Her role in the teen drama catapulted her to fame as a pop idol. She was also a TV host and appeared in films.

Taiwanese actor Barbie Hsu, one of the most prominent stars in the Chinese-speaking world, has died of a flu-related illness at age 48, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported Monday, citing her sister.

Barbie Hsu, better known as "Da S" which means "Big S," caught the flu when she visited Japan with her family during the Lunar New Year, according to her sister.

Barbie Hsu has reportedly died at the age of 48. According to local media outlet the Taipei Times, the Taiwanese actress, who played the role of Dong Shancai in the 2001 drama Meteor Garden, died of pneumonia after contracting influenza during a trip to Japan.