Zhang Tielin is one of the familiar faces of Chinese cinema in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The role of Qianlong in "Hoan Chau Cach Cach" brought his name to a large audience and became one of the characters associated with the male actor's career.
However, in addition to famous roles, Truong Thiet Lam's life over the years has also been associated with many debates, from nationality to personal life issues.
Zhang Tielin was born in 1957 in Hebei, China. Before becoming an actor, he spent time working in the countryside and working as a worker.
In 1978, he passed the acting department of the Beijing Film Academy, studying in the same course as later famous faces such as Zhang Fengyi and Fang Shu.
After graduating, Truong Thiet Lam worked in the film industry before going to England to study. He later acquired British citizenship. This decision once became a topic of debate as the actor's career mainly developed in China.
Famous thanks to the role of emperor
The biggest turning point in Truong Thiet Lam's career came in 1998 when "Hoan Chau Cach Cach" aired.
He played Qianlong, acting with Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, Su You Peng, Jay Chou... The unexpected success of the film helped the cast become sought-after stars.
Truong Thiet Lam was over 40 years old at that time but also entered the peak of his career.
After "Hoan Chau Cach Cach", he continued to play many imperial characters. In particular, the series "Ban Linh Ky Hieu Lam" helped the trio Truong Quoc Lap - Vuong Cuong - Truong Thiet Lam become faces loved by television viewers.
Continuously transforming into an emperor made Zhang Tielin called by the media and audiences a "professional emperor" of Chinese cinema.
In parallel with his fame, the actor has also become the focus of attention many times due to his statements and personal issues.
In 2015, disputes related to father-son relationships and raising children attracted attention to Truong Thiet Lam's private life. These incidents significantly impacted the image that the actor built after many years of artistic activities.
Less filming, spending time on calligraphy
In recent years, Truong Thiet Lam has no longer appeared as frequently on screen as during his peak period.
At the age of 69, he spends more time on calligraphy, painting and participating in cultural activities. In the Chinese media, the actor's current appearances are often more related to calligraphy than new film projects.
Zhang Tielin has many years of research and practice of calligraphy and has organized or participated in art exhibition events. However, this activity is also not completely avoided from debate. The value of calligraphy works bearing his name has become a topic of discussion on Chinese social networks.
The actor also participated in livestream activities, appearing at some programs and events.
Compared to the "Hoan Chau Cach Cach" or "Ban Linh Ky Hieu Lam" period, Truong Thiet Lam's influence on screen is no longer as before. However, the image of Qianlong is still an irreplaceable role when mentioning his career.
Nearly three decades since "Hoan Chau Cach Cach" aired, Truong Thiet Lam has entered a different stage of life. From a television star, he is now focusing more on personal hobbies and cultural activities, while debates about private life and nationality are still often mentioned every time the actor's name appears.
