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James Marsh

Lead cast: Hsieh Ying-xuan, Cheryl Yang
Show business is portrayed as a hostile work environment for women yet again in Born for the Spotlight, Netflix’s latest prestige drama series from Taiwan.
Written and directed by actress Yen Yi-wen, who won a Golden Bell award for her previous series, The Making of an Ordinary Woman, the show premiered its first three episodes at the Busan International Film Festival, ahead of its streaming debut next month.
Hsieh Ying-xuan, Cheryl Yang Chin-hua and Chloe Lin Ting-yi headline the 12-part series, which examines the lives of a number of different women at various stages in their careers, all of whom remain bewitched by the allure of fame and fortune even as the industry threatens to consume them.


It is not all doom and gloom, however. The rivalries, rejections, heartbreak and harassment are interspersed by celebratory moments of humour and romance, while the overwhelming message is one of resilience and unity, as these women find strength and solidarity within one another.
Central to the narrative is the fractured relationship between seasoned actresses Chou Fan, played by Yang, and Ya-chih, played by Hsieh, whose long-time friendship has been shattered following an incident that is only alluded to in the opening episodes.
When we meet these women, all communication between them has broken down.
Chou Fan, a celebrated screen beauty, has plunged into a quagmire of self-pity and self-destructive behaviour.
Holed up in a hotel room, apparently to avoid the attention of invasive fans, she drowns her sorrows in booze and indulges in casual sexual encounters with random men she picks up at nightclubs.

Conversely, Ya-chih has left acting behind and got married. Her husband, Tzu-chi, played by Hsueh Shih-ling, is an established director, although his career has hit the skids.
Tzu-chi’s attempts to convince his wife that they should start a family are quickly dismissed, as Ya-chih’s new role as a producer is fast gathering steam.
Her latest production, The Wild Cat, was written by her niece, TB, played by Angel Lee, who is also set to direct what will be her debut feature. TB’s script draws heavily from her relationship with her own mother, a veteran soap opera star, played by Cherry Hsieh Chiung-hsuan, but she is terrified of her mother’s reaction to the honest material.
Audiences are swept into this chaotic world by Ai-ma, played by Chloe Lin, a young ingénue desperate to become a star.
Ai-ma has a manager, the bumbling Ms Chubby, played by Chung Hsin-ling, but to date has failed to secure anything more prestigious than playing a bloodied corpse on the set of a new zombie movie starring the exasperating diva Yin-yin, played by Vicky Tseng Wan-ting.

Also on the scene are Hsin-ni, played by Annie Chen Ting-ni, a beauty who made her name in erotic dramas but is now eager to be taken seriously; and nepo baby Ms Pumpkin, played by Chan Tzu-hsuan, the daughter of a revered celebrity couple who lands starring roles with ease despite having zero interest in an acting career.
It is refreshing to see so few male characters on screen, albeit somewhat ironic considering the struggles many of the characters face forging a career in the male-dominated entertainment business.
Yen’s script remains laser-focused on the women throughout, in a manner that feels honest and never contrived. In this regard, Born for the Spotlight recalls another recent Netflix series, 2021’s Light the Night.
That show also followed a group of women of different ages who were validated only by their beauty, this time set in a Japanese-style hostess bar. It also starred Cheryl Yang and Hsieh Chiung-hsuan in its female-fronted ensemble.

That is not to say Born for the Spotlight has no male presence to speak of. R.D. Huang plays “Gecko”, Yin-yin’s snivelling lapdog of an agent, who spends his days massaging her fragile ego while fulfilling her increasingly absurd and outlandish requests.
Zhan Huai-yun also looks to play a pivotal role as the handsome young hotel bellhop who finds himself increasingly at Chou Fan’s beck and call.
Beyond them, however, the rest of the male cast thus far has been reduced to a smattering of docile boyfriends and sleazy old patriarchs.
Born for the Spotlight oozes authenticity, and one suspects it draws heavily from the first-hand experiences not only of Yen but of all those involved. The persistent objectification, the relentless media attention, and the terrifying prospect of being written off simply for growing old infuse every scene.

What makes the show a success – and after three episodes it feels as though the best is yet to come – is the way it hits its mark, finds its light and addresses its themes with potency while still giving the people what they want.
Born for the Spotlight will start streaming on Netflix on November 7.


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Netflix drama Born for the Spotlight: Hsieh Ying-xuan, Cheryl Yang in women-led series

Annie Chen as Hsin-ni (left) and Hsieh Ying-xuan as Ya-chih in a still from Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

Hsieh Ying-xuan as Ya-chih (left) and Cheryl Yang as Chou Fan in a still from Netflix drama Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

Cheryl Yang as Chou Fan in a still from Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

Chung Hsin-ling as Ms Chubby (left) and Chloe Lin as Ai-ma in a still from Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

Annie Chen as Hsin-ni in a still from Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

Hsieh Ying-xuan as Ya-chih (left) and Hsueh Shih-ling as Tzu-chi in a still from Born for the Spotlight. Photo: Netflix

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Moon So-ri as senior secretary Lee Su-gyeong in a still from Hellbound season 2. Photo: Won-jin Jo/Netflix

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Kim Shin-rock as single mother Park Jung-ja in a still from Hellbound season 2. Photo: Won-jin Jo/Netflix

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Kasumi Arimura as Saeko in a still from Beyond Goodbye. Photo: Netflix

Kasumi Arimura as as Saeko (left) and Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kazumasa in a still from Netflix drama Beyond Goodbye. Photo: Netflix

Kasumi Arimura as Saeko (left) and Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kazumasa in a still from Beyond Goodbye. Photo: Netflix

Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kazumasa in a still from Beyond Goodbye. Photo: Netflix

Kasumi Arimura (left) as Saeko and Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kazumasa in a still from Beyond Goodbye. Photo: Netflix

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Park Seo-jun as private investigator Jang Ho-jae in a still from Gyeongseong Creature season 2. Photo: Lim Hyo Sun/Netflix

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Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

The Taiwanese Netflix drama depicts the rivalries, rejections and heartbreak suffered by women in show business


The Taiwanese Netflix drama depicts the rivalries, rejections and heartbreak suffered by women in show business.


Netflix

Fame and celebrity

Taiwan