Ma Sichun

Ma Sichun
马思纯
Ma Sichun in 2019
Born March 14, 1988
Bengbu, Anhui, China
Other names Sandra Ma
Alma mater Communication University of China
Occupation Actress
Years active 2001–present
Agent Easy Entertainment
Relatives Jiang Wenli (aunt)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese 马思纯
Traditional Chinese 馬思純

Sandra Ma Sichun (Chinese: 马思纯, born 14 March 1988) is a Chinese actress of Hui ethnicity. She is noted for her roles in the films The Left Ear (2015) and Soul Mate (2016), for which she won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress alongside her co-star Zhou Dongyu; and in television series Love Me If You Dare (2015) and Age of Legends (2018).

Early life

Ma was born in Bengbu, Anhui on March 14, 1988, to Jiang Wenjuan (蒋文娟), a broker. Her aunt, Jiang Wenli is a noted actress. Ma graduated from Communication University of China.

Career

Beginnings

Ma Sichun began her career as a child actress at age 7, when she appeared in The Winter of Three Persons, which stars Jiang Wenli and Zhao Jun. 5 years later at the age of 13, she starred in The Grand Mansion Gate. Both productions co-star her aunt, Jiang Wenli.

Ma became well known after working as a book cover model for Rao Xueman's novel Joy & Sorrow. Thereafter, she was chosen as the female lead by director Shen Yan for the television series Lover, based on the novel Daddy, I have your baby. In 2012, Ma won the Golden Phoenix Awards for Best Newcomer for her performance in the film Time Flies Soundlessly.

2015–present: Rising popularity and acclaim

Ma (right) at the premiere of the movie Somewhere Winter (2019)

Ma achieved wider recognition after starring in the coming-of-age film The Left Ear, directed by Alec Su. Her role as the rebellious and daring Li Bala received acclaim from critics and she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Horse Awards. The same year, she co-starred with Wallace Huo in the hit crime drama Love Me If You Dare, which contributed to her rise in popularity.

In 2016, Ma starred in adventure film Time Raiders, based on the popular tomb-raiding novel series Daomu Biji. The same year, she starred in romance film Soul Mate, playing the beautiful, kind yet rebellious protagonist. Ma won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress alongside her co-star Zhou Dongyu.

In 2017, Ma was cast as the female protagonist in the third installment of the Detective Dee film series by Tsui Hark. She also starred in the campus romance film Nuts.

In 2018, Ma starred alongside William Chan in the crime action drama Age of Legends. Forbes China listed Ma under their 30 Under 30 Asia 2017 list which consisted of 30 influential people under 30 years old who have had a substantial effect in their fields. Ma also starred in chinese variety show Who's the Keyman.

In 2019, Ma starred in Lou Ye's crime film, The Shadow Play; and romance drama film Somewhere Winter written by Rao Xueman. The same year, she was cast in period romance film Love After Love, directed by Ann Hui. On the small screen, Ma starred in the romance comedy drama Mr. Fighting alongside Deng Lun.

In 2020, Ma was cast in the military/police romance drama You Are My Hero as a doctor. The same year, she starred in youth drama film Wild Grass.

Filmography

Film

Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1995 The Winter of Three Persons 三个人的冬天
2008 Lost 秘岸 Qingqing
2010 Lan 我们天上见 Xiaocui
2012 Time Flies Soundlessly 岁月无声 Yang Duoduo
2014 One Minute More 我的男友和狗 Dazhi's mother
Baixiang 白相 Young Lan
2015 The Left Ear 左耳 Li Bala
Saving Mr. Wu 解救吾先生 Liu Yun
2016 Time Raiders 盗墓笔记 A Ning
Soul Mate 七月与安生 Lin Qiyue
2017 Goldbuster 妖铃铃 Cameo
2018 Nuts 奇葩朵朵 Zhu Zhu
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings 狄仁杰之四大天王 Shui Yue
2019 The Shadow Play 风中有朵雨做的云 Xiao Nuo
Somewhere Winter 大约在冬季 An Ran
2020 Wild Grass 荞麦疯长 Yun Qiao
Love After Love 第一炉香 Ge Weilong
2022 The Fallen Bridge 断·桥 Wen Xiaoyu

Television series

Year English title Chinese title Role Ref.
2001 The Grand Mansion Gate 大宅门 Bai Yuting
2010 Lover 恋人 Sichun
2011 Modern New Human 摩登新人类 Wen Xue
2012 Refresh 刷新3+7 Xiaomiao
2013 Fiancee 未婚妻 Lan Xiaoyi
2014 Love Is the Most Beautiful 爱情最美丽 Ma Xiaocan
The Empress of China 武媚娘传奇 Helan Minyue
2015 Love Me If You Dare 他来了,请闭眼 Jian Yao
The Legend of Mi Yue 芈月传 Wei Yi
2016 Seventeen Blue 会痛的17岁 Vivi
2017 Oh My General 将军在上 Ye Zhao
2018 Age of Legends 橙红年代 Hu Rong
2019 Mr. Fighting 加油,你是最棒的 Fu Zi
2021 You Are My Hero 你是我的城池营垒 Mi Ka
2022 The Crack of Dawn 江照黎明 Li Xiao Nan

Discography

Singles

Year English title Chinese title Album Notes
2017 "For My 17-year-old Self" 给17岁的自己 Secret Fruit OST with various artists
2019 "Waiting" 守候 Mr. Fighting OST
2019 "Somewhere Winter" 大约在冬季 Somewhere Winter OST with various artists
2020 "Hello 2020" 你好2020 Performance for CCTV Spring Gala
with Li Xian, Li Qin, Zhu Yilong & Zhou Dongyu
2020 "colorful days" Grass OST

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result Ref.
2013 Time Flies Soundlessly 14th Golden Phoenix Awards Newcomer Award Won
2015 The Left Ear 52nd Golden Horse Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
10th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum Awards Best New Actress Won
2016 Soul Mate 53rd Golden Horse Awards Best Actress (with Zhou Dongyu) Won
2017 36th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
24th Beijing College Student Film Festival Best Actress Nominated
8th China Film Director's Guild Awards Nominated
17th Chinese Film Media Awards Nominated
2nd Golden Screen Awards Won
The Left Ear 16th Golden Phoenix Awards Society Award Won
2018 Oh My General 24th Huading Awards Best Actress (Ancient Drama) Nominated
Soul Mate 34th Hundred Flowers Awards Best Actress Nominated
2019 Mr. Fighting 26th Huading Awards Best Actress (Modern drama) Nominated
Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best Actress Nominated
2020 7th The Actors of China Award Ceremony Best Actress (Emerald) Nominated
Wild Grass 12th Macau International Movie Festival Best Actress Nominated
2021 You are My Hero 26th Asian Television Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated

Forbes China Celebrity 100

Year Rank Ref.
2017 79th
2019 61st
2020 60th