Barbie Hsu (also known as “Big S”) attends a Cosme Decorte event in Taipei, Taiwan, on October 27, 2018. The Taiwanese actress and singer has died at age 48 of pneumonia. -- Photo: Getty Images via SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
TAIPEI: Taiwanese actress, singer and TV personality Barbie Hsu has died at the age of 48.
A beloved icon of Asian entertainment who was popularly known as “Big S”, Hsu leaves a legacy that has touched millions of fans across the globe.
Her death was confirmed in a statement released in Chinese by her younger sister, Dee Hsu, through the latter’s representatives.
“I am so grateful to have been her sister,” it read. “We took care of each other through companionship and I will forever be grateful for her. I will always miss her.”
Born on October 6, 1976, in Taipei, Taiwan, Barbie Hsu began her career in 1994 as one half of the pop duo SOS with her sister (who is also known as “Small S”). The duo later changed their name to ASOS due to contractual disputes. Their first album was Zhanling Nianqing and their last album was Biantai Shaonu.
It was Barbie Hsu’s transition to acting, however, that catapulted her to stardom.
Hsu also explored her talent in hosting. Still with her sister, Dee, she hosted the TV variety show, Guess; the Taiwanese entertainment news and variety show 100% Entertainment, and Gourmet Secrets of the Stars.
She rose to fame with her leading role as Shan Cai in the 2001 Taiwanese drama series Meteor Garden alongside the “F4” (Jerry Yan as Daoming Si, Vic Chou as Huaze Lei, Vanness Wu as Meizuo, and Ken Chu as Ximen).
Shan Cai is a poor but brave girl who stands up for what she thinks is right, capturing Daoming Su’s attention and love. With this portrayal, Barbie Hsu was nominated at the 36th Golden Bell Award for Best Leading Actress in a TV Series. With the fame of the series, a sequel of Meteor Garden was produced the following year with the same lead actors and Barbie reprising her role as Shan Cai.
After the success of Meteor Garden, Barbie starred in a Chinese period drama series, Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story. She portrayed the role of Nie Xiao Quian, a woman who was taken by the Moon Kingdom when she was a child and later transformed into a fox spirit.
In 2004, together with Blue Lan, she starred in the Taiwanese romance TV series Say Yes Enterprise. The show was nominated for the Most Popular Television Series on the 39th Golden Bell Awards and the Best Television Series on the 40th.
Barbie Hsu or “Da S” and Dee Hsu or “Xiao S” form the pop duo SOS.
Barbie reunited with her Meteor Garden co-star Vic Chou in another Taiwanese TV series, Mars. In this series, Barbie played the role of Han Qi Luo, an introverted woman protected by Vic Chou from being sexually harassed. The two characters became friends and eventually fell in love.
She had her film debut through The Ghost Inside, a 2005 Chinese horror film that was said to be the most expensive horror film ever made during that time. The movie was about an apartment that was haunted by a mother who committed murder-suicide.
She was also a part of another horror film, Silk, a Taiwanese horror film that was submitted and played at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It is about a team of ghost hunters enjoying themselves through paranormal activities.
She returned to acting in a series via Corner With Love with Show Lo. Here, she played Xinlei, an intelligent, confident, and beautiful young woman born and raised with wealth. It is a meet-cute, rich-girl, poor-boy romance series broadcast internationally. For her portrayal here, she was nominated for Best Actress at the 14th Shanghai Television Festival.
Barbie enjoyed success, jumping from one project to another.
She got a role in My So Called Love and the film, Connected. Connected was her first Hong Kong film and was in the action genre. It was also a remake of the 2004 American film, Cellular. For Connected, she was nominated for Best Actress at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards.
She also ventured into comedy with On His Majesty’s Secret Service in 2009 where she starred opposite Louis Koo, her co-star in Connected. The following year, she was on a roll and starred in movies Summer’s Desire, Hot Summer Days, Future X-Cops, Reign of Assassins, and Adventures of the King.
But shortly before her marriage to Chinese entrepreneur Wang Xiaofei in March 2011, she worked on her last two projects, Croczilla and Motorways. In 2012, her last active year in the entertainment scene, she won her first Best Actress award for the movie Croczilla at the 4th Macau International Movie Festival.
She and Wang Xiaofei divorced in 2021; they have two children.
Following their divorce, Barbie and her ex-boyfriend Koo Jun Yup, a popular South Korean DJ and singer known as DJ Koo, got back together and tied the knot in February 2022.
Citing Yahoo, Znews reported that Hsu was last seen publicly on Jan. 25 at a party she attended with her husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo. In a photograph taken at the event, which was hosted by a friend of the couple, Barbie appears healthy and glowing, dressed in a white chiffon dress accented with a black jacket.
Taiwanese actress, singer and TV personality Barbie Hsu, who commanded a devoted following in Thailand, has died at the age of 48.
Some facts of Barbie Hsu, the famous actress/TV host known as 'Big S' in East Asia
She was a popular TV host in Taiwan
After being launched as a musical artist, Barbie and her sister also delved into the world of hosting. They were co-hosts in a variety show called Guess Guess Guess, an entertainment news program called 100% Entertainment, a cooking show called Gourmet Secrets of the Stars, and a makeup reality show called Miss Beauty, all broadcasted in Taiwan.
She is a published author
Four years after rising in popularity because of Meteor Garden, Barbie released a beauty book under the name Mei Rong Da Wang called “Beauty Queen: Secrets of Beauty Treatment”. Published only in Chinese, this book is where the actress shared her personal beauty advice.
She has a hotel in her name
While married to her first husband, he named four-star boutique hotel S Hotel after his wife, after her “Big S” nickname from her pop duo days. The hotel is located at the Songshan district in Taipei, Taiwan and was designed by French designer Philippe Starck. The hotel announced its closure in August 2024.
She is a hopeless romantic
Not unlike the rollercoaster romance her character Shancai went through onscreen, Barbie’s love life is also screen worthy, having gone through whirlwind weddings. She first wed Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in Beijing in 2011 after just 20 days of dating. They were together for 11 years and have two children. Three months after the divorce, she married DJ Koo (Koo Jun-yup) in 2022.
She had a life-threatening third pregnancy
Growing up in the public eye, Barbie has always been open about her medical difficulties. She has always felt blessed to have her 10-year old daughter Wang Hsi-yueh and 9-year old son Wang Hsi-lin with her first husband. After getting pregnant last year, Barbie’s condition proved to be life-threatening where she suffered an epileptic fit caused by a cold when she was just seven weeks on the way. The pregnancy ended up being terminated as it was later found out that no fetal heartbeat was found.
Barbie Hsu with her first and last love and second husband, Korean DJ Koo Jun-yup.
As the world mourns the passing of the beloved Taiwanese star, Barbie’s legacy as a passionate and talented artist will continue to live on in the indelible mark she has made on and off screen with everyone she has touched after all these years.
And as fans mourn her unexpected passing on Monday (February 3) due to pneumonia caused by influenza complications, here’s a look at some of her most memorable work that left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
Meteor Garden (2001)
Meteor Garden, a Taiwanese adaptation of the popular Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, made Barbie a household name. The series was a massive hit across Asia, especially in the Philippines, where it introduced the "Asianovela" phenomenon. Barbie played the role of Shan Cai, a strong-willed and kind-hearted girl who becomes entangled with the elite and arrogant F4 group.
The drama became widely popular, with fans even visiting some of the shooting locations in Taiwan to recreate iconic scenes. A sequel followed in 2002, telling the story of Shan Cai as she tried to help Dao Ming Si regain his lost memories after a car accident in Barcelona.
Mars (2004)
Starring alongside her Meteor Garden co-star Vic Zhou, Barbie showcased her range as an actress in the drama Mars.The series told the story of an outgoing young man, Chen Ling (Vic), who falls in love with a shy art student, Qi Luo (Barbie), after seeing her artwork depicting a mother and baby.
Mars became one of the most popular dramas in Taiwan in 2005. Interestingly, Barbie and Vic started dating in 2005 but ended their relationship after three years.
The Ghost Inside (2005)
Taking a turn into the horror genre, Barbie portrayed Lin Xiaoyue, a young mother fleeing from her abusive husband with their daughter, only to be haunted by a ghost who suffered a similar fate in the film The Ghost Inside.
Produced by the China Film Group, the film was the most expensive horror film ever made in China at the time of its filming.
Corner With Love (2007)
Bringing both romance and comedy, Barbie paired up with Taiwanese actor Show Lo in Corner With Love. The series tells the story of a wealthy girl and a struggling artist whose paths cross unexpectedly, leading to an endearing love story filled with heartwarming moments and humor.
Connected (2008)
Barbie thrilled audiences with her role in the Hong Kong action thriller Connected. She played a kidnapped woman who manages to reach out to a stranger for help, leading to an intense race against time.
The film was inspired by the Hollywood movie Cellular and was created in response to Hong Kong’s increasing cell phone user population at the time.
On His Majesty's Secret Service (2009)
Stepping into a more lighthearted and action-packed role, Barbie starred in the comedic martial arts film On His Majesty’s Secret Service. She played Faithful, the fiancée of one of the emperor’s 12 secret royal guards, Royal Dog.
The film served as a parody of the 1996 film Forbidden City Cop (for its Chinese title) and the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service (for its English title).
Summer’s Desire (2010)
Returning to intense romantic drama, Barbie played Yin Xiaomo in Summer’s Desire, a series adapted from a novel. Once again caught between two powerful men, her character navigates a complex love story that captivated audiences.
Barbie also showcased her musical talents by singing three of the series' official soundtracks: “Diamond,” “Mermaid in the Foam,” and “This is Love.” - Agencies
