Within a mere three years of breaking into the Chinese entertainment industry, multihyphenate singer, actor and model Timmy Xu’s career rings poignant to an entire nation in bridging the unsaid divide between the East and the West.
WHEN CHINESE ACTOR Timmy Xu debuted on Chinese web series “Addicted” (an onscreen adaptation of Chinese gay romance novel “Are You Addicted?”) three years ago, he was a relative unknown — save for his role in “Gaming Madness”, a coming-of-age short film released the year before.
Three years on, Xu has unequivocally grown into a whole other animal as he saunters into the studio in Shanghai for T Singapore’s cover shoot, with a posse in tow.
In the taxonomy of the Chinese entertainment industry’s leading men, the 24-year-old finds himself amongst the endearing boy-next-door set. A beguiling mix of fresh-faced charm and striking good looks, Xu’s dark doe-eyes, perfectly defined nose bridge and full pouty lips paint an inviting, pleasant front. By default, his flawless geneticmake is a quotient to his success.
This winsome appeal may have landed Xu his breakthrough role as a brooding teenager in 2016, but on screen, his acting prowess is something to be reckoned with. Playing the part to a fault as would a seasoned actor, he internalised and later translated the deep seated emotional turmoil that underscored his character in nuances of body language. Beyond being a stellar performance on the whole, the gay nature of the role lent itself to a defining moment early on in his career. The particularly controversial move for any actor, much less a novice, in the tightly policed, conservative landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry ended up working in Xu’s favour.
Since the formative years of his life, Xu has had his toes dipped into the different facets of entertainment. “When I was in high school, I took an interest in music. Later when I was in senior high, I was accepted into Beijing’s National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts where I majored in acting,” says Xu.
This story is from the March 2019 edition of T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2019 edition of T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Look At Us
As public memorials face a public reckoning, there’s still too little thought paid to how women are represented — as bodies and as selves.
Two New Jewellery Collections Find Their Inspiration In The Human Anatomy
Two new jewellery collections find their inspiration in the human anatomy.
She For She
We speak to three women in Singapore who are trying to improve the lives of women — and all other gender identities — through their work.
Over The Rainbow
How the bright colours and lively prints created by illustrator Donald Robertson brought the latest Weekend Max Mara Flutterflies capsule collection to life.
What Is Love?
The artist Hank Willis Thomas discusses his partnership with the Japanese fashion label Sacai and the idea of fashion in the context of the art world.
The Luxury Hotel For New Mums
Singapore’s first luxury confinement facility, Kai Suites, aims to provide much more than plush beds and 24-hour infant care: It wants to help mothers with their mental and emotional wellbeing as well.
Who Gets To Eat?
As recent food movements have focused on buying local or organic, a deeper and different conversation is happening among America’s food activists: one that demands not just better meals for everyone but a dismantling of the structures that have failed to nourish us all along.
Reimagining The Future Of Fashion
What do women want from their clothes and accessories, and does luxury still have a place in this post-pandemic era? The iconic designer Alber Elbaz thinks he has the answers with his new label, AZ Factory.
A Holiday At Home
Once seen as the less exciting alternative to an exotic destination holiday, the staycation takes on new importance.
All Dressed Up, Nowhere To Go
Chinese supermodel He Sui talks about the unseen pressures of being an international star, being a trailblazer for East Asian models in the fashion world, and why, at the end of the day, she is content with being known as just a regular girl from Wenzhou.
