Ma Lan

Ma Lan (simplified Chinese: 马兰; traditional Chinese: 馬蘭; born 23 April 1962) is a Chinese performing artist of Huangmei opera, known as a national first-level actor. She is the only person to date to have been awarded both the national highest stage performance prize and the TV Show Prize.^[1]

Biography

Ma Lan was born in Taihu County, Anhui in 1962, and graduated from Anhui Acting Performance School in 1975, where she majored in the performance of Huangmei opera. Succeeding in her debut in 1980, she later created some vivid portrayals of famous characters, such as the artist Zhang Yuliang, Jia Baoyu in Dream of Red Chamber, Zhu Yingtai in the Butterfly Lovers, the Cloud Flower Princess in the Dragon Daughter, Yan Fengying in Yan Fengying, and Cui Yingying in Romance of the Western Chamber. In 1987 she won the Plum Blossom Prize, and in 1988 she won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Yan Fengying.^[1] Most of her performances are still considered as among the best examples of the art of Huangmei opera.

Acting style

Ma Lan is not only a talented actor who has a solid foundation in basic skills, but is also expert at making an uncommon and beautiful stage figure. Her beautiful singing and clear, poetic diction helps to release the inner world of the characters, leaving a memorable impression on the audience.^[1]

Awards and Activities

In 1986, Man Lan won the Chinese Plum Award of drama and in 1988 the CCTV Gold Eagle Award.She was also rewarded the Flying Goddess Award for best actress in the same year. Her role of Li Bicui in the adaptation of Shakespeare's drama Much Ado about Nothing is not only vivid but also brilliant. No matter at the first China's Shakespeare's drama festival or other invitational show, Man Lan's wonderful performance are highly appreciated by both audience and experts. Those kinds of activities contribute a lot to her winning of the Chinese Plum Award of drama.^[2]

References