Taiwanese actress Ruby Lin: ‘I owe my success today to Chiung Yao’

Taiwanese actress Ruby Lin. Photo from Lin's Weibo

As Chiung Yao passed away on Wednesday, Lin, along with many other artists, expressed their gratitude toward the late writer for guiding them in their careers.

In a phone interview with Next Apple, Lin became emotional and took a while to express herself. She revealed that she would call Chiung Yao every year during the New Year to wish her well. On the writer’s birthday each year, Lin also made sure to send flowers as a gift.

The actress once visited Chiung Yao’s home with her husband, 45-year-old Taiwanese actor Wallace Huo, and their daughter to celebrate the New Year together. She also kept in frequent contact with Chiung Yao’s daughter-in-law, who handled the writer’s professional matters. Each time they spoke, Lin would inquire about Chiung Yao’s health, noting that in her later years, the writer did not suffer from any serious illnesses and was in stable health.

Lin portrayed the lead role of Xia Ziwei in the 1997 TV series "My Fair Princess," based on Chiung Yao’s novel "Princess Pearl." The series made Lin famous and launched her as a leading star in Chinese entertainment. Chiung Yao also selected Lin to star in the 2001 TV series "Romance in the Rain," another project that gained widespread attention.

According to Setn, when Lin first received the role of Xia Ziwei, some producers initially underestimated her appearance and acting abilities. Thanks to Chiung Yao’s support, Lin was able to keep the role.

Besides Lin, many artists in the Chinese entertainment industry have expressed admiration and gratitude toward Chiung Yao. On his social media account, actor Alec Su, Lin’s co-star in "My Fair Princess" and "Romance in the Rain," wrote that he was fortunate to have played a character in Chiung Yao’s stories, with both works serving as unforgettable milestones in his life.

"I hope the writer’s spirit may float gently, like snow," Su wrote.

Actress Stephanie Hsiao, who starred in "Fantasies Behind the Pearly Curtain," a film adapted from a Chiung Yao novel, said the work had a significant impact on her career. She recalled that when working with the writer, she felt Chiung Yao was a woman "who was protected and cherished." Hsiao was particularly impressed by how Chiung Yao’s husband Ping Hsin Tao cared for and showed respect to the writer both in their professional and personal lives.

With her achievements in both literature and film, Chiung Yao was a major figure in the art world during the 1980s and 1990s, helping launch many shining stars in the film industry. The term "Chiung Yao beauty" became popular in the 1980s to describe the actresses in her films, including Brigitte Lin, Joan Lin, Leanne Liu, Vivian Chen, Jiang Qinqin, Stephanie Hsiao, Vicki Zhao, and Ruby Lin.

Brigitte Lin, Ruby Lin, Alec Su, Leo Ku, Vivian Chen, and Fan Bingbing have all said that Chiung Yao changed their lives.

Last year, Brigitte Lin wrote a reflective essay titled "Chiung Yao and Me," sharing that Chiung Yao’s novel "Outside the Window" changed her life. After being selected for the lead role in the film adaptation of the book, Brigitte became an actress. From 1972 to 1982, she starred in 12 films based on Chiung Yao’s works.

"Thus, throughout my youth, the 10 most brilliant years of my life, I was closely tied to Chiung Yao," Brigitte wrote.

In her essay, Brigitte described the writer: "She often held a cup of tea, sitting leisurely on the sofa in her living room, patiently listening to my stories. Sometimes we frowned, other times we laughed out loud."

"She wrote about the feelings of so many young men and women, so we often had much in common," the essay continued. "Some nights, we talked until midnight or even early morning."

Born in 1938 as Chen Che, Chiung Yao became a renowned writer and screenwriter with a series of best-selling books, including "Outside the Window," "One Side of the Water," "Princess Pearl," and "The Wild Goose on the Wing."

In March 2017, Chiung Yao publicly released a letter outlining her wishes for her family after her death. In the letter, she stated that if she were seriously ill, she wished to exercise her "right to die." She expressed a desire not to have any religious funeral rites. The writer instructed her children not to publish an obituary, hold a memorial service, set up an altar, burn paper offerings, hold death anniversaries, or perform Qingming rituals.

Lin, 48, first appeared on camera in 1995 in a minor role and quickly developed a passion for acting. She founded her own studio in 2009 and has since produced TV dramas and films.