Leo Wu

From Child Star to Versatile Actor:

The Journey of Wu Lei (Leo Wu)
Wu Lei began his acting career at just three years old, first appearing in a commercial. Over the next two years, he starred in more than 50 advertisements, demonstrating remarkable on-screen presence. At age five, he actively persuaded a drama production team to cast him—and landed the role of Little Nezha in The Legend and the Hero, marking his formal entry into acting. Over the next decade, he honed his craft through children’s shows such as The Young Warriors and Naughty Boy Xiaotiao Ma, earning the Outstanding Child Actor award at the Flying Apsaras Awards and solidifying his “Nation’s Little Brother” image.

Breaking the Label: From Fei Liu to Ling Buyi
A pivotal moment came in 2015 with Nirvana in Fire, where he played the taciturn yet skilled guard Fei Liu. This role earned him the "Most Promising Actor" award at the China TV Drama Awards, shedding his child star image and showcasing deeper acting depth.

Costume drama genre: Took on the lead role of Xiao Yan in Battle Through the Heavens; portrayed the grassland hero Ashile Sun in The Long Ballad, personally completing high-difficulty horseback archery scenes.

Modern-day genre: Played the role of esports player Lu Xiaobei in Cross Fire; transformed into badminton athlete Song Sanchuan in Nothing But You, highlighting the passionate and youthful spirit.

Breakthrough in film: In My Country, My Parents – Ride Wind directed by Wu Jing, he portrayed the young soldier Ma Chengfeng, and rigorously trained in horseback riding to fully embody the character.

In 2022, Love Like the Galaxy became his representative work. He vividly portrayed General Ling Buyi, a man burdened by a blood feud, balancing both restraint and fury. With this role, he won the Outstanding Young Actor of the Year Award at the China-America Television Festival, marking his entry into the ranks of young actors recognized for their strong acting skills.

Professionalism and Personal Traits
Wu Lei's dedication to his craft extends both on and off screen. In order to refine his acting skills, he was admitted to the Acting Department of the Beijing Film Academy in 2018 with a score of 92.85 (the highest score since the reform of the BFA entrance exam), achieving 95 in lines and 94 in acting performance. He insists on performing his own action scenes—such as the horseback riding sequences in The Long Ballad and Love Like the Galaxy—without using a stunt double. His exceptional horseback riding even accidentally brought co-star Zhao Lusi to tears during filming. Behind the scenes, he has also demonstrated creative ambition by directing and starring in the travel documentary series Fly Close To The Ground. Across its three seasons, the series received high Douban ratings of 9.5–9.6 and surpassed 400 million total views online, earning recognition from major state media outlets.

In terms of public image, Wu Lei is known for his high emotional intelligence. When faced with awkward questions about the age gap between him and a female co-star, he cleverly responded, “I’m 15, she’s 6,” diffusing the situation with humor. Off-screen, he has a passion for cycling and has adopted a stray dog named "Xiao Bei," reflecting his warm and compassionate lifestyle. These qualities have earned him consistent placements on the Forbes China Celebrity List for several years. At just 18, he became the youngest actor to be featured on the "30 Under 30 Elite List."

Continuous Breakthroughs and Latest Developments
After 2024, Wu Lei moved toward more mature roles: he played the young man He Mulian searching for his father in the film Dwelling by the West Lake, which was shortlisted for the main competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival; in the same year, he starred in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, portraying a professional snooker player with precise depiction of the athlete’s demeanor. In 2025, he received the Tencent Starlight Awards' "Most Influential TV Actor of the Year" and the China TV Drama Festival’s Breakthrough Actor Award for his diverse performances. He also starred in the war film Dongji Island (directed by Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang), portraying a Chinese fisherman during the late World War II period, which was nationally released on August 8, 2025. From a child star in commercials to a leading box office actor, Wu Lei’s steady evolution over 20 years proves that the true “National Younger Brother” has grown into a powerful actor in control of his own career path.