On August 4, Ma, from Liaoning Province in northeast China, won the award for her portrayal of the character Li Maojuan in director Zhang Yimou’s film Article 20.
She plays a brave and protective mother, a character that resonated with audiences on the mainland.
The 42-year-old kissed the trophy at the awards ceremony and gave her speech in tears.
“It took 20 years, from stage work to film to this Hundred Flowers Award. The process was arduous and I even thought about giving up because comedies often don’t get recognition in the film industry. But I love acting too much, so I persevered,” Ma said.
“This award is a recognition for all comedians. I will carry on this honor.”
One online observer praised Ma’s victory as a “high point” for comedians.
“Her comedic roles have broken people’s preconceptions about comedy. Her films always make people think about life after laughing.”
In 2013, she made her debut at the country’s Spring Festival Gala and performed a skit with famous comedian Shen Teng.
This year, the gala on the eve of the Chinese New Year achieved an astonishing audience rating of 31 percent.
In 2017, Ma won the Golden Dragon Award for Best Actress for her role as a sports reporter who swaps souls with a male boxer in the comedy “The Man with the Death Claw.” Never give up.
In 2019, Forbes released its list of China’s 100 greatest celebrities, with Ma ranked 59th.
However, the talented star’s life was not without challenges.
In 2021, she told CCTV that she suffered from depression and withdrew from the outside world for a year.
She expressed concern about her appearance and said that the label of “funny” prevented her from taking on serious roles, which caused her great distress.
With the support of friends and family and effective treatment, she gradually overcame her depression and returned to the comedy stage.
In July, the latest data showed that the total box office revenue of films starring Ma exceeded 22 billion yuan (US$3 billion), making her the highest-grossing Chinese actress.
She has 9.5 million fans on Weibo.
One online user wrote on the platform: “Congratulations, Ma. We look forward to seeing more of your great films.”
“The characters Ma portrays are full of life. She’s like the friendly and humorous big sister next door,” said another.
