State Of Grace

For the Chinese actress Liu Shishi, acting is a career that requires a lot of discipline, even though she makes it look easy.

- Renee Batchelor

'The most important faster will be studying the charactors occupation followed by her personality and her experience growing up'

Liu Shishi famously started her performing career as a dancer. She was a graduate who majored in ballet from the Beijing Dance Academy when she first dabbled in acting, making an appearance in the 2005 television series “The Moon and the Wind.” Although it has been many years since she left the world of dance, there are still clear remnants of Liu’s years of training — seen in her stance, poise and elegance. In pictures and on screen, she has impeccable posture, and the long, lithe lines of a dancer. But despite these beginnings in another art form, it is clear that Liu has also made her mark as an outstanding actress, one known for her nuanced and truthful performances.

Liu was named one of China’s new four dan actresses in 2013. The press christens new four dan actresses with each new generation. But despite these pressures, both financial and creative — she has handled her career with grace. She is the ambassador of top brands like Chanel makeup and Omega watches, again an indication of her status as a fashion icon and her commercial value. But what stands out most is her practical and hardworking approach to both her career and her individual roles.