Lay

Zhang Yixing was born Zhang Jiashuai (Chinese: 张加帅; pinyin: Zhāng Jiāshuài) in Changsha, Hunan, China on October 7, 1991. His legal name was later changed to Zhang Yixing. His first known acting role was at age six, starring as Huan Huan in the 1998 Chinese television drama We The People. In 2000, at age nine, Zhang participated in a Chinese television show as a fan club member of the Taiwanese singer and actor Jimmy Lin, Zhang's first contact with the entertainment industry. Zhang began became a local child star after winning third place in a competition organized by the Hunan-based television 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 for a leading part in Zhang Jizhong's The Duke of Mount Deer but did not win the role despite being a finalist. In 2008, Zhang auditioned for SM Entertainment at the South Korean company's global casting audition in Wuhan. At the time, he was 16 years old and studying at the High School Attached to Hunan Normal University. After successfully passing the auditions, Zhang moved to South Korea to complete his idol training. In 2011, prior to his debut with Exo, he briefly worked with Shinee on their Shinee World Tour as Jonghyun's dance replacement.