Chinese Actress Esther Yu Keen To Take On Diverse Roles

By Bernama Lifestyle Reporter

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- Chinese actress Esther Yu is eager to embrace new challenges, expressing her interest in exploring a variety of roles and storylines in her upcoming projects.

Yu, 30, whose full name is Yu Shuxin, said she has grown and changed significantly since embarking on her career in 2016, and now pays closer attention to detail in her work to deliver the best to audiences worldwide.

“I am open to various opportunities and hope to present more sides of myself to fans in the future,” Yu said through an interpreter during her appearance at the iQIYI Starship 2026 event held at Zepp Kuala Lumpur recently.

Organised by iQIYI International, the event marked her Kuala Lumpur debut and drew more than 1,000 attendees, including fans, media and partners. (iQIYI is one of China’s leading subscription-based video streaming services.)

pic-2

One of the evening’s highlights saw Yu, who is also iQIYI International Global Ambassador, greeting her fans in Bahasa Melayu, with phrases such as “Apa khabar, saya Esther Yu”, “Aku cinta padamu” and “Jom makan”, drawing loud applause from the audience.

The event also featured interactive segments, including games with Malaysian personalities such as Jestinna Kuan, Rasyidah Abu Johan and Moses Wong. Yu also attempted to perform the traditional zapin dance.

Her popularity in Southeast Asia has been on the rise, particularly following the success of the iQIYI original drama ‘Speed and Love’.

Her portrayal of Jiang Mu also garnered attention, earning her the title of Most Popular Modern C-Drama Female Character at the iQIYI Malaysia Awards 2025.

pic-3

Commenting on the character, Yu, who is also a singer, said she was chosen partly due to similarities between her and Jiang Mu, who she described as “cute and slightly mischievous”.

“The main challenge was in the emotional scenes, especially crying scenes. I needed to balance the performance so it would not appear too childish, while still remaining realistic and believable,” she said.

Yu, who gained recognition through dramas such as ‘Love Between Fairy and Devil’, ‘My Journey to You’ and ‘Sword and Fairy’, described her Malaysian fans as very polite and well-mannered, and expressed appreciation for the warm reception she received.

When asked about the possibility of filming in Malaysia, she did not rule it out.

pic-4

“I’m very happy to meet all my fans in Malaysia. I feel so much love and support, and I hope to come back again soon,” she said.

Her upcoming dramas ‘Road to Success’ and ‘Yun Chu Ling’ will be released on iQIYI.

-- BERNAMA