Other roles outstand Mei
Especially Meng Xiaodong and Qiu Rubai. It seems Mei is dwarfed by them.
We are all globe villagers.
According to one reviewer, Leon Lai was wrong for the role, and the performance "too passive". If you watch the entire cast, one sees Qui shielding and "protecting" Mei Lanfang from the outer world, and his wife exercising control over his career. That left him free to focus entirely on his art, and in all other areas need not lift a finger in his own behalf.
Mei's is a passive role in that context, and there's no reason to doubt it an accurate portrayal of both. Many in show business are, off stage/screen, quiet, even shy. Yet they put everything into their performances so one doesn't know that about them, or one sees the stark contrast.