Chinese star Zhang Yingfei surprised with popularity of Linda Walker
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese star Zhang Yingfei did not expect her character Linda Walker’s popularity outside of China.
Yifei was the guest earlier today on the morning show “Unang Hirit.”
“A very pleasant experience,” Yifei told "Unang Hirit" host Lyn Ching when asked about her first experience in the Philippines.
Yingfei played Linda Walker in the Chinese micro-drama “The Heiress Who Won With Brains.” The microdrama was a viral hit on social media platforms for its heroine’s journey from poverty to overcoming obstacles using her wits and brains. Linda is famous for her IQ of 180 and scoring 719 points in a mock exam.
It was during February’s Spring Festival that Yingfei saw how viral her drama was. She looked back at how she came across the drama and how similar she is to her character.
“As an actor, I really cherish all of my roles so I believe every role will have a shadow in me. To be honest, I’m not as smart as Linda Walker,” Yingfei said in Chinese as translated by her translator Candice Tan.
Apart from the short interview portion, Yingfei also tried Filipino food and said Filipino words. She also watched some Linda Walker parody videos created by Filipino content creators, which she said she saw some of.
The “Unang Hirit” barkada also greeted her on her birthday, which will fall on June 30.
She is in town to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Philippines-China diplomatic relations. She visited Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday.
“I tried my best to portray Linda Walker and bring her to life so surprisingly that many people can relate to Linda Walker and I am very happy that everybody loves my character,” Yingfei said.
C-dramas, both microdramas and long-form, have seen a rise in popularity this year.
Recent news of “Pursuit of Jade” star Zhang Linghe’s potential visit to the country was met with enthusiasm by many Filipino fans who watched the phenomenal drama that also stars Tian Xiwei.
RELATED: Legend of Linda Walker: Chinese vertical shorts set tempo for future of dramas
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