Ady An is too old. The best actresses I can think of are He Lan Dou, Lu Yu Xiao and Bai Lu.
Yeah, I know she’s a bit too old for the role—that’s why I mentioned “the only downside”. If Ady An were younger, I really think she’d be perfect as SM.
I also like Lu Yuxiao. She did a great job playing that deceptive but delicate type in *My Journey to You*. But SM isn’t like that—she’s cunning and smart, but not soft or willowy. She’s got that strong, head-held-high presence. But high chance Lu Yuxiao can act well.
If not her, maybe Julia Xiang from *The Love of Divine Tree*. I’m not sure if she can pull off the scheming part, but I feel like her look fits SM’s age and general vibe.
But honestly… if they cast someone like He Lan Dou or Bai Lu as SM, I just can’t imagine it. Bai Lu especially—she’s not SM material for me. Even when she plays cold or villainous roles, the aura just isn’t there. And I haven’t watched any of He Lan Dou’s dramas, so I can’t really judge her acting, but her face isn’t what I picture for SM at all.
This is hands down my favorite novel of all time. I fell in love with it the moment I read it—especially the flashback scenes. The part where SM gives XJX the red string, the fireworks, when XJX comes to conquer Ming and the red string breaks… I was so hooked. But the one I love most is how fate keeps bringing XJX and SM together—especially that scene when SM was drunk before heading to the desert. I’ve reread it so many times and I really wish someone would adapt it into a drama or movie.
Honestly, I hope they stick closely to the original plot. A few small changes are fine, but I’d want them to keep all the iconic scenes—those are what make the story so powerful. I want to see every moment brought to life!
It’s tough to imagine any actors who could truly do SM and XJX justice. If the casting isn’t right—if they can’t act well or don’t have the right look—it could totally ruin the whole adaptation. For SM, the only actress I can think of (for now) is Ady An. She has those big eyes like SM and she’s amazing at playing characters who seem innocent on the outside but are actually quite calculating and cold underneath. Her role as Dugu Banruo in The Legend of Dugu really gave off that "empress" vibe, even though she still looked youthful. The only downside is that she might be a bit too old for the role now—but she still has that baby face!
As for XJX… hahaha, I genuinely don’t think any male actor can come close to matching him. He’s just on another level!
I also like Lu Yuxiao. She did a great job playing that deceptive but delicate type in *My Journey to You*. But SM isn’t like that—she’s cunning and smart, but not soft or willowy. She’s got that strong, head-held-high presence. But high chance Lu Yuxiao can act well.
If not her, maybe Julia Xiang from *The Love of Divine Tree*. I’m not sure if she can pull off the scheming part, but I feel like her look fits SM’s age and general vibe.
But honestly… if they cast someone like He Lan Dou or Bai Lu as SM, I just can’t imagine it. Bai Lu especially—she’s not SM material for me. Even when she plays cold or villainous roles, the aura just isn’t there. And I haven’t watched any of He Lan Dou’s dramas, so I can’t really judge her acting, but her face isn’t what I picture for SM at all.
Honestly, I hope they stick closely to the original plot. A few small changes are fine, but I’d want them to keep all the iconic scenes—those are what make the story so powerful. I want to see every moment brought to life!
It’s tough to imagine any actors who could truly do SM and XJX justice. If the casting isn’t right—if they can’t act well or don’t have the right look—it could totally ruin the whole adaptation. For SM, the only actress I can think of (for now) is Ady An. She has those big eyes like SM and she’s amazing at playing characters who seem innocent on the outside but are actually quite calculating and cold underneath. Her role as Dugu Banruo in The Legend of Dugu really gave off that "empress" vibe, even though she still looked youthful. The only downside is that she might be a bit too old for the role now—but she still has that baby face!
As for XJX… hahaha, I genuinely don’t think any male actor can come close to matching him. He’s just on another level!