3 Works that Pushed Barbie Hsu to Stardom: 1 Image Went Viral across the Net
Barbie Hsu, one of the brightest stars in Taiwan’s film industry, recently passed away, leaving her fans deeply saddened. Although her acting career was not long, she left a lasting impression as a symbol of beauty and talent.
Today, let’s take a look at 3 among Barbie Hsu’s most iconic works that catapulted her into stardom.
Reign of Assassins
The first on the list is “Reign of Assassins.” This film tells the story of Zeng Jing (Michelle Yeoh) and Jiang Ah-sheng (Jung Woo-sung). They are a happy couple, with Zeng Jing being a devoted wife and Jiang Ah-sheng loving her dearly.
However, their peaceful life is disrupted when the notorious Dark Stone gang finds them. It turns out that in the past, Zeng Jing was a feared assassin known as Drizzle (Xi Yu). However, she had gone into hiding, taking with her the mummified remains of a legendary Indian Buddhist monk, Bodhi — a treasure that the Dark Stone gang wants to steal.
As Zeng Jing must face off against elite assassins sent by Dark Stone, she worries about her scholarly husband. But unexpectedly, Jiang Ah-sheng, like her, has a hidden past that no one knows about. As the film progresses, shocking secrets are revealed.
In “Reign of Assassins,” Barbie Hsu plays the role of the female assassin Ye Zhanqing (Turquoise). She is a seductive assassin who plans to lure and humiliate the seemingly naive Jiang Ah-sheng. The image of Ye Zhanqing, lying naked under a blanket, became one of the most famous scenes of Barbie Hsu’s career.
Meteor Garden
Next, it is a must to mention the TV series “Meteor Garden,” which aired in 2001. The drama revolves around Shancai, a kind-hearted girl. Despite coming from a poor family, Shancai attends a school for the rich and elite.
Here, four boys — Daoming Si, Huaze Lei, Ximen, and Meizuo — form the F4 group. They are the “kings” of the school, and no student dares to challenge them. However, Shancai is different, and this leads the F4 to plan to bully her. But the confrontations bring them closer together, and they eventually become friends. Shancai even wins the hearts of both Daoming Si and Huaze Lei.
When the show aired in 2001, “Meteor Garden” caused a sensation across Asia. Millions of viewers became captivated by the story of Shancai, played by Barbie Hsu, while also propelling the careers of Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu, and Vanness Wu to new heights.
Summer’s Desire
Another hugely popular work of Barbie Hsu is “Summer’s Desire,” which aired in 2010. This romantic work starred top actors Barbie Hsu, Huang Xiaoming, and Peter Ho.
“Summer’s Desire” is adapted from a novel of the same name by Ming Xiaoxi and tells the love triangle story between Yin Xiamo (Barbie Hsu), Luo Xi (Huang Xiaoming), and Ou Chen (Peter Ho). Yin Xiamo and Luo Xi are both orphans who met as children in their foster father’s home. Initially, they did not get along, but over time, they became close.
As for Ou Chen, he is a rich heir who falls in love with Yin Xiamo. When he sees her growing closer to Luo Xi, he arranges for Luo Xi to study abroad.
Five years later, Luo Xi returns as a top entertainment star. Yin Xiamo, now a newcomer in the entertainment company, meets “the boy from that year.” Meanwhile, Ou Chen takes over the family business and controls several entertainment companies. He reunites with Yin Xiamo and Luo Xi. The three characters’ lives go through many twists and turns, and their love faces many obstacles. All of this creates a deeply emotional film that the audience will never forget.