Ma was born to an ethnic Hui family in Wucheng county, Dezhou, Shandong, China.

They suggested that he pursue a career as an actor and advised him to undertake the entrance examination for the Beijing Film Academy.

Grappling with shyness during the auditions, Ma decided to participate in the talent competition My Hero (2006) to bolster his self-confidence.

In 2006, Ma became the regional champion for the Wuhan area and came sixth in the final round of My Hero; he was elected the most popular contestant.

[8] Ma first gained public attention in 2011 when he starred in wuxia drama The Vigilantes in Masks alongside Wallace Huo and Cecilia Liu.

The film broke a million admissions and Ma received acclaim for his dynamic portrayal of a "tragic hero".

[25] The same year, he starred in the television series historical drama Secret of the Three Kingdoms, playing Liu Xie;[26] and romance melodrama All Out of Love.