www.xpk888.com West施 goes through the back door

Huge amount of sweet photos of Wu Jingjing, the actress playing Xi Shi; accusations of backdoor dealings in her casting in The Secret History of Xi Shi

The recently popular drama series The Secret History of Xi Shi has faced accusations that its leading actress, Wu Jingjing, is the niece of director You Xiaogang and secured the role of Xi Shi through "backdoor" dealings. Yesterday, You Xiaogang responded to these accusations during an exclusive interview in Beijing, revealing a special "father-daughter" relationship by stating, "She calls me Uncle You, and my wife Auntie." However, he denied spending 6 million yuan on casting merely for his niece's benefit.

6 million yuan "for a wedding dress"?

"Three candidates, some discussions are normal."

Last year, You Xiaogang invested 6 million yuan in a grand selection event for the role of Xi Shi, where Wu Jingjing emerged as the champion. Just two days before the show aired, it was revealed that she is the niece of You Xiaogang's wife, Wu Qianqian. Their appearances are also quite similar, leading some to claim she secured the lead role through "backdoor" dealings, with the 6 million yuan being spent merely to tailor the role for her. In response, You Xiaogang stated: "I've already said that holding auditions was a necessary move. Currently, TV actors' salaries are excessively high, and hiring a top-tier female lead would cost around 3 million yuan, compressing production costs and resulting in less-than-satisfactory works. Additionally, most top-tier stars are from the post-70s and early 80s generations, making it hard for them to exude an otherworldly charm. I'm using the money typically spent on top-tier actors to cultivate a new generation of 90s actors. Ultimately, seven out of the top twelve finalists participated in the filming of The Secret History of Xi Shi, and three candidates were finally chosen: Wu Yuxin, Zhao Zhirao, and Jingjing. How could this be a mere show?"

You Xiaogang expressed that he had not made a final decision until the very end, ultimately choosing Jingjing because she possesses a unified purity of appearance and heart, along with a timeless sweetness. "Now that people have watched the show, the overall feedback has been good. Some discussions are normal. I am very satisfied with her."

Did the lead role come through "backdoor" dealings?

"She walked through the front door, openly and honestly!"

Wu Jingjing's casting as Xi Shi can at least be considered a case of "being in the right place at the right time." Regarding their familial ties, You Xiaogang admitted that their relationship is closer than people imagine, saying, "She has lived with us since she was young, calling me Uncle You and referring to Wu Qianqian as Mommy." However, You Xiaogang strongly resents the accusation of "backdoor" dealings, "Her parents divorced when she was two years old, and my wife and I have no children. We originally intended to adopt her, but her grandmother refused. Now, we are one family; she calls me Uncle You and refers to Wu Qianqian as Mommy. We live together, and we maintain close contact with her biological parents. If she couldn't handle the role, I wouldn't let her play it."

Zhao Zhirao, the "Xi Shi runner-up" during the selection process and who eventually played Zheng Dan, strongly supported Wu Jingjing, stating that during training, Wu Jingjing lived with the other girls, receiving the same treatment without any special privileges. "Wu Jingjing graduated from a formal acting academy and participated in the selection process. Even now, you can still see her entire audition process on Youku. She was cast as Xi Shi mainly because she embodies the three key qualities of Xi Shi. She walked through the front door, openly and honestly, not through the back door!"

Cultivating a "second-generation star"

"My wife and I will let go when the time comes!"

"Second-generation stars" grow up under the care of their parents in the entertainment industry. With their special "father-daughter" relationship now exposed, You Xiaogang also disclosed many stories about their father-daughter bond. You Xiaogang mentioned that Wu Jingjing originally had Hangzhou residency, and the family decided to send her to a boarding school in Zhuji due to its relatively closed environment. "My wife and I consistently opposed her studying acting and becoming an actress because we know too well the hardships of this industry. You need to endure loneliness and withstand criticism." He revealed that Wu Jingjing passed the third round of interviews at both the Central Academy of Drama and Beijing Film Academy, and even got accepted into the Shanghai Theatre Academy, but ultimately chose Communication University of China due to his protective nature. "It's relatively remote compared to Beijing and Shanghai, and there won't be so many luxury cars parked outside waiting to pick her up on weekends. I just wanted her to focus on her studies and stay away from the noise."

Wu Jingjing exhibits the rebellious side typical of 90s girls. During the casting period, she requested a single room, which You Xiaogang firmly rejected, even threatening to replace her. In response, she stood her ground, saying, "Replace me if you must." You Xiaogang indicated that Wu Jingjing is still unsigned with any agency. "We hope she develops naturally. When she is fully capable of controlling her own future, my wife and I will let go!"