Sun Honglei： From a rogue to a wise man, what is the meaning behind his three-year silence？

Foreword:

With the continuous voice of social media, Sun Honglei’s name has once again sparked heated discussion. Three years ago, he was told to stay away from the screen because he emigrated overseas, followed by all kinds of voices of "no drama to shoot". However, the passage of time reveals the truth: Sun Honglei’s silence is actually his active exploration for deeper meaning of life and self-worth. As a tough guy, what did Sun Honglei learn during this time? What kind of story is hidden behind his choice?

Early experience: Tough and tough.

Sun Honglei was born in a poor family in Heilongjiang on August 16th, 1970. The financial troubles of his family cast a shadow on his childhood. His father is a teacher, and his meager salary can hardly support the livelihood of a family of five. In order to support the family, the mother had to borrow money and collect garbage to survive. Such a living environment made Sun Honglei temper his indomitable character from an early age.

In the fourth grade, due to family constraints, Sun Honglei often had to wait for two hours to eat after school, and even needed to solve the problem of food and clothing by himself. This difficult experience not only made him deeply understand the difficulty of life, but also cultivated his love for art in a subtle way. When the craze for break dancing swept through, he found his passion instantly at a young age. Although he was discovered by the teacher because of skipping class practice, his talent and understanding made him win the runner-up in the second national break dance competition.

Such outstanding achievements enabled him to join the China Song and Dance Theatre and started his artistic career. But in the pursuit of dance, Sun Honglei gradually realized that his real love was actually performance. Encouraged by Niu Zhenhua, he enrolled in China Theatre Academy and started a new life journey.

Acting career: the transformation and challenge of tough guys

Sun Honglei’s acting career can be said to be brilliant, starting with his role as the underworld boss Liu Huaqiang in Conquest. From that moment on, his acting skills have been widely recognized by the audience and become the representative of the "first tough guy" in the entertainment circle in the mainland. Liu Huaqiang’s role not only won him numerous fans, but also branded him as a "tough guy" to some extent.

Then, Sun Honglei played the role of Yu Zecheng in Latency, which made him get rid of the shadow of Liu Huaqiang successfully. Yu Zecheng’s softness and firmness let the audience see the versatility as an actor. He won many awards such as Magnolia Award, Flying Award and Golden Eagle Award for this role. Although his acting skills are becoming more and more exquisite, Sun Honglei’s image in the audience’s mind is still solidified above the tough guy, making it difficult for him to choose a role.

With the passage of time, Sun Honglei is eager to break through this image limitation. In 2014, he participated in the variety show Extreme Challenge, which made him show another humorous, witty and somewhat naughty image in front of the audience. This contrast not only surprised the audience, but also made him gain a higher reputation in the variety circle and became a star known as "Yan Wang" and "Sun Beauty". However, in Detective 3, 52-year-old Sun Honglei once again showed a different face, full of energy, and let people see his infinite possibilities.

Three years of silence: self-exploration and inner growth

However, in this glory, Sun Honglei chose to retire temporarily, and many people even began to rumor that he emigrated overseas. His move puzzled many people: Is it to escape the pressure or to explore himself at a deeper level? Faced with these rumors, Sun Honglei clarified his position: he is not an immigrant, but to accompany his wife to travel abroad. He emphasized the deep affection between himself and his motherland and had no intention of emigrating.

In the three years of silence, Sun Honglei has not been idle. His disappointment with the status quo of the entertainment industry prompted him to be critical of the script, preferring to lack rather than abuse. He once said in the media that he would not come out until he met a worthwhile script. At the same time, he also began to accumulate strength for the creation of new scripts, to precipitate himself and release his mind. During this time, he climbed mountains, kept fit and enjoyed the moon. Life seemed simple but contained his inner peace and thinking.

External evaluation: controversy and support coexist

Although Sun Honglei is sure about shaping the public image, his past emotional affairs with Ding Jiali still troubled him to some extent. The relationship between the two has caused a lot of discussion, and many netizens have questioned his emotional outlook. Ding Jiali’s way of bowing his head for opportunities in public opinion was frequently criticized, which led to constant disputes. Despite the noise of the outside world, Sun Honglei still insists on himself and tries to be open-minded. He proved his innocence through his actions, and he is constantly trying to shape his true self.

Summary: stick to yourself and pursue inner value.

Sun Honglei, as a tough guy who has never compromised in the changeable entertainment circle, has interpreted what is the true self in his own way. In the conflict between flow and art, his firm choice of performance career is touching. He knows that an actor’s work is his own soul and should not be confined to a single role image. His three-year silence is not only a respect for his career, but also a pursuit and reflection on the meaning of life.

In this impetuous society, Sun Honglei’s persistence and exploration remind each of us: in life, only by knowing the true desire of the heart can we pursue our true self. In the future, he will surprise the audience with richer images and deeper acting skills, and all this is the direction guided by the bright and sensible person in his heart.

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