20 of the most Popular Taiwanese Actresses

20 of the most Popular Taiwanese Actresses

Originally published by Charity N August 2022 and Updated by Beatrice J on May 2024

The cinema of Taiwan is entwined deeply with the island’s history. Cinema has developed in Taiwan through several distinct stages. It has developed outside the Hong Kong mainstream and the censorship of the People’s Republic of China on the mainland.

The film and television scene in Taiwan is flush. Scores of projects are in production and are pouring money into new titles. Taiwanese film and television content creators are eyeing the global market with renewed ambition. They are placing their bets on international streamers. They bring with them the promise of taking Taiwanese content to the world.

Taiwanese cinema is composed of drama and series. Actresses have come and gone. They have made the industry flourish because of their beauty and prowess. The Taiwan cinema industry just like the rest is full of males. However, some women have come up to compete against and mark their place. The market is thirsty and their young blood is enough to quest the thirst. Here are some of the most popular Taiwan actresses currently:

1.Shu Qi

Shu Qi. Image by Georges Biard – Wikimedia

Lin Li-hui is better known by her stage name Shu Qi. She was on born 16 April 1976, in Taiwan. She is an actress and model. Her name is spelled in a variety of ways, including Hsu Qi, Hsu Chi, Qi Shu, and Shu Kei. There are quite a few other variations on her name on foreign internet sites.

She has won the prestigious Golden Horse Award in Taiwan. This award is regarded as the East Asian Oscar. She was awarded Best Supporting Actress in 1998. She has also received a Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress in 2005. She appeared with Jackie Chan in the romantic comedy Gorgeous (1999).

Shu has ranked several times on Forbes China Celebrity 100 over the years.

2. Joe Chen

Joe Chen. Image by User:悟空 – Wikimedia

 Joe Chen or Chen Chiao-en was on born 4^th April 1979. She is a Taiwanese actress, singer, and television host. She is known as the Queen of Idol Dramas.

She is best known for her roles in The Prince Who Turns into a Frog (2005), Fated to Love You (2008), and The Queen of SOP (2012). She was nominated at the 43^rd Golden Bell Awards for her role in Fated to Love You.

In 2013, Chen’s popularity rose in China. She gained a large number of fans for her role in the Chinese wuxia series Swordsman. Chen also entered the Forbes China Celebrity 100 List for the first time. She solidified her popularity in the highly rated television series Cruel Romance (2015), Destined to Love You (2015), Stay with Me (2016), and Candle in the Tomb (2016).

3. Ruby Lin

 Ruby Lin. Image by funchun liu – Wikimedia

Ruby Lin Xinru was born on January 27^th, 1977. She is an actress, television and film producer, and pop singer. She has been named Lin as Taiwan’s TV Drama Queen in the past.

She rose to national and regional prominence overnight for her role as Xia Ziwei in the TV series My Fair Princess (1998-1999). My Fair Princess was highly popular in East and Southeast countries; launching Lin as a household name in Asia.

In 1999, she also began a singing career. Her debut album Heartbeat was released in Hong Kong first among Asian countries and has since released 5 albums.

She has been successful in series having roles in hit after hit from 2001 to 2014. She also does film. She started her studio in 2009. There she has been producing TV dramas and films starring herself, both in mainland China and Taiwan. She won her Best Producer at the 2012 TV Drama Awards Made in China, and her first Taiwanese drama production The Way We Were (2014) won three out of seven nominations, including Best Television Series at the 50th Golden Bell Awards.

4. Janine Chang

Janine Chang. Image by Condé Nast – Wikimedia

Janine Chang Chun-Ning was born on 4^th September 1982. She is a Taiwanese actress. She attended National Taipei University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in law. In June 2010, Chang graduated from the Institute of Industrial Economics at National Central University with a master’s degree.

Chang ranked several times on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list.

5. Ariel Lin

Ariel Lin. Image by ELLE TAIWAN – Wikimedia

Ariel Lin Yi-Chen was born on 29^th October 1982. She is an actress and singer. She rose to fame for her role in the Taiwanese drama It Started with a Kiss (2005) and the Chinese fantasy drama The Little Fairy (2006).

She won Best Actress at the 43^rd and 47^th Golden Bell Awards for her roles in They Kiss Again (2007) and In Time with You (2011) respectively.

She is the only one of two women to receive multiple Best Actress awards in Taiwan. She not only rakes in huge endorsement deals all over Asia. She has also been nicknamed Queen of Zero Scandals by the Taiwanese media. This is for the lack of personal gossip attached to her name.

6. Rainie Yang

Rainie Yang. Image by The Star light13 – Wikimedia

Rainie Yang was born on June 4^th, 1984. She made her debut in a girl band. She however propelled to superstardom when she took on a major role in Meteor Garden. She was at the tender age of 16. Unlike most teenage celebrities, however, she remained hugely popular through the years, continuing her successful singing career while acting.

Her long-running successful career includes To Get Her, in which she played an introverted comic book fan who meets and falls in love with a superstar.

7. Megan Lai

Megan Lai. Image by Rico Shen – Wikimedia

 Megan Lai was born on December 5^th, 1979. She is an experienced actress. She can exude feminine charms at times and play a suave tomboy at others. She has had a large variety of roles. She received widespread recognition following her role in Bromance. However, she had other earlier, equally engaging productions.

For a good feel of Megan Lai’s versatility, a romantic comedy, Miss Rose is one to watch. She plays a frustrated single woman determined to get married within a year:

8. Annie Chen

Annie Chen. Image by 邱鈺鋒 – Wikimedia

Annie Cheng was born on April 28^th, 1989. She is one of the youngest actresses in Taiwan. She boasts more than 10 leading roles under her belt. That’s not unexpected for a girl who took to acting with such determination. In addition to having incredible chemistry with her costars, she portrays familial emotions realistically and beautifully.

Fans of Taiwanese dramas would be hard-pressed to name the best Annie Chen drama. Inborn Pair is one film in which she brought out her talent. It is about a couple forced to get married.

9. Mandy Wei

Mandy Wei. Image by Rico Shen – Wikimedia

Mandy Wei was born on September 5^th, 1984. She started as a model. She made her industry debut comparatively later than her peers. Thanks to her stunning looks and affable personality, she quickly rose to become one of Taiwan’s most recognized faces.

Mandy Wei starred opposite Kingone Wang in Swimming Battle. It details the turnaround of a school’s dying swim team. It’s unusual for Taiwanese dramas to feature sports other than basketball. However Swimming Battle is interesting because secrets are begging to be revealed.

10. Joanne Tseng

Joanne Tseng. ELLE TAIWAN – Wikimedia

Joanne Tseng was born on November 17^th, 1988. Few Taiwanese actresses started as members of idol groups. He is unlike most Taiwanese actors. Joanne Tseng is one rare example. Her interesting debut story doesn’t stop there. She debuted at just 14 years old. To date, she has more than 12 years of acting experience under her belt.

Marry Me or Not is one Joanne Tseng brought out her best. It is said to be one of the best-produced Taiwanese dramas. It is about best friends who fall out over a misunderstanding and became each other’s biggest nemesis.

11.Tiffany Hsu

As a talented actress who moves easily between genres, Tiffany Hsu has carved out a space for herself in Taiwanese entertainment. Her career has been on a continuous ascent, demonstrating her indisputable talent and rapport with the audience.

His big break came in the 2017 thriller “The Teenage Psychic.” She was able to excel in this humorous and action-packed entertaining series.

Hsu is talented in areas other than comedy acting. In the highly regarded drama “The World Between Us” (2019), she demonstrated her capacity to manage nuanced characters. She played a wife who was dealing with emotional manipulation and infidelity in this instance. Her delicate performance struck a chord with viewers and cemented her status as a serious performer.

12.Alyssa Chia

In Taiwan, Alyssa Chia is well-known due to her extensive career spanning more than thirty years. Since the beginning of her career in the early 1990s, she has enthralled audiences with her beauty, alluring on-screen persona, and unmistakable talent.

Chia gained early notoriety for her performance in the traditional Taiwanese drama ” (translated as “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”). She became well-known and established herself as a rising star in Taiwan’s entertainment business because to this series.

Chia has constantly pushed herself with a variety of jobs during her career. Her ability to shift from the innocent charm of her early career to the role of strong female lead has demonstrated her adaptability.

13.Ady An

Popular actress Ady An has successfully negotiated Taiwan’s and mainland China’s entertainment scenes. She has made a name for herself as a talented actress who can captivate audiences in both localities.

With her performance in “Ỷ Thiên Đồ Long Ký,” the Vietnamese translation of the well-known Chinese novel “The Legend of the Condor Heroes,” An’s career really took off. She has acted in a number of popular films, including “Trimming Happiness” (2012) and “Dolphins Love Whales” (2006).

An has found success in the romantic comedy subgenre, but she hasn’t stopped there. She has also embraced more sombre roles, demonstrating her versatility as an actress. Her openness to experiment with various genres is a defining feature of her work.

14.Lin Chi-ling

Lin Chi-ling is a gifted performer who has enthralled audiences with her formidable acting skills in addition to her breathtaking attractiveness. Her professional path is distinct; it started on the fashion industry’s runways and moved smoothly into the film industry.

Chi-ling became well-known as a supermodel, enthralling the public with her grace and elegance. She made a name for herself in the fashion world by appearing on magazine covers and worldwide runways.

But Chi-ling is not just talented in the fashion industry. She made her acting debut in the highly regarded historical epic “Red Cliff” (2008) in a supporting capacity. This movie, which was helmed by the well-known John Woo, gave her an opportunity to demonstrate her acting abilities on a large screen.

15.Gillian Chung

As one half of the well-known Taiwanese singing duo “Twins,” Gillian Chung has made a name for herself as a successful performer who has a talent for audiences in both musical and film genres.

Her career has been distinguished by a unique blend of fascinating cinematic roles, upbeat performances, and catchy tunes. The creation of “Twins” with her companion Charlene Choi marked the beginning of Chung’s career in entertainment.

Her big screen debut was in the spooky horror movie “The Eye” (2002). This movie, which was a remake of a horror film from Hong Kong, demonstrated Chung’s talent at handling dramatic moments and strong feelings. In her portrayal of a lady who receives a corneal transplant and begins to see horrific scenes, she gave a riveting performance.

16.Charlene Choi

Alongside Gillian Chung, Charlene Choi makes up the other half of the well-liked vocal group “Twins.” In addition to their success as musicians, Choi has made a name for herself in the movie business by acting in action-comedies and being vivacious.

The “Twins” formed in the late 1990s, marking the beginning of Choi’s career. They became one of Taiwan’s most well-liked singing groups due to their captivating tunes and lively personality.

Her early acting appearances in films highlighted her athleticism and comedic timing. In the action-comedy movie “The Twins Effect” (2003), Choi had her breakthrough performance. Here, she gave a dynamic performance that highlighted her abilities in both action scenes and physical humour.

17.Ella Chen

Ella Chen is a multi-talented artist who has established herself as an actor and singer in Taiwanese entertainment. Her experience is a perfect example of how music and television work together in Taiwan’s entertainment industry.

Chen became well-known for being a part of the well-liked female group “S.H.E.” Their upbeat live shows and infectious pop songs won over crowds, turning them become a household brand in Taiwan and throughout Asia.

Chen became well-known inside the group due to her engaging demeanor and strong vocals. But Chen’s goals went beyond only music. Her acting career began with appearances in dramas on Taiwanese television. Her pivotal performance was in the 2008 television series “The Girl We Chased Together.” Her coming-of-age tale gave her the chance to demonstrate her comedic timing.

18.Hebe Tien

Hebe Tien, better known by her stage name Hebe, is a gifted vocalist and infrequent actor who is praised for her stunning voice, alluring on-stage persona, and judicious casting choices. The founding of “S.H.E.” marked the start of Tien’s adventure.

They rose to prominence in Taiwan as one of the most well-liked girl groups, along with Ella Chen and Selina Jen. Hebe became an instant fan favorite thanks to her distinctive voice and compelling stage presence. But when it comes to acting, she has been more cautious than her fellow group members.

Tien hasn’t done much acting, but the roles she has played have had a significant impact. She costarred with Ella Chen in the 2010 movie “Love or Bread,” demonstrating her acting abilities. Her job in music, though, continues to be her main priority.

19.Eugenie Liu

Eugenie Liu, popularly known as Crystal Liu Yifei, is an actress who has gained acclaim both domestically and internationally for her roles in Hollywood and Taiwanese movies.

Her career demonstrates Taiwanese entertainment’s expanding worldwide significance. Liu’s career started in China, when at a young age she was cast in her first acting job. Nonetheless, her performance as the legendary warrior Mulan in the 2020 Disney live-action version brought her notoriety on a global scale.

Before making her screen debut in Hollywood, Liu became well-known in Taiwan as an actor. She acted in popular films such as John Woo’s historical epic “Red Cliff” (2008) and Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s co-starring action-adventure picture “The Forbidden Kingdom” (2008).

20.Vivian Hsu

A versatile performer, Vivian Hsu has made a name for herself in Taiwanese entertainment by enthralling audiences with her acting, songwriting, and singing abilities. Her professional history demonstrates her commitment to excellence in a variety of creative fields as well as her versatility.

Her career took off in the 1990s when she joined the Taiwanese girl group “Sweety.” The trio became well-known in Taiwan and around Asia by creating catchy songs and became a dominant force in the Mandopop industry.

Hsu was a big favorite within the group due to her captivating personality and vocal abilities. Hsu didn’t confine herself to following orders. She started a lucrative solo career and put out multiple CDs showcasing her compositional skills.