According to Yu Yong, a specially appointed researcher at the Oral History Center of Nanjing University of the Arts and a film researcher, film and television actress He Qing passed away in Beijing on December 13, 2025, at the age of 61.
He Qing is a highly iconic actress in the history of Chinese film and television, and the only actress to date to have played important roles in film and television adaptations of all four classic Chinese novels. She is hailed as the "first person to achieve a grand slam in all four classic novels".
In 1983, He Qing was discovered by Yang Jie, the chief director of "Journey to the West," and played the role of "Lianlian," the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Lingji. Her pure and refined image was unforgettable. In 1989, she successfully portrayed the role of "Qin Keqing" in the classic film "Dream of the Red Chamber," accurately capturing the essence of the character with her gentle and melancholic temperament. In 1993, she played "Xiao Qiao" in the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," interpreting a beautiful woman in troubled times with her graceful demeanor. In 1996, she played the stunningly beautiful "Li Shishi" in "Water Margin," thus completing her screen portrayals of the Four Great Classical Novels and creating a legend.
In 2015, He Qing was diagnosed with cancer. After a long and arduous treatment, she recovered and returned to work in 2016, taking on the villainous role of "Empress Dowager Sun" in the historical drama "The Imperial Doctress," showcasing her profound acting skills. Since then, she has gradually faded from the public eye and rarely appears on screen.
He Qing was a low-key and humble person throughout her life, but she left a strong mark on the history of Chinese TV dramas with her solid acting skills and unique classical temperament. Her passing has made the audience grieve the loss of a screen goddess who carries the collective memory.
