Taiwanese ‘Meteor Garden’ star Barbie Hsu dies at 48
The entertainment world is in shock after Taiwanese actress and television host Barbie Hsu, best known for her iconic role in the 2001 hit drama Meteor Garden, died from pneumonia at the age of 48.
Hsu, one of the biggest stars in the Mandarin-speaking world, became a household name across Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, after Meteor Garden was dubbed in multiple languages.
“I can’t believe it,” wrote a fan on Chinese social media platform Weibo, echoing the sentiments of millions devastated by the news.
Hsu reportedly fell ill while visiting Japan, where she was spending Chinese New Year with her family. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the tragic news to Taiwan’s TVBS News yesterday, February 3.
“During the Chinese New Year, our family went to Japan for a holiday. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza.”
Hsu had a history of epilepsy and heart disease and had previously been hospitalised due to seizures. She leaves behind her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, and two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, whom she divorced in 2021.
Her death has reignited nostalgia for Meteor Garden, the Cinderella-like high school drama that catapulted her to fame. Hsu’s portrayal of Shancai, an ordinary girl caught in a tangled love story with the heirs of wealthy families, became an inspiration for young women across Asia, reported BBC News.
Yesterday, her Meteor Garden co-star Ken Chu shared a blank black background and an old photo with Hsu, writing, “What a bolt from the blue.”
Fans from Weibo to X (Twitter) and Threads have flooded social media with tributes, with one user writing: “Meteor Garden raised an entire generation of Asians. Thank you, Barbie Hsu, for giving life to Shancai.”
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