Chinese actress Sun Li was recently nominated for an International Emmy in the Best Actress category for her performance in the television drama The Legend of Zhen Huan.
This is her first nomination and among the nominees of her category are British actress Sheridan Smith for her performance in Mrs. Briggs, Swedish actress Lotta Tejle in 30 Degrees, and Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegro from Sweet Mother. The results will be announced at the awards gala in New York on November 25, 2013.
The 76-episode series, adapted from the novel of the same name by Liu Lianzi, centers on the stories of Emperor Yongzheng's concubines in the Imperial Palace during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The female protagonist, Zhen Huan, played by Sun, is selected to join the emperor's harem at the tender age of 17. She gets caught in the fierce battle for the Emperor's love among the empress and other concubines. Zhen quickly grows out of her innocence and learns to survive on her own, even if she does so through unscrupulous means. She succeeds in the end, while losing both her friends and enemies.
The Legend of Zhen Huan has been a Chinese mainland hit since it first aired on television. Aside from the storyline, many fans of the series originally were drawn to it because of its rich usage of Chinese poetry, beautiful costumes, and the depiction of court etiquette and traditional Chinese medicine. The refined and traditional dialogue spoken in the series has also become a popular favorite among the drama's Internet followers.
Sun, born in 1982, first fell under the spotlight through her work in the TV series Jade Goddess of Mercy.
The International Emmy Awards are presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to the best television programs produced and initially aired outside the United States.
Thirty-six nominees in nine categories from 19 countries will be competing for the award this year.
Chinese actress He Lin won the 33rd International Emmy best actress in 2005.