RIP, 林妹妹.
Click to viewThe personification of one of the most famous characters in Chinese literature, actress/super successful business woman/Buddhist nun, Chen Xiao Xu 陈晓旭, died of breast cancer.
Her acting of Lin Dai Yu 林黛玉http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_lou_mengis so touching and real that many consider her to be the personification of the character. Only acted twice in her life, Chen later became a very successful business woman in advertising. The 1983 CCTV adaption (some say 1986, because it took six years to make it) of Chinese classic epic "Dreams in a Red Chamber" is considered one of, if not the best adaption of the world famous classical novel. The actors were hand picked nation-wide, lived together and got trained for THREE years for their roles, then another THREE years to make the series. The result is phenomenal. This TV version, along with Chen Xiao Xu, becomes cultural icons for those who remembers the 1980s China as a combination of sense and passion.
In the beginning of this year, Chen donated her entire estate and became a practicing Buddhist nun (shaved her hair and lived in a temple).
Chen Xiao Xu, then 18 years old, as Lin Dai Yu.
Chen Xiao Xu in her late 30s. A successful owner of a big advertising firm.
Lin Dai Yu and Jia Bao Yu (played by Ouyang Fenqiang), the two main characters of Dreams in Red Chambers. Icons of more traditional Chinese style of love.
Lin Dai Yu and Xue Bao Chai (played by Zhang Li): Lin and her "rival" in love. Just because I love both girls so much.
RIP.