After episode 18 of the movie "Main Character" (Premonition) aired, the scene of the character Uc Tan Nga played by Luu Hao Ton performing for the first time on stage as an artist Tan Khang, continuously diving dozens of times, immediately caused a fever.
The rating of episodes 18-19 on CCTV-1 (according to CVB statistics) reached 4.426% - setting the highest record since the film aired, and also leading the rating chart of all Chinese TV dramas broadcast in 2026 to date.
The film scene received a shower of praise, the actress born in 2000 was evaluated as having an impressive performance, with a genuine expression as if watching a professional artist Tan Khang perform.
But not long after, sharp-eyed netizens discovered that the most difficult somersaults were actually performed by a stuntman. Normally, this situation could cause major controversy with the reason that the actor "does not respect the profession".
Not to mention, Luu Hao Ton originally did not have good feelings in the public eye because of family-related controversies in the past, and being supported by director Zhang Yimou caused her to be labeled "resource darling" for 8 years.
However, surprisingly, the commentary area did not explode with criticism, on the contrary, the majority of the audience expressed sympathy for Liu Hao Ton.
Some people in the profession explain that the extremely difficult acrobatic movements in the hymns, if not for more than 10 years of hard training from childhood, are completely impossible to perform; using stunt actors is truly respecting this art form.
What really made public opinion change direction was the behind-the-scenes video released by the film crew. In it, Luu Hao Ton wore training clothes, repeatedly practicing diving on the mattress, falling down and standing up to practice again.
Scene of throwing and catching spears, the spear hitting her hand leaving red marks, she just smiled and said: "Do it again". All daily acrobatic practice scenes are performed by herself.
To play the role of artist Tan Khang Uc Tan Nga in "The main character", this girl who has never had a background in hymns came to Xi'an from November 2024, starting a closed training process lasting 8 months. Every day she wakes up at 5 am to practice vocals, practicing for more than 12 hours continuously.
The first hurdle was the Shaanxi dialect. Liu Haocun always carried a notebook recording his pronunciation, learning to speak with street vendors and elderly artisans in the gym.
She had to learn from scratch the basic skills of Qin Kang's Peking Opera. The water splashing movement alone was practiced 3,000 times until her wrist achieved standard jumping force; practicing spear dance to the point where her hands became calloused.
Tan Khang's "fire spraying" technique requires sucking pine powder and then spraying it onto the torch, causing the actress's lips to be continuously burned. To practice the "mạn ngọa ngư" movement (actress leaning softly like a fish curling itself in the water), she practices separately for 5 hours every day, bruised knees have become commonplace.
While filming, Xi'an was in the middle of a peak heat wave, with temperatures rising to 40°C for 20 consecutive days. Liu Haocun wore 3 layers of skeleton costumes weighing dozens of kilograms to practice, sweat soaking her whole body. The hat part was glued tightly to her scalp, which over time caused her allergic rash, both painful and itchy.
In winter, filming snow scenes, in minus 10 degrees Celsius weather, Liu Haocun wears thin clothes and stands in the snow singing "Du Tay Ho", singing continuously 8 times until his voice becomes hoarse, bringing the true brokenness that the character needs.
After the film wrapped up, the teacher of Qin Kang watched Liu Haocun's performance and said one sentence: "This voice is betting your whole life on it".
Veteran actor Truong Gia Dich (also playing the main role) observed Luu Hao Ton throughout the filming period and publicly praised the strictness of his young junior towards himself. He said: "This girl will succeed, because she is stubborn".
