- Name: 謝盈萱
- Born: Dec. 31, 1979
- Birthplace: Changhua County
- Did You Know That …?
- Hsieh Ying-xuan jokes that she almost did not become an actress, as she did not pass the entrance exam for the School of Theatre Arts of the Taipei National University of Arts on her first try. However, she persevered and retook the examinations the next year. She claims she passed the admission score only by a few points but she got in.
Hsieh Ying-xuan (also credited as Hsieh Ying-hsuan) is a well-acclaimed Taiwanese actress whose prolific performances span the fields of theater, film, television, advertising, music videos, and more.
Hsieh might be considered a newcomer in the television and film sector, but for those who are familiar with theater performances, she is a recognized voice and face. After graduating with a theater degree, she performed in many stage plays, from Stan Lai's (賴聲川) "A Dream Like a Dream (如夢之夢)" to Tainaner Ensemble's (台南人劇團) "Mulan (木蘭少女)," Shakespeare's Wild Sisters Group's (莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團) "Show On (羞昂App)," and Edward Lam Dance Theatre's (非常林奕華劇團) "Madame Bovary, C'est Moi (包法利夫人們)" and "I Hate Therefore I Marry (恨嫁家族)," to name a few.
Overall, Hsieh has performed in over 30 theater productions, taking up different roles such as bride, news anchor, divorcee, Henry VII, and Jia Zheng (賈政), the dowager’s son in the classic novel "Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢)." All her characters tug at audiences' heartstrings as Hsieh is able to convey the full range of each character's emotions, from anger and fear to happiness and sadness. Her enchanting talent has earned her the title "Goddess of Theater (劇場女神)" from her fans.
In recent years, she has taken up more roles in television series and films. Hsieh has been nominated for multiple Golden Bell Awards for Mini-series/TV Movie Supporting Actress and Lead Actress for Taiwanese productions including "Wake Up (麻醉風暴)," "The Sweet Place (加蓋春光)," "A Boy Named Flora A (花甲男孩轉大人)," and "Green Door (魂囚西門)."
She garnered a lot of attention for her heart-wrenching performance in the 2017 television series "A Boy Named Flora A (花甲男孩轉大人)." Hsieh's character "Stacey" — a betel nut peddler — is a seemingly helpless, yet headstrong lady who fully displays the loneliness and desperateness of women at the bottom ladder of society. Hsieh's performance really made an impression on viewers and facilitated their understanding of the character.
In 2018, Hsieh won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the film "Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的)." She was able to interpret the complicated and intricate mood changes of the main character Liu San-lian, while also expressing the conflicting emotions of the character throughout the film. "Dear Ex" may be Hsieh's first leading role in a film, however her impressive performance is owing to the fact that she has been cultivating her acting talent for over ten years through theater and television.
Hsieh said she likes acting because she enjoys the problem-solving process. When she receives a new role, she seeks to map out the character. It is almost like trying to solve a math problem, starting from figuring out the overall image and look of the character first, to developing a complete and substantial role. Acting is not only about the performance itself, it is also about using acting to understand other professions and fields, she added.
Courageously taking up challenging and diverse roles, Hsieh is able to use her exceptional acting skills to interpret each character entrusted to her to the fullest. Her persistence and work ethics have inspired many people.