The King's Woman

• Dilraba Dilmurat as Gongsun Li

A kind and caring woman who was in love with Jing Ke. After he was poisoned, she gives herself up to the King in order to pay for the cure. She soon finds herself falling in love with Ying Zheng and willing to do anything for him. She tends to put others before herself and doesn’t care if she gets hurt. She holds the affection of Jing Ke, Ying Zheng, and Han Shen. She also has a child with Jing Ke named Tianming.

• Vin Zhang as Ying Zheng

The King of Qin who plans to unite China. As a child, he fell in love with Gongsun Li, one of the first people to show him compassion. Years later, he runs into her and recognizes her as the girl who saved him. He immediately makes her a fugitive in order to force her to become his wife. He is known for his unpredictable temper and is feared by everyone in his court. He has two sons, Fusu, his biological son, and Tian Ming, Gongsun Li's son.

• Li Tai as Han Shen

The senior disciple of both Jing Ke and Gongsun Li. He is in love with her and is willing to protect her with his life. When Li first entered the palace, Han Shen followed her and became an imperial guard to protect her. He is known as a skilled martial artist and sword master.

• Chang Liu as Jing Ke

Gongsun Li's second senior disciple and Han Shen's junior disciple. He is in love with Gongsun Li and has a special relationship with Ge Lan. He is skilled in Swan Swordsmanship, a deadly sword technique that was passed down from his master. He planned to assassinate Ying Zheng, but ultimately failed.

• Zhang Xuan as Ge Lan

Jing Ke and Gongsun Li's close friend. She is the daughter of a skilled sword master, Ge Nie. She is in love with Jing Ke, but holds in her feelings because she knows he’ll never love her back. She is light hearted and kind, often putting others before herself.

• Li Qiang as Lü Buwei

Ying Zheng's biological father. He used his son to gain his position in the royal court. After he is banished, he faked his death and helped an enemy territory. He is then killed by Ying Zheng.

• Chen Yisha as Queen Dowager Zhao

Ying Zheng's mother and Lü Buwei's lover. After her lover, Lao Ai, is killed, she goes crazy and is punished to be confined in the Southern Palace.

• Yang Tong as Li Zhong

He is Ying Zheng's closest friend and head of the royal palace guards. He ends up sacrificing himself in the duel between Ying Zheng and Jing Ke.

• Su Youchen as Zhao Chengjiao

Ying Zheng's brother who was coerced to rebel. He then surrendered and is punished by reduction to a lower rank. They indirectly make peace thanks to Li Er's intervention.

• Liao Xueqiu as Queen Dowager Huayang

Ying Zheng's grandmother and the head of all concubines. She hates Gongsun Li and would do anything to make sure she doesn’t become queen.

• Wang Ting as Lady Chu

A concubine from Chu who is close with Queen Dowager Huayang. She is scheming and sabotages Gongsun Li as much as possible. However, she grows to be a more mature and considerate person - even advising Li Er to protect herself against Ying Zheng. She then hung herself to save Chu state.

• Qiu Yinong as Lady Min

A concubine who is close friends with Gongsun Li. It is then revealed that she purposely married into Qin so she could help her homeland.

• Zhang Gu as Zhao Gao

An advisor of Ying Zheng who is willing to do anything to help his homeland, Zhao. He worked with Lady Min in order to ensure Zhao's safety.

• Zhao Tingliang as Li Si

A member of the royal court who is jealous of anybody who could threaten his position.

• Liu Haochen as Lao Ai

A lover of Queen Dowager Zhao who used her seal to rebel.

• Zhou Xiaopeng as Sima Kong
• Yuan He as Yao Gu
• Cheng Dachun as Ji Fengjian
• Zhu He as Mang Bianlin
• Li Junying as Kuang Huoquan
• Yuan Zhiwei as Rui Lishan
• Huang Qian as Meng Wu
• Meng Yuli as Jing Liangren

• Sean Pai as Crown Prince Dan

A prince of Dan who was imprisoned his whole life in the Qin Kingdom. Although Ying Zheng views him as a close friend, Yan Dan believes that Ying Zheng is a cruel person. Gongsun Li helped him escape Qin.

• Yao Kan as Tian Guang

Prince Dan's royal tutor that sacrifices himself for Dan.

• Jiang Yi as Gao Jianli

• Wang Tonghui as Ge Nie
• Yang Zhe as Gongsun Yu
• Sun Kan as Crown Prince Jia
• Lin Jiandong as Dou Yi
• Jin Youming as Xiahou Yang

To immerse in the role, Vin Zhang prepared a month long beforehand to learn about the related history and the background of Qin Shi Huang.[5] During this period, Zhang also learnt horse riding for the scenes required by the series.[5] The King's Woman is Dilraba Dilmurat's fourth collaboration with Vin Zhang after V Love, Eternal Love, and Pretty Li Hui Zhen.[6]

The series was filmed on set at the Hengdian Studios throughout the Lunar New Year of 2017.[7]