Zhang Yingfei (Chinese: 张颖菲; born June 13, 2004) is a Chinese actress. She made her acting debut in the 2024 period drama The Young Brewmaster's Adventure[zh]. She is best known for portraying Lin Siwang (林思望), internationally known as Linda Walker, in the 2025 vertical micro-drama series The Real Heiress Is a Top Student.
Early life and education
Zhang was born on June 13, 2004, in China. Zhang is known by the nickname "Fifi", which she uses as her English name.
Zhang studied at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Theater in 2025. While studying at the academy, she participated in stage productions, including the graduation performance A Dream of Cooling Off Under the Rice Plants, staged at the Experimental Theatre of the Central Academy of Drama in December 2024.
On Fast Talk with Boy Abunda in June 2026, she said that she does not consider herself naturally gifted and instead attributes her achievements to hard work and perseverance. She also stated that she was single.
Career
During her sophomore year, Zhang was offered 5,000 yuan a day by a short drama production team to play the female lead. The offer surprised her, as she had previously only earned 1,000 yuan for each musical performance and 200 yuan for rehearsals. Later, she declined the offer since she was still filming a medium-length drama and was concerned about the reputation of vertical dramas. Zhang made her screen debut in the period drama The Young Brewmaster's Adventure[zh] in 2024.
In September 2025, she appeared as the female protagonist Lin Siwang in the vertical drama The Real Heiress is a Top Student, a role that brought her wider recognition. Zhang pushed back against the perceived low reputation of short dramas, saying that whatever the medium, "the core focus is always on acting". The success of The Real Heiress is a Top Student earned her enough money to cover her rent in Beijing. She also reappeared as the same character in the second season of the series in November. Released internationally under titles such as The Heiress Who Won with Brains, the series became one of the most successful Chinese microdramas of the year, which surpassing 1 billion views within a week of its release and more than 2 billion views within a month of its release in Hongguo. The series became especially popular in the Philippines, where viewers knew the character by the English name Linda Walker. Zhang also joked about online speculation regarding the possibility that her character is AI-generated, saying "I am not an AI".
In December 2025, she subsequently appeared in the microdramaShe Just Wants to Make Money After Accidentally Entering an Elite School, in which she played Yunling. Around the same time, she also appeared in the short drama The Truly Wicked Maid Has the Villain Role Locked In with actress Xiong Anni.
In January 2026, Zhang starred in the vertical drama Promise You Ten Thousand Rains, which was filmed in Taiyuan in Shanxi Province. In April 2026, she also starred in a lead role in the 2026 short drama The Girl from the Stars with actor Li Zeyu. In June, she starred in the vertical drama She Went to the City to Find Her Parents, and She's No Nonsense.
Philanthropy
Zhang (right) meets with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (left) in 2026
On June 8, 2026, Zhang arrived in Manila at the behest of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII). She joined Philippine government officials at an outreach program in Quezon City High School where students received school supplies and daily necessities. Zhang also gave an inspirational message encouraging young people to pursue education.
123"新人黑马——张颖菲，3部熬夜刷的好剧安利_腾讯新闻"[Rising star Zhang Yingfei: 3 must-watch dramas to binge-watch!]. Tencent QQ (in Chinese (China)). 2026-01-08. Archived from the original on 2026-06-20. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
12"《都市女频短剧《许你万霖》在太原开机导演故乡寻根邂逅七年未了情"[The urban female-oriented short drama "Promise You Ten Thousand Rains" started filming in Taiyuan. The director revisited his hometown and encountered a seven-year-old unfinished love story]. Sina Finance (in Chinese). 2026-01-10. Archived from the original on 2026-06-19. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
12"短剧一姐宝座易主！王云云第5，至春禾第4，她断层登顶榜首！"[The title of queen of short dramas has changed hands! Wang Yunyun is ranked 5th, Zhi Chunhe is ranked 4th, and she has taken the top spot by a wide margin!]. Sohu (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2026-06-19. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
