Throughout her more than 20-year career, Song Hye Kyo has often been embroiled in controversies involving her male colleagues. However, she has rarely spoken openly to the media about her admiration for her male co-stars. Kaneshiro Takeshi is the only person Song Hye Kyo has publicly expressed her admiration for, whether as a young actress at the start of her career or as a superstar celebrated across Asia.
In 2000, when Song Hye Kyo was just 19 years old and had recently risen to fame thanks to the drama “Autumn in My Heart,” she openly expressed her admiration for Kaneshiro Takeshi despite never having met him. A news article at the time, titled “The Korean Beauty Admired by All Secretly Admires Kaneshiro Takeshi,” revealed that Song Hye Kyo liked Kaneshiro because of his masculine charm. Although the language barrier meant she couldn’t understand what he said, his body language alone was enough to mesmerize her. Song Hye Kyo also commented that Kaneshiro Takeshi was born with the aura of a star. At that time, Song Hye Kyo may have been just another dreamy fangirl, but no one could have predicted that even now, she would continue to hold admiration for Kaneshiro Takeshi.
She is also a highly successful fangirl, as she even got the opportunity to star in a film with her idol. Specifically, in 2014, Song Hye Kyo appeared in “The Crossing” alongside a cast of Chinese stars. Although she didn’t share a romantic storyline with Kaneshiro Takeshi (her character was paired with Huang Xiaoming in the film), their relationship was very amicable. Once again, Song Hye Kyo publicly expressed her affection for her co-star despite the language barrier. Not only did she shower him with compliments, but she also admitted that Kaneshiro Takeshi was her “ideal boyfriend.”
At the time, her comments sparked controversy, with some accusing her of intentionally “creating a couple narrative” to promote the film. However, upon closer analysis, many pointed out that if she wanted to promote the movie, it would have made more sense for her to praise her on-screen partner, Huang Xiaoming. Rumors circulated suggesting that there might have been mutual romantic feelings, especially from Song Hye Kyo’s side, but due to geographical and linguistic differences, everything remained at the level of fleeting admiration.
Kaneshiro Takeshi, a mixed-race actor of Japanese and Chinese heritage, has been an enduring symbol of beauty in Asian entertainment for over two decades. The actor himself has admitted that his striking appearance sometimes overshadowed his acting and the effort he put into his roles. In recent years, Kaneshiro Takeshi has virtually disappeared from the screen. He hasn’t taken on new roles, rarely appears in the media, and doesn’t use social media. As Song Hye Kyo’s past comments resurface, fans are increasingly hopeful to see Kaneshiro Takeshi make a comeback to the screen and, most of all, to witness the two of them appear together again in the same frame.
