Li Yitong Opens Up About the Pressure Behind Slap Scenes: Every Hit on Screen Is More Difficult Than

Chinese actress Li Yitong has recently drawn attention for several intense slap scenes in her latest work. On screen, her character delivers each slap with anger and determination, creating moments that have quickly become a talking point among viewers.

But behind those powerful scenes is a much more complicated process.

A slap scene may last only a few seconds on screen, yet actors have to carefully coordinate emotions, movement, camera angles and physical distance. The action must look convincing enough to convey the character's anger, while remaining controlled enough to avoid causing unnecessary harm to the other actor. Different camera positions can also require the same scene to be performed repeatedly.

Li has previously spoken about the pressure actors can experience during emotionally demanding scenes. When discussing crying scenes, she said that one of the most difficult moments is having the entire crew waiting for her to enter the required emotional state. When the emotion does not come naturally, the atmosphere can create an invisible sense of pressure.

Her comments offer some insight into the challenges behind the more intense scenes audiences see on screen.

Li has also emphasized that she prefers to express a character's emotions naturally rather than deliberately adding theatrical movements simply to make a performance appear more sophisticated. In her view, understanding the character and genuinely experiencing the emotions of the moment are essential to making a performance convincing.

That approach is particularly relevant to physical confrontation scenes. A slap is only the visible action; what gives the moment its impact is the anger, frustration, pain or resentment behind it. The actor must make the audience believe that the reaction is coming from the character rather than simply being performed for the camera.

Throughout her career, Li Yitong has taken on a wide range of roles and repeatedly challenged herself as an actress. She has previously said that she often reviews her own performances and finds areas where she can improve, viewing each project as another opportunity to grow.

For viewers, a powerful slap scene may look spontaneous and effortless. For the actors and production team, however, it can involve careful preparation, repeated takes and precise coordination.

Behind every dramatic moment on screen is often far more work than the audience can see. For Li Yitong, the real challenge is not simply delivering a slap, but making the emotion behind that moment feel genuine.