A role model for the ages

"When I heard the news of the award, I was quite surprised. The movie was shot in just two days in May 2020. I feel so glad that we can spread China's culture and values through such an international award-winning film," says Li.

Despite being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak earlier last year, the diligent actor has still worked hard on multiple projects, with his new characters including an airplane engineer in the anthology TV series New Generation, and a snack chef in To Be With You, which also marks Li's first online series.

Surprisingly, however, for an actor who has played so many roles, he still has one acting dream that is yet to be realized.

"If possible, I really hope I can play Nan Rendong (former chief scientist of the world's largest single-dish radio telescope)," says Li.

When Li was 11 years old, he moved to Guizhou province with his parents-where Nan devoted his life's work to research with the FAST, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope-developing a deep emotional connection with the province.

As the interview draws to a close, the actor tries to hail a taxi for China Daily reporters, gently declining our plea to take a few more photos of him at home to increase the variety of images.

"My wife has set a jiagui (a principle specific for the family), requiring me to work as a high-profile actor but lead my personal life as a humble person," says the veteran actor, wearing a gentle smile.

"I believe that most of my awards are not for me, but for the characters I portray, who often have a noble spirit and make huge contributions for which they are respected as role models," he concludes.