Ken Chu reveals burnout struggles — says he once wanted to play a villain in a Chiung Yao drama but was blocked by his agency

(Taipei, April 6) Taiwanese actor Ken Chu, best known for the hit drama Meteor Garden, recently opened up about his career struggles while appearing on the variety show Infinite Beyond Class.

Chu revealed that for nearly a decade, he had not been offered any roles he truly desired, leading him to lose passion for acting.

He recalled that his first meaningful acting experience came when working with Bowie Tsang. Following the success of Meteor Garden, opportunities flooded in—but he admitted that he never regained the same sense of immersion in his roles.

At one point, a script from Chiung Yao was offered to him. He expressed interest in playing a villain, but his company rejected the idea, citing his commercial value. “During those ten years under contract, I didn’t get a single role I truly wanted,” he said.

Instead, he was repeatedly cast in similar roles such as domineering CEOs, wealthy heirs, or faded celebrities, which left him feeling creatively restricted.

It was only after his contract ended that he finally felt “free” and began pursuing roles and projects that aligned with his personal aspirations.