Yang Mi, born on 12 September 1986, is a preeminent Chinese actress and singer who has captivated audiences for over three decades, rising from a child star to become one of China's most bankable and influential entertainers. Known to many as Mini Yang, she began her career at just four years old with a role in the historical drama Tang Ming Huang (1990), setting the stage for a remarkable journey through the entertainment industry. She transitioned to adult roles in the 2000s, gaining early recognition for her performance in Wang Zhaojun (2007), which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 24th China TV Golden Eagle Awards. She further built her reputation with supporting roles in the wuxia classic The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006) and the fantasy series Chinese Paladin 3 (2009), establishing herself as a versatile actress capable of handling both period and modern genres.

Yang's breakthrough came in 2011 with the time-travel drama Palace, which catapulted her to widespread fame and critical acclaim. The series earned her numerous awards and nominations, including a Best Actress nomination and a win for Most Popular Actress at the 17th Shanghai Television Festival. She followed this success with standout performances in Ru Yi (2011) and Beauty World (2012), both of which brought her additional Huading Awards nominations for Best Actress. Her role in the modern romance Beijing Love Story (2012) was particularly lauded, winning her the Best Actress award at the 26th China TV Golden Eagle Awards. Throughout the 2010s, she headlined a string of hit television series, including the fantasy epic Swords of Legends (2014), the workplace drama The Interpreter (2016), the legendary romance Eternal Love (2017), and the fantasy adventure Legend of Fuyao (2018), each solidifying her status as a television powerhouse. More recently, she starred in Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (2021) and the critically acclaimed In the Name of the Brother (2024), the latter of which earned a nomination for Best Series Drama at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

Yang Mi has also made a significant impact in film, gaining early popularity with the thriller Mysterious Island (2011) and starring in the commercially successful Tiny Times series (2013–2015), which became a cultural phenomenon among young audiences. She won Best Actress at the 50th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for her role in the action thriller Reset (2017), and received critical acclaim for her performance in the drama Baby (2018). The film was screened at both the Toronto International Film Festival and the 66th San Sebastián International Film Festival, where she earned a nomination for the Silver Shell for Best Actress, showcasing her range and international appeal. Recognized as one of China's New Four Dan Actresses by Tencent in 2009 and again by Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly in 2013, Yang Mi has consistently been at the forefront of the industry. As of June 2024, she ranked as China's top celebrity for advertising and commercial value according to Statista, a testament to her enduring popularity and marketability. With a career that spans from childhood to superstardom, Yang Mi continues to be a defining figure in Chinese entertainment.