Actress Barbie Hsu dies at 48

Taiwan is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved actresses.

Barbie Hsu, known for her remarkable talent and captivating screen presence, has passed away at the age of 48.

One of the biggest stars

Barbie Hsu, the Taiwanese actress who rose to fame with her role in the popular TV series Meteor Garden, has passed away at 48 due to pneumonia, local media reports confirm.

Barbie Hsu, widely known by her stage name Big S, starred in both seasons of the hit TV series Meteor Garden, which ran between 2001 and 2002. During the 2000s, when Taiwanese dramas and music were at the forefront of regional pop culture, Meteor Garden became a massive hit with its modern, high school twist on the classic Cinderella story.

Thanks to the widespread success of the series, which aired in multiple countries, Barbie Hsu rose to become one of the biggest stars in the Mandarin-speaking world.

The show’s popularity extended beyond Taiwan, making her a familiar face in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, where it was dubbed into local languages.

In 2010, she secured the 33rd spot on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list.

Speculation about her death

Speculation about Barbie Hsu’s death began circulating online on Sunday, February 2, and intensified after her ex-husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, reportedly changed his social media profile picture to black.

The heartbreaking news was finally confirmed by Barbie Hsu’s younger sister, Dee Hsu.

”Thank you all for your concern! During the New Year holiday, our whole family travelled to Japan. My dearest and kindest sister, Xiyuan, unfortunately passed away due to flu-related pneumonia,” Dee said in a statement to Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS News.

The statement did not specify the exact time or location of Barbie Hsu’s passing. However, Taiwanese television producer Wang Wei-chung, a close friend of the Hsu family, later informed reporters that the family remains in Japan, where Hsu passed away, and is in the process of bringing her remains back home.

Hsu’s rise to stardom began at the age of 17 when she formed a pop duo with her sister Dee, quickly gaining popularity. The sisters later became TV hosts, but Hsu is best remembered for her role as Shancai in Meteor Garden.

In recent years, Barbie Hsu had maintained a low profile. Her final role was providing voice work for the dubbed version of the Pixar superhero film Incredibles 2 (2018).

Aya Liu, a longtime friend and host, shared on Weibo that she had met Hsu at a gathering just last month, where they had promised to meet more often.

”I didn’t think that would be our last gathering,” Liu wrote. ”Rest in peace, the most beautiful queen.”

Tributes pouring in

Tributes from fans poured in on social media, honoring Hsu’s legacy and remembering her for the joy she brought to many through her work.

”Big S has always been a part of my youth,” wrote one fan on Threads, referring to Hsu by her nickname.

An X user wrote: ”Meteor Garden raised an entire generation of Asians. Thank you Barbie Hsu for giving life to Shancai.”

According to the BBC, Barbie Hsu had a history of health issues, including epilepsy and heart conditions. She had been hospitalized several times for treatment and even faced a life-threatening situation during the birth of one of her son.

She is survived by her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo (they were set to celebrate their third wedding anniversary on February 8). Hsu also had two children from a previous marriage with the businessman Wang Xiaofei, a 10-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son.

My deepest condolences to you and your family, and prayers for comfort and strength during this difficult time. A young, talented beauty taken too soon, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew her. May her memory continue to shine brightly.