The entertainment industry mourns the passing of Barbie Hsu, whose death was confirmed by her family earlier today, February 3, 2025.
The Taiwanese actress is best known for originating the role of Shan Cai in the 2001 drama Meteor Garden. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the unfortunate news through her agent. She detailed that Barbie passed on a family trip abroad over the course of Chinese New Year.
Dee was quoted saying, "Our whole family came to Japan for a trip, and my dearest and most kindhearted sister Barbie Hsu died of influenza-induced pneumonia and unfortunately left us."
"I was grateful to be her sister in this life and that we got to care for and spend time with each other. I will always be grateful to her and miss her!"
Barbie has made a significant impact on Asian cinema, as evidenced by her range of characters and the accolades she's collected through the years. In honor of her memory, we list down important facts to know about her.
Who Was Barbie Hsu? Facts About the Late Taiwanese Actress
1. Barbie was an alumnus of the Taipei Hwa Kang Arts School.
Barbie was born on October 6, 1976 in Taipei, Taiwan. The middle child of three sisters, she pursued her studies at the Taipei Hwa Kang Arts School. Other alumni from the school who went on to join show business include Tiffany Anne Hsu and Chloe Wang.
2. Barbie was in a pop duo with her sister Dee.
Barbie began her career alongside her sister Dee as pop duo S.O.S.. They enjoyed some fame in the '90s before rebranding to variety show hosts. One of the last emcee gigs Barbie had was on Chinese TV program Miss Beauty.
3. Barbie made her acting debut in 2001 with Meteor Garden.
Barbie's role as Shan Cai in the 2001 drama Meteor Garden gained widespread popularity all over Asia, including the Philippines. Her tandem with Jerry Yan, who portrayed F4 leader Dao Ming Si in the coming-of-age series, became an iconic pairing for many fans. The first season of the show was followed by a sequel in 2002.
4. Barbie won a Best Actress award from an international film festival.
Having ventured onto the big screen in 2005, Barbie has starred in a number of films produced by Taiwanese and Chinese houses. For her leading role in the 2012 monster movie Croczilla, she was lauded as the Best Actress at the 4th Macau International Film Festival.
5. Barbie was married to Korean act DJ Koo.
Barbie first met her husband Koo Jun Yup, a.k.a. DJ KOO in 1998. The two parted ways after a "relationship scandal" hit the latter's agency. However, they were able to rekindle their relationship in 2022 after Barbie divorced her ex-husband Wang Xiaofei.
6. Barbie was a published author.
Aside from her work on screen, Barbie also published books that showcased her knack of poetry and shared some of her beauty secrets. She's the author behind the beauty book Mei Rong Da Wang and its succeeding edition.
7. Barbie has a hotel in Taipei named after her.
Barbie's ex-husband Wang Xiaofei named the S Hotel in Taipei's Dunhua North Road after her. Designed by French architect Philippe Starck, the establishment borrows its name from Barbie's nickname, "Big S."
8. Barbie had two children.
Barbie is survived by her two children with Wang, namely Wang Hsi-yueh and Wang Hsi-lin. The legendary actress was only 48 years old at the time of her passing.
We send our deepest condolences to Barbie's family and friends.
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