‘Shancai forever’: Taiwanese celebrities mourn death of actress Barbie Hsu

Taiwanese celebrities on Feb 3 expressed their shock at the

sudden death of actress Barbie Hsu

after she came down with influenza-related pneumonia in Japan.

Many of them took to social media to mourn the 48-year-old, who was best known for playing feisty Shancai in the hit Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001 to 2002).

Actor Ken Chu, currently based in China, portrayed playboy Ximen in Meteor Garden. The 46-year-old expressed the feelings of many when he wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo, “Alas, a bolt from the blue”, together with three folded hands emojis.

Singer-actress Rainie Yang made her acting debut as Shancai’s good friend Xiaoyou in Meteor Garden. She wrote on Instagram Stories: “Thank you for everything, Shi-yuan. I will always miss you and love you.” Shi-yuan is the Chinese name of Hsu, who is also known by her stage name “Big S”.

Yang, 40, said in previous media reports that Hsu was her acting senior who had supported her both in public and in private after their first TV serial together.

Yang later co-hosted the popular variety show Guess Guess Guess (1996 to 2012). The show was initially co-hosted by Hsu and her younger sister Dee Hsu, who were once part of the pop duo ASOS.

TV host Aya Liu, another co-host of Guess Guess Guess, also mourned Barbie Hsu on social media.

“When we met last month, we did a calculation and found out that we had known each other for more than 30 years,” the 46-year-old wrote on Weibo. “We said then that we should meet more often and not wait too long for the next gathering. I never imagined that that would be the last time we would get together.”

Liu added: “Your departure is a sadness engraved in my heart... Rest in peace, my beautiful king.”

TV host Matilda Tao also expressed her shock at Hsu’s death.

“I just met you before Chinese New Year, and you were smiling brightly and looking happy at that time,” the 55-year-old wrote. “I didn’t expect life to be so unpredictable. I hope all my friends can take good care of themselves and cherish the people around them.”

Actress-host Janet Chia, 50, who is also the chairwoman of Taiwan’s iconic skyscraper Taipei 101, wrote on Facebook on a black background: “I’m so sad, so shocked and cannot accept you leaving us.”

Chinese model-actor Hu Bing, 53, wrote on Weibo: “I was packing my luggage and preparing to leave for the airport when I heard about this sad news. I really couldn’t believe it. How could it be you?...I didn’t want to say goodbye. You are our Shancai forever.”