Ma started her acting career in the 1996 television series Vacuum Love Records, in which her sweet appearance and strong-willed character left a deep impression on the audience.[4] However in the next few years, Ma maintained a low profile on screen.[5]
Ma regained attention through the television series Long Live Our Dreams (2000) and Black Hole (2001) and the film Eyes of a Beauty (2001). She actually shaved her head for her role in Long Live Our Dreams. She gained further popularity after she played the role of Ziwei in the third season of the popular drama My Fair Princess (2003). Next came the hit series Qiao's Grand Courtyard (2006), where Ma played a innocent girl who matures through a painful romance.[6] She then starred in the highly popular youth series Struggle (2007). Ma's role as a passionate, direct and optimistic young woman resonated with the thoughts of the young generation, and shot her to widespread fame.[7][8]
Ma then starred in Two City One Family (2011), which reflects the differences of a couple who come from different cities in China. Ma, who is of Shanghai descent, successfully portrayed the role of a Beijing young lady,[12] and clinched the Best Actress award at the China TV Drama Awards.[13] She then starred in both seasons of Puberty Hit Menopause (2013) which earned high ratings; as well as family drama Little Daddy (2013), directed by her husband Wen Zhang and which she serves as producer.[citation needed]
In 2015, Ma starred in Swan Dive for Love, a series that narrates the story of a white-collar couple striving to make themselves richer amid a series of challenges.[14] She won the Best Actress award at the Huading Awards for her portrayal of a determined and strong-minded career woman.[15] The following year, she starred in Chinese Style Relationship, a critically acclaimed comedy-drama that depicts three Chinese couples as the navigate through life and love.[16] Ma was nominated for Best Actress at the Shanghai Television Festival.[17]
In 2017, Ma starred in romance/family drama The First Half of My Life. Opposite from her usual strong characters, Ma played a struggling housewife in the series.[18] The television series was a major ratings hit in China and was hotly debated on social media sites like Weibo.[19]
In 2018, Ma played a supporting role in the female-centric war film Goddesses in the Flames of War, reportedly receiving no wages for the film.[20][21] She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the China Movie Channel Media Awards for her performance.[22] Another film which stars in, Enter the Forbidden City won the award for Best Film.[22]
The same year, she starred in the mystery film Lost, Found alongside Yao Chen; a remake of the Korean film Missing;[23] as well as crime film The Road Not Taken.[24]
Ma was appointed the National Ambassador for UNICEF China in 2015.[26]
Personal life
While at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1996, Ma dated a senior student for a year. They broke up amicably when Ma entered her senior year and the boy graduated. In 1999, Ma was introduced to director Guan Hu through a friend. In 2000, Guan invited Ma to join the cast of his TV drama Black Hole, and the two began a relationship for four years. They broke up in 2004.
Ma met Wen Zhang when filming together Zhang Li's historical drama Blades in 2005. In 2006, when filming TV series Struggle, Ma was pursued at the same time by her co-stars Wen Zhang and Tong Dawei. She, however, went to date Zhang Bo, Wen's college classmate, soon after when shooting the TV series Where is Happiness. Upon learning of Ma's relationship with Zhang, Wen ended his then relationship and renewed his pursuit of Ma, causing a rift between him and Zhang. Ma left Zhang for Wen, though they briefly broke up in early 2007. They quietly registered their marriage in 2008 without having a ceremony or informing their agencies. On 20 September 2008, they have their first daughter, Wen Zhujun (Ima). In August 2013, when Ma was pregnant with her second child, Wen Zhang and actress Yao Di had an extramarital affair. On July 28, 2019, they announced their divorce on Sina Weibo.[27][28]
^马伊琍张一山等人零片酬出演《那些女人》. Sina (in Chinese). May 31, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
^《那些女人》定档9月3日 民国乱世女性谱写抗战传奇. China Radio International (in Chinese). August 6, 2018. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
^ abc上影节传媒关注单元大奖花落《进京城》. Mtime (in Chinese). June 23, 2018. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
^"中国电影导演协会公布年度荣誉提名名单 竞争激烈" [China Film Directors Association announces annual honor nomination list, fierce competition]. QQ News (in Chinese). 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024.