An actor in China nicknamed the “ageless man” because of a childhood condition which halted his growth has silenced detractors with his nuanced performances.
According to Beiqing.com, Hou Xiang, 40, from Beijing, was born prematurely after his mother suffered from malnutrition during pregnancy.
His growth and voice development stopped around the age of nine, leaving him less than 1.6 metres tall.
Even in adulthood, strangers often mistake Hou for a boy, asking his age or where he studies.
The exact diagnosis has not been made public, though mainland media described it as a lingering effect of premature birth or congenital developmental delay.
Rather than letting his condition define him, Hou immersed himself in acting, encouraged by strong family support.
He began attracting attention in 2005 when he appeared in the hit family sitcom Home with Kids, playing a primary school pupil alongside actors seven years his junior.
Then 19, he portrayed Huang Feihong, a boastful boy who called himself a “kung fu master” but actually helped scrub customers’ backs at his parents’ bathhouse.
The series later became one of China’s most influential sitcoms; its parenting themes and catchphrases continue to resonate with viewers across generations.
In 2006, Hou played Zhang Baojin, a rebellious 14-year-old son, in the television drama Stepfather.
He told China Daily that the director cast him almost immediately after meeting him through a friend’s recommendation.
“For me, it is not easy to come across a script and a role that I truly like,” Hou said.
At 23, he took on the role of “Little Gold Nugget” in the hit period drama Chuang Guandong, playing a young survivor in a brutal gold-mining camp.
Hou reportedly studied the character’s background carefully and visited mining areas to better understand the role.
He later told Sina Entertainment that his childlike appearance, which others saw as a disadvantage, was in fact a rare asset, allowing him to bring an adult’s understanding to teenage roles.
At 26, he played the clever and mischievous boy in Tunnel Warfare, earning praise from the director, who called him a “scene stealer”.
But Hou has also acknowledged the limits of his image.
In an interview with City Daily, he said that although audiences recognised him, he was often confined to child roles.
“I hope I can fully master every role within this range. That, too, counts as a kind of success for an actor,” he said.
According to mainland reports, Hou married Zhao Yin, his former secondary school classmate, in 2013. The couple later chose not to have children.
Their wedding photographs once attracted cruel online remarks, with some netizens saying Hou and his wife “looked like mother and son”.
Hou appeared unfazed by the criticism. He has since lived a quiet, stable life with his wife and taken on fewer acting roles.
In March, the 40-year-old appeared on the mainland historical drama Zhanqi Ruhua playing a teenage soldier who rushes towards enemy troops with explosives to protect his comrades.
Although Hou has never won major awards and has mostly played supporting roles, his persistence has won the sympathy of many viewers.
One supporter said: “It is his sincerity and pure love of acting that moved his wife and the audiences. He is ordinary, even a little flawed, but that makes him closer to people like us.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
