Zhang Yixing
| Zhang Yixing (Lay) | |
|---|---|
Lay at the 24th Seoul Music Awards in January 2015
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| Background information | |
| Chinese name | (traditional) |
| Chinese name | (simplified) |
| Pinyin | Zhāng Yìxīng (Mandarin) |
| Jyutping | Zoeng1 Ngai6 Hing1 (Cantonese) |
| Born |
October 7, 1991 Changsha, Hunan, China |
| Occupation | |
| Genre(s) | |
| Instrument(s) | |
| Label(s) |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | lay |
Zhang Yixing (simplified Chinese: 张艺兴; traditional Chinese: 張藝興; pinyin: Zhāng Yìxīng); Korean: 장이씽; Japanese: レイ, 張芸興; born October 7, 1991), better known as Lay (Korean: 레이), is a Chinese singer-songwriter, record producer, author, dancer, and actor. He is a member and the main dancer of the South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo and its sub-unit Exo-M. He first became known after participating in the Chinese TV talent show Star Academy in 2005. In January 2015, Lay was ranked 5th on Baidu's "2014 Top 10 Most Popular Celebrities" list. In September 2015, he released his autobiography titled Standing Firm at 24, which broke several online book records. In July 2016, Lay was appointed by the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) of Changsha as the publicity ambassador, the first celebrity to hold such title. On October 28, 2016, Lay released his mini album Lose Control in both South Korea and China. The EP was a commercial success peaking at number 1 on the Gaon Album Chart.
Lay was born in Changsha, Hunan, China on October 7, 1991. In 2000, at 9 years old, he participated in a Chinese TV show as the fan club member of the actor and singer Jimmy Lin, giving him his first contact with the entertainment industry. Lay began his career as a local child star in the province of Hunan, after winning third place in a competition organized by the popular TV show Star Academy in 2005. He also appeared in an episode of Yue Ce Yue Xin Kai and Liu Na's variety show, Na Ke Bu Yi Yang between 2005 and 2006. In April 2006, he auditioned to star in the series The Duke of Mount Deer directed by Zhang Jizhong. Despite being one of the finalists, he did not win the role. In 2008, Lay joined S.M. Entertainment after a successful audition with the company's global casting system in Changsha. At the time of the auditions, he was 16 years old and was studying for his college entrance exams. In 2011, prior to debut with Exo, he briefly worked with SHINee during their concert tour as Jonghyun's dance replacement.
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