Lin Miaoke

Lin Miaoke
林妙可
Born (1999-07-01) 1 July 1999 (age 27)
Beijing, China
EducationNanjing University of the Arts
OccupationsActress, singer
Years active2005–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese林妙可
Simplified Chinese林妙可
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Miàokě
Wade–GilesLin2Miao4K'o3
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLam4 Miu6ho2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLîm Biāu-khó

Lin Miaoke (Chinese: 林妙可; pinyin: Lín Miàokě, born 1 July 1999) is a Chinese actress and singer. She began appearing in advertisements as a young child and became widely known in 2008, when, at the age of nine, she appeared at the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing and performed "Ode to the Motherland" as the national flag was carried into the stadium. The ceremony's music director later said that the vocals had been recorded by another child, Yang Peiyi, and the organisers said the arrangement had been chosen for theatrical effect.

After the Olympics, Lin played child roles in television series including Spring Grass, The Dream of Red Mansions and Beauty's Rival in Palace. Her later work includes the films The Warriors (2016) and Millet Field (2021), and she was the lead vocalist on a charity song for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Early life and education

Lin was born on 1 July 1999 in Beijing. Her family's ancestral home is in Fuzhou, Fujian. Her father is a newspaper photojournalist, and her mother, a former laboratory technician, stopped working after Lin was born. Her parents noticed her interest in performing when she was about two years old, and she later took lessons in piano, flute and dance. She attended a primary school in Dongcheng District, Beijing.

Lin later attended the secondary school affiliated with the China Conservatory of Music, where she performed in a school production of the musical Les Misérables in 2014. In 2017, she stepped back from entertainment work to study acting at Nanjing University of the Arts. The university named her a Merit Student for the 2017–2018 academic year. She graduated in 2021.

Career

Early work

Lin began appearing in advertisements at the age of five and registered with a talent agency as a child performer. In 2007, she appeared in a television advertisement with the hurdler Liu Xiang. She made her television drama debut at the age of eight. She also appeared in a music video for an Olympic song by the singer Tan Jing, which brought her to the attention of Zhang Yimou, the director of the Olympic opening ceremony.

2008 Summer Olympics

In April 2008, Lin was called to audition for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and she was shortlisted in June. During rehearsals at the Beijing National Stadium, she and Yang Peiyi were called on alternate days.

On 8 August 2008, Lin appeared at the opening ceremony in a red dress and performed "Ode to the Motherland" as the national flag was carried into the stadium. Four days later, the ceremony's chief music director, Chen Qigang, said in a radio interview that the vocals heard in the stadium had been recorded by the seven-year-old Yang. He said the change had been made at the last minute, after a senior member of the Politburo who watched a dress rehearsal asked for Lin's voice to be replaced. Chen said that Yang had the best voice among the candidates and that Lin had given the best on-stage performance.

Lin's father said he had learned only 15 minutes before the ceremony that his daughter would appear to sing. He said both girls had played important roles but that the organisers should have made clear who was singing. Her mother later said that the family had known little about the arrangements and that Lin had simply performed as she was asked. Officials of the Beijing Organising Committee defended the decision as a choice made for theatrical effect. Gilbert Felli of the International Olympic Committee compared it to a coach choosing between players, while adding that the public should be given accurate information. Time later listed the episode among the top scandals of 2008.

After the disclosure, Lin became the target of criticism in Chinese media and online, and her parents tried to shield her from the coverage. Her mother said in 2016 that Lin had been bullied by classmates in the fourth grade. In 2018, Zhang Yimou said that Lin's own recording had been slightly off pitch, that the technical team had insisted on replacing it, and that he regretted not insisting on using her voice. In October 2020, Lin addressed the episode publicly for the first time, thanking Zhang for his remarks and saying that not everyone would understand her and that time could change people's views.

Television and film

After the Olympics, Lin played the eldest daughter of Tao Hong's title character in Zheng Xiaolong's series Spring Grass, which began airing on Beijing Television in December 2008. In late 2008, she filmed Wang Wenjie's 35-episode series An Extraordinary Beauty in the North, in which she played the younger version of the lead character, Ji Ping. In 2009, she was cast as the young Lin Daiyu in the television adaptation The Dream of Red Mansions. In the 2010 series Beauty's Rival in Palace, she played the protagonist Du Yunxi as a child, and the screenwriter Yu Zheng praised her acting.

In 2010, Lin was part of the voice cast of the animated film Black Cat Detective. In late 2011, she joined the cast of Hu Mei's historical series about Cao Cao, playing the young Emperor Ling of Han in a cross-gender role. The series, titled Cao Cao, began airing in China in 2015. In 2012, she appeared with Liu Xiaoqing in the film 37. Also in 2012, she appeared in the documentary series Lin Miaoke Looks at America, which followed her as a member of a youth exploration group on a 14-day tour of seven cities in the United States. Guided by Chen Wei, the host of a Beijing radio programme about studying abroad, the group visited organisations in finance, media and technology, including a congressional office and a Hollywood film set. In 2013, she starred with Chen Long and Liu Xiaoqing in the series Fairy Lake, which aired on CCTV-1 and CCTV-8. By that year, she had appeared in eight television series, four films and more than 20 advertisements and music videos.

In May 2016, Lin filmed The Warriors in Garzê, playing a young beggar. The film, about the Red Army's capture of the Luding Bridge, was released on 14 October 2016. In 2021, she played a rural poverty-alleviation official in Millet Field, a film about poverty relief in Xing County, Shanxi, which premiered in Taiyuan on 31 March and was released on 9 April. In March 2025, she joined the cast of the film Yongheng de Guanghua, which began shooting in Xiangning County, Shanxi.

Music and charity work

In May 2009, Lin was among 60 children, including Yang Peiyi, who recorded a children's version of the patriotic song "Country" for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In 2010, she sang "Aha, Black Cat Detective", the theme song of the film Black Cat Detective. She performed the children's song "Love Me, Hug Me" with three other child singers at the 2011 CCTV New Year's Gala. In May 2013, she recorded the song "Virtue in My Heart".

In April 2020, Lin and Jiang Xiaomeng, the head of the music theatre department at Nanjing University of the Arts, released "Youthful China", a song marking the anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, with lyrics by Xu Honglei and music by Jiang Haocheng. The two singers recorded their parts separately in Nanjing and Beijing. Lin was the lead vocalist on "Winter Olympic Dream", a charity song released on 4 February 2022 after the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The song was composed by Dai Anshuai and also featured students from universities in China and abroad, who recorded their parts remotely.

Filmography

Television series

Year English title Chinese title Role Ref.
2008Spring Grass春草Chuncao's eldest daughter
2010An Extraordinary Beauty in the North北方有佳人Ji Ping (young)
Beauty's Rival in Palace美人心计Du Yunxi (young)
The Dream of Red Mansions红楼梦Lin Daiyu (young)
2012Lin Miaoke Looks at America林妙可看美国Herself (documentary)
2013Fairy Lake仙女湖Reincarnated fairy
2015Cao Cao曹操Emperor Ling of Han (young)

Films

Year English title Chinese title Role Ref.
2010Black Cat Detective黑猫警长Voice role, theme song
20123737—
2016The Warriors勇士Young beggar
2021Millet Field谷子地Poverty-alleviation official

Discography

Year English title Chinese title Notes Ref.
2009"Country" (children's version)国家（童谣版）With 59 other child singers
2010"Aha, Black Cat Detective"啊哈，黑猫警长Theme song of Black Cat Detective
2011"Love Me, Hug Me"爱我你就抱抱我Performed at the CCTV New Year's Gala
2013"Virtue in My Heart"美德在我心中
2020"Youthful China"青春中国With Jiang Xiaomeng
2022"Winter Olympic Dream"冰雪同梦Charity song for the 2022 Winter Olympics

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hong, Hu (10 September 2016). 母亲谈林妙可：不再天不怕地不怕了 [Mother on Lin Miaoke: No longer afraid of anything]. Renwu (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Sina.
  2. ↑ 林妙可16周岁生日 近照曝光皮肤好（图） [Lin Miaoke turns 16, recent photos released]. China News Service (in Chinese). 1 July 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Du, Enhu (6 July 2016). 林妙可17岁生日照曝光 皮肤白皙脸蛋肉嘟嘟(图) [Photos from Lin Miaoke's 17th birthday released]. West China City Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via China Radio International.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Zhang, Yu (15 April 2010). “黑猫警长”重登银幕 勾起亿万“粉丝”记忆 [Black Cat Detective returns to the big screen and revives memories for millions of fans]. China News Service (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 奥运女孩林妙可杨沛宜：那晚，她们改变彼此人生 [Olympic girls Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi: That night, they changed each other's lives]. Wuhan Evening News (in Chinese). 29 March 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via China News Service.
  6. ↑ 15岁林妙可参演学校音乐剧 金发披肩造型成熟 [15-year-old Lin Miaoke performs in school musical]. NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). 28 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 林妙可大学表现突出 荣获南艺“三好学生” [Lin Miaoke excels at university, named a 'Merit Student' by Nanjing University of the Arts]. Beijing Youth Daily (in Chinese). 4 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Sina.
  8. ↑ 组图：22岁林妙可毕业啦！穿学士服与同学留影俏皮可爱 [Photos: 22-year-old Lin Miaoke graduates and poses with classmates in her academic gown]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). 3 July 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 "Olympic Singer Fails China Cuteness Test". CBS News. Associated Press. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  10. 1 2 Spencer, Richard (12 August 2008). "Beijing Olympics: Faking scandal over girl who 'sang' in opening ceremony". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  11. 1 2 Keegan, Rebecca Winters (3 November 2008). "Top 10 Scandals: Lip-syncing in Beijing". Time. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  12. ↑ Bristow, Michael (12 August 2008). "China Olympic ceremony star mimed". BBC News. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  13. ↑ Yardley, Jim (13 August 2008). "In Grand Olympic Show, Some Sleight of Voice". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  14. ↑ "Olympic child singer was lip-synching". France 24. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Chinese defend Olympic ceremony lip-synch". Deseret News. Associated Press. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  16. ↑ Chen, Chen; Wan, Jiahuan (1 October 2009) [First published in China Newsweek, 2009-08-05]. 奥运改变了她们的人生 [How the Olympics changed their lives]. Renmin Wenzhai (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  17. ↑ 张艺谋回应林妙可假唱事件：感到很自责 [Zhang Yimou responds to the Lin Miaoke lip-syncing incident: He feels deeply responsible]. China Youth Network (in Chinese). 10 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Sina Entertainment.
  18. ↑ 林妙可回应奥运会假唱一事：很感谢张艺谋导演 [Lin Miaoke responds to the Olympic lip-syncing affair: Very grateful to director Zhang Yimou]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). 21 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  19. ↑ Zhou, Yuping (22 October 2020). 事隔12年後「第一童星」林妙可首回應奧運假唱：時間能改變看法 [Twelve years on, 'top child star' Lin Miaoke responds to the Olympic lip-syncing for the first time: Time can change views]. China Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  20. 1 2 Zhang, Yuqian (11 December 2008). BTV压轴大戏《春草》开播 陶虹与林妙可飙戏 [BTV's year-end drama Spring Grass premieres with Tao Hong and Lin Miaoke]. NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Olympic anthem girl joins in TV series". China Daily. China Radio International. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Lin Miaoke to play Lin Daiyu". China Daily. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  23. 1 2 编剧于正愿贴钱把戏拍好 赞林妙可是戏精 [Screenwriter Yu Zheng willing to spend his own money on the drama, praises Lin Miaoke's acting]. NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). 28 July 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  24. 1 2 Xiao, Li (23 March 2010). 首部汉室宫斗大戏《美人心计》热播 [Beauty's Rival in Palace, the first Han court intrigue drama, draws large audiences]. Changjiang Business Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Sina.
  25. 1 2 “盖世英雄”开拍赵立新出演 网友:这叔叔不偶像 [Filming begins on Peerless Hero with Zhao Lixin, netizens say he is no teen idol]. Southeast Business Daily (in Chinese). 22 November 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via China News Service.
  26. 1 2 《曹操》开播 赵立新挑梁诠释英雄曹操 [Cao Cao premieres with Zhao Lixin in the title role]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). 7 September 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  27. 1 2 《37》北京首映 刘晓庆、林妙可秀亲密 [37 premieres in Beijing with Liu Xiaoqing and Lin Miaoke]. China News Service (in Chinese). 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 林妙可看美国 [Lin Miaoke Looks at America]. iQIYI (in Chinese). 26 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  29. 1 2 Zhang, Xiaohe (22 February 2013). 37岁陈龙和14岁林妙可剧中感情戏引争议 [On-screen romance between 37-year-old Chen Long and 14-year-old Lin Miaoke draws debate]. Chongqing Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Weifang Dazhong Wang.
  30. 1 2 3 Zhou, Wei (9 May 2013). 最忙乱的孩子 林妙可在娱乐圈 [The busiest child: Lin Miaoke in show business]. Southern Weekly (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  31. 1 2 Ding, Zhouyang; Du, Wei (16 October 2016). 《我的战争》《湄公河》《勇士》……“主旋律”电影商业化到底怎么玩？ [My War, Operation Mekong, The Warriors: How do 'main melody' films go commercial?]. National Business Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  32. 1 2 Fan, Lu (1 April 2021). 献礼建党百年！山西脱贫攻坚电影《谷子地》首映，定档4月9日 [A tribute to the Party's centenary: Shanxi poverty-alleviation film Millet Field premieres, set for 9 April release]. The Paper (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  33. ↑ 电影《永恒的光华》山西乡宁开机 岳红 何政军 林妙可加盟 [Filming of Yongheng de Guanghua begins in Xiangning, Shanxi, with Yue Hong, He Zhengjun and Lin Miaoke in the cast]. Yellow River News Network (in Chinese). 14 March 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  34. 1 2 《国家》童谣版开唱 60名孩子献歌60周年大庆 [Children's version of Country recorded as 60 children sing for the 60th anniversary]. Phoenix New Media (in Chinese). Xinhua. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  35. 1 2 2011春节联欢晚会全记录 [Complete record of the 2011 Spring Festival Gala]. Dazhong Wang (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 姜孝萌 林妙可原创歌曲《青春中国》正式发布 [Jiang Xiaomeng and Lin Miaoke release original song Youthful China]. Jiangsu Net (in Chinese). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 Du, Enhu (5 February 2022). 林妙可领衔演唱北京冬奥会公益歌曲《冰雪同梦》 [Lin Miaoke leads the Beijing Winter Olympics charity song Winter Olympic Dream]. Cover News (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 October 2026 – via Sina Finance.
  38. ↑ "Outright lies and a star still too hot to touch". China Daily. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2026.