Angela Baby Chinese-Hong Kong model, actress and singer Date of Birth: 28.02.1989 Country: China

1. Childhood and Early Life
2. Modeling and Acting Debut
3. Rise to Stardom and Variety Show Success
4. International Success and Film Accolades
5. Television Dramas and Licensing Controversies
6. Personal Life
7. Recent Events

Childhood and Early Life

Angela Baby (real name Yang Ying) was born on February 28, 1989, in Shanghai, China. Her mother is Chinese and her father is half-Chinese, half-German. Her father owned fashion stores, sparking Angela's interest in the industry from a young age. She enjoyed visiting her father's boutiques, trying on clothes, and creating different looks.

Modeling and Acting Debut

At the age of 13, Angela moved to Hong Kong where she signed with Style International Management a year later. For her modeling career, she adopted the stage name "Angela Baby" by combining her English name with the nickname "Baby" given to her in primary and secondary school. In interviews, Angela stated that her modeling career began as a joke when her classmates sent her picture to the agency, and she received a casting call.

Angela made her acting debut in 2007 with a cameo role in the comedy film "Trivial Matters." She continued to appear in minor roles until landing her first leading role in the romantic comedy "Love You You" (2011). She also sang the film's theme song, "Bottom of the Heart," in a duet with Singaporean singer Jay Chou.

In 2012, Angela starred in the romantic drama "First Time," an adaptation of the South Korean film "...ing" (2003). Her performance as a timid girl with a terminal illness earned her the "Most Anticipated Actress" award at the 13th Chinese Film Media Awards.

Rise to Stardom and Variety Show Success

Angela's popularity skyrocketed after she joined the reality show "Running Man," the Chinese adaptation of the South Korean variety show. The show became a huge hit in China, significantly increasing Angela's fan base on social media. In 2014, she also starred in the romance drama "Love on the Cloud" with fellow "Running Man" cast member Michael Chen.

International Success and Film Accolades

In 2015, Angela made her international debut with a supporting role in the American action thriller "Hitman: Agent 47" as Diana, the handler of the titular protagonist. She also starred in the Chinese adventure film "Mojin: The Lost Legend," which broke box office records in China. Angela received the Best Actress Award at the Hundred Flowers Awards for her performance.

Television Dramas and Licensing Controversies

In 2015, Angela made her drama debut in "Song in the Clouds," based on the novel by Chinese writer Tong Hua. The drama received mixed reviews, criticized for Angela's subpar acting and inaccuracies in its historical depiction. She went on to appear in several more dramas, including "The General and I" (2017), "Entrepreneurs Era" (2018), "My True Friend" (2019), "Tower of the Horizon Case" (2020), and "Wind from Longxi" (2022).

Personal Life

Angela kept her personal life private for a long time. She dated actor Huang Xiaoming for six years before publicly acknowledging their relationship in 2014. They married in May 2015 in an extravagant wedding reportedly costing around $31 million. In October 2016, Angela announced her pregnancy, and in January 2017, she gave birth to their son, Little Sponge.

The couple's marriage reportedly hit turbulence, and in January 2022, they announced their divorce. In May 2024, rumors circulated about a possible reconciliation after Angela and Huang were spotted on a family outing with their son. Paparazzi later denied these rumors, stating that the actors had not displayed any romantic gestures during the outing. Huang was later seen meeting with his current girlfriend, businesswoman Ye Ke.

Recent Events

In Fall 2023, Angela became embroiled in a scandal after it was alleged that she attended a sexually explicit show by Lisa, former member of the girl group BLACKPINK, in Paris. Despite the venue's administration later denying Angela's presence, her account on the Chinese social media platform was blocked and her appearances in already-filmed New Year's television programs were removed.

Angela's social media account was unblocked in January 2024, and she made her first public appearance since the scandal in February. She has since posed for a Chinese fashion magazine, indicating her return to the industry. On May 30, 2024, the romantic drama "I Remember," starring Angela, was released in Russian theaters. The film previously premiered in China in 2020 and also features Li Hongqi and Denny Huang.