She has been called "arguably the most important actress in the recent history of Yueju [Shaoxing] opera".

[2] Yuan is most known for playing the title role in the 1946 production of Sister Xianglin, an adaptation of a work by Lu Xun.

[4] Yuan is credited with leading the reform of Yue opera staging during the 1940s.

Changes included the extensive use of lighting and scenery, and a new, soft style of costuming.

During the Cultural Revolution, Yuan was severely persecuted as a way of attacking Premier Zhou Enlai, who supported the film.