Feng Yuanzheng. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For Feng, who started life as a professional theater actor in 1991, his performance on stage is not only connected to Chinese history, but, surprisingly, with a little-known Western tradition.

Feng says most of China's actors follow the Stanislavsky method, a performance theory developed by Russian actor and theater director Konstantin Stanislavsky (1863-1938). The system, based on multiple sources and cultures, requires actors to immerse themselves into the world of their roles.

"So does that mean that if I play a doctor who abuses his family I should beat my wife?" he asks.

Interestingly, Feng is remembered for his impressive portrayal of a violent surgeon, who almost beats his wife to death over doubts about her virginity, in the 2002 hit TV series Don't Respond to Strangers.

Now, stills from that TV drama are sometimes used as educational materials by the police, and Feng says that some viewers have told him that his character haunted them and gave them nightmares.

Feng's real life, however, bears no resemblance to the character. The actor, in fact, has been married for 22 years.