A star shaped by science

The drama Our Generation is directed by Zhang Kaizhou, known for his previous works Romance in the Alley and The Bond, which scored 8.4 and 7.7, respectively, on the review site Douban.

Zhang Linghe reveals that Zhang Kaizhou's directing style emphasizes realism, often using hidden cameras to capture natural performances. "That helped me to stop thinking about the camera and just live in the character's world," Zhang Linghe says.

His costar Zhao Jinmai praised the director's attention to detail: "He creates a space where emotions come out naturally. We didn't feel like we were performing — we were just being ourselves."

Through the experience, Zhang Linghe came to an important realization: "There's no single 'correct' way to act. Once you become the character, your real emotional reactions take over. That's when it stops feeling like acting."

While he mostly plays the lead in romantic dramas, Zhang Linghe openly admits his desire to explore more diverse characters. Still, he remains cautious about playing roles beyond his current age or life experience.

Interestingly, his background in STEM(science, technology, engineering and mathematics) still influences his craft.

"When I studied STEM subjects, I would review and attempt to solve each problem from multiple angles," he explains.

"Now, as an actor, I apply that same trial-and-error process — constantly experimenting until the audience sees my progress."