frowning and shouting, undermining her professional image.

Angelababy's Worst-Rated Drama: Bai Pingting in 'The Proud Youth' | Douban Rating: 3.2

'The Proud Youth,' adapted from Feng Nong's novel, is set in a fictional era of four warring states. Angelababy plays Bai Pingting, a lowly maid of Jing'an王府 who is well-versed in military strategy. Falling in love with enemy general Chu Beijie (Wallace Chung), she struggles between national loyalty, war, and personal feelings.

The drama faced fierce backlash for excessive studio shooting, body doubles, and CGI—viewers called the visuals 'awkward throughout,' questioned 'why the leads never share scenes,' and nicknamed it 'Green Screen Self-Appreciation.' Combined with stiff acting and a dragging plot, it became the lowest-rated drama in Angelababy's career.