Born for the Spotlight

The series centers on the story of multiple starlet actresses and the sisterhood between Chou Fan and Hsueh Ya-chih, who were once close friends but parted ways after Hsieh faded out of showbiz to become a producer while Chou remained onscreen.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ydn.com.tw/news/newsInsidePage?chapterID=1704063&type=happy |title=Netflix《影后》謝盈萱、楊謹華同台飆戲 |date=29 August 2024 |website=Youth Daily News |author=周毓洵 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135823/https://www.ydn.com.tw/news/newsInsidePage?chapterID=1704063&type=happy |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://star.setn.com/news/1522332 |title=謝盈萱揭露女明星「辛酸6不能」：跌倒也要漂亮！《影后》震撼落淚 |date=29 August 2024 |website=SET News |author=杜沛學 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135714/https://star.setn.com/news/1522332 |url-status=live }}

• Hsieh Ying-xuan as Hsueh Ya-chih, an actress-turned-artist manager
• Cheryl Yang as Chou Fan, an acclaimed but washed-up actress
• Hsueh Shih-ling as Lee Tzu-chi, a director and Ya-chih's husband{{Cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3280648/netflix-drama-born-spotlight-hsieh-ying-xuan-cheryl-yang-women-led-series |title=Netflix drama Born for the Spotlight: Hsieh Ying-xuan, Cheryl Yang in women-led series |date=3 October 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |last=Marsh |first=James |access-date=3 October 2024 |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135713/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3280648/netflix-drama-born-spotlight-hsieh-ying-xuan-cheryl-yang-women-led-series |url-status=live }}
• Annie Chen as Hsin-ni, a beauty who began her career with an erotic film
• Cherry Hsieh as Ko Li-fen, a veteran soap opera actress
• Yang Kuei-mei as Yu Yen-fang, an acclaimed veteran actress whose family live in the United States
• Chung Hsin-ling as Ms. Chubby, Ai-ma's first manager
• Vicky Tseng as Pan Yin-yin, a diva and lead actress of a zombie movie
• Chloe Lin as Shih Ai-ma, a young starlet
• RD Huang as Gecko, Yin-yin and Ko Li-fen's agent
• Zhan Huai-yun as Liu-mang (Tseng Ya-hsin), a bellboy at the hotel where Chou Fan stays

• Chan Tzu-hsuan as Ms. Pumpkin, the daughter of a notable showbiz family who was forced to debut in acting
• Angel Lee as TB, Ko Li-fen's daughter, Pumpkin's ex-girlfriend and writer of her directorial debut feature
• Wes Lo as Chang Po-lei, Hsin-ni's secret boyfriend and heir to family business{{Cite web |url=https://www.gq.com.tw/article/netflix-%E5%8F%B0%E5%8A%87-%E5%BD%B1%E5%90%8E-%E6%A5%8A%E8%AC%B9%E8%8F%AF-%E8%AC%9D%E7%9B%88%E8%90%B1 |title=盤點 Netflix 台劇《影后》新生代演員，「林廷憶」精湛詮釋無害心機女、「詹懷雲」成最新男友模板！ |date=11 November 2024 |website=GQ Taiwan |access-date=11 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Rosen Tsai as Chen Wei-jen, Ai-ma's supportive boyfriend
• George Chen as Sega, a dance teacher and Gecko's love interest{{Cite web |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20241114005215-260404?chdtv |title=《影后》超魔性台詞「交出你的泡ㄜ」 Sega老師陳彥嘉曝幕後秘辛 |date=14 November 2024 |website=China Times |author=陳珈螢 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Chen Chia-kuei as a die-hard fan of Chou Fan{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/tw/culture/drama/g62876105/born-for-the-spotlight-easter-eggs/ |title=Netflix《影后》18大劇情彩蛋解析！流氓自我介紹詞、史艾瑪結局都在致敬這些經典電影 |date=14 November 2024 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |last=Lee |first=Charlie |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=zh}}

• Blue Lan as an actor in Lee Tzu-chi's film{{Cite web |url=https://style.udn.com/style/story/8065/8350112 |title=爆瘦到認不出！「超大咖金鐘影帝客串《影后》」整部看完沒人發現...觀眾嚇傻：在哪集 |date=10 November 2024 |website=United Daily News |access-date=11 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Liu Kuan-ting as a wannabe actor and Chou Fan's one-night stand.
• Sara Yu as Liu-mang's mother
• Eleven Yao as Chang Po-lei's fiancée
• Jack Yao as a co-star of Ko Li-fen

• Lou Yi-an as Liu, a perverted film director
• Duan Chun-hao as Chang Kuo-lung, Yin-yin's ex-husband
• Michael Huang as Wang, a media tycoon and Pumpkin's father{{Cite web |url=https://www.gq.com.tw/article/netflix%E5%8F%B0%E5%8A%87%E5%BD%B1%E9%9B%86-%E5%BD%B1%E5%90%8E-%E8%AC%9D%E7%9B%88%E8%90%B1-%E6%A5%8A%E8%AC%B9%E8%8F%AF |title=連跌倒也要漂亮？《影后》5 大必看原因，謝盈萱、楊謹華超強卡司、揭露女明星心酸內幕！ |date=6 November 2024 |website=GQ Taiwan |access-date=8 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Jake Hsu as Director Wang, a renowned director and Pumpkin's elder brother{{Cite web |url=https://www.elle.com/tw/entertainment/drama/g62916996/born-for-the-spotlight/ |title=Netflix《影后》改編真人真事？劇情角色暗藏玄機！10件事揭開演藝圈幕後宮鬥秘辛 |date=17 November 2024 |website=Elle Taiwan |last=Chen |first=Juju |access-date=8 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Fu Lei as Jen Ke-chien, a former co-star and lover of Yen-fang{{Cite web |url=https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?Type=5&SerialNo=216550 |title=Netflix《影后》拍攝地點總整理！周凡住的飯店是這間、薛亞之婚禮場地曝光 |date=11 November 2024 |website=Up Media |author=周羿庭 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Chu Chung-heng as Tang Fu-sheng, Li-fen's husband and TB's father
• Honduras as Ma Yi-ren, a veteran agent succeeding Gecko{{Cite web |url=https://www.niusnews.com/=P29z57qd2 |title=Netflix台劇《影后》7位配角介紹！詹子萱肩負星二代壓力、「交出你的Power」台詞超洗腦！ |date=12 November 2024 |website=Niunews |access-date=13 November 2024 |language=zh}}
• Phil Hou as Sun, a demanding comedy director{{Cite web |url=https://star.ettoday.net/news/2854446 |title=《初戀你我他媽媽》拍不拍？劉冠廷親自解答 侯彥西也發聲：交給孫導 |date=13 November 2024 |website=ETtoday |author=蕭采薇 |access-date=15 November 2024 |language=zh}}

Director and writer Yen Yi-wen conceived the screenplay based on her own acting career after winning awards and interviewed several fellow award-winning actresses during the early stages of screenwriting.{{Cite web |url=https://udn.com/news/story/121721/7780690 |title=楊謹華、謝盈萱強強聯手！Netflix台劇《影后》6大亮點，薛仕凌、陳庭妮、楊貴媚、鍾欣凌…卡司超狂！ |date=3 March 2024 |website=United Daily News |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135714/https://udn.com/news/story/121721/7780690 |url-status=live }} The screenplay was presented at the 2022 Taipei Golden Horse Film Project Promotion, where it received the Catchplay Development Award.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220903002765-260404?chdtv |title=金馬創投會議公布20件劇集企劃 賈靜雯製作新片入選 |date=3 September 2022 |website=China Times |author=孫伊萱 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=21 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921103405/https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220903002765-260404?chdtv |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://stars.udn.com/star/story/10090/6773296 |title=杜汶澤金馬創投「騙」錢 鎖定「3Q哥」成貪污委員 |date=17 November 2022 |website=United Daily News |author=黃保慧 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117112520/https://stars.udn.com/star/story/10090/6773296 |url-status=live }} The series is set to be produced by Third Man Entertainment, with Kitten Huang attached as co-writer. Hsieh Ying-xuan and Cheryl Yang were cast in the lead roles prior to the 57th Golden Bell Awards later that year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20230403ent009 |title=【獨家】【影后尬演技】金鐘互鬥延長賽 謝盈萱、楊謹華新劇翻臉 |date=4 April 2023 |website=Mirror Media |author=葉婉如 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135824/https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20230403ent009 |url-status=live }} The series was officially announced for production in early April 2023, with Yang Kuei-mei and Cherry Hsieh joining the cast. In February 2024, Netflix announced that it had acquired the series, along with a projected release date of 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/global/news/netflix-southeast-asia-chinese-production-slate-1235894932/ |title=Netflix Bulks Up Southeast Asia Originals, Chinese-Language Production Slate |date=1 February 2024 |website=Variety |last=Frater |first=Patrick |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205213733/https://variety.com/2024/global/news/netflix-southeast-asia-chinese-production-slate-1235894932/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/netflix-originals-indonesia-thailand-china-1235812135/ |title=Netflix Unveils Southeast Asia & Chinese-Language Production Slate |date=2 February 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |last=Merican |first=Sara |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135715/https://deadline.com/2024/02/netflix-originals-indonesia-thailand-china-1235812135/ |url-status=live }} Hsueh Shih-ling, Annie Chen, Chung Hsin-ling, Vicky Tseng, Chloe Lin, RD Huang, and Zhan Huai-yun were announced as the remaining ensemble cast in March. An official trailer was released on 29 August.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vogue.com.tw/article/all-about-born-for-the-spotlight-series |title=《影后》謝盈萱、楊謹華強強聯手揭露女明星真實內幕：「不能變醜、不能變老、老了不能整形、整形不能承認」 |date=29 August 2024 |website=Vogue Taiwan |last=Chou |first=Inna |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003135715/https://www.vogue.com.tw/article/all-about-born-for-the-spotlight-series |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240829ent005 |title=《影后》90秒前導預告來了！ 謝盈萱曝女明星「不能做的日常」 |date=29 August 2024 |website=Mirror Media |author=黃仲義 |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003140218/https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240829ent005 |url-status=live }}

Principal photography began in late April 2023, with location shooting taking place at a nightclub in Zhongshan District, Taipei, on 27 April, where Yen Yi-wen, Cheryl Yang, and Liu Kuan-ting were spotted on set.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ctwant.com/article/258411/ |title=為戲哈菸1／楊謹華緊身短裙火辣現身夜店 嚴藝文親指導微醺菸槍 |date=24 May 2023 |website=Want Weekly |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520034902/https://www.ctwant.com/article/258411 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://star.setn.com/news/1299403 |title=楊謹華深夜哈菸被拍！為戲火辣現身夜店 緊身短裙洩長腿嫵媚性感 |date=24 May 2023 |website=SET News |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003140218/https://star.setn.com/news/1299403 |url-status=live }} Filming also took place at Illume Taipei on 26 May, featuring Vicky Tseng and RD Huang, and concluded in mid-July.{{Cite web |url=https://ciaotw.com/2024/05/08/%E7%9B%A4%E9%BB%9E2024%E4%B8%8B%E5%8D%8A%E5%B9%B47%E9%83%A8%E8%B6%85%E4%BA%BA%E6%B0%A3%E5%8F%B0%E5%8A%87/ |title=《影后》謝盈萱對決楊謹華雙姝相殺！盤點2024下半年7部超人氣台劇，許光漢《正港分局》、王柏傑《今夜一起為愛鼓掌》等重量級卡司 |date=8 May 2024 |website=Ciao Taiwan |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003140222/https://ciaotw.com/2024/05/08/%E7%9B%A4%E9%BB%9E2024%E4%B8%8B%E5%8D%8A%E5%B9%B47%E9%83%A8%E8%B6%85%E4%BA%BA%E6%B0%A3%E5%8F%B0%E5%8A%87/ |url-status=live }}

Born for the Spotlight consists of 12 episodes, and the first three episodes were screened at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024, marking its world premiere,{{Cite web |url=https://reading.udn.com/read/story/7046/8187906 |title=《影后》入選釜山影展 楊謹華x謝盈萱x陳庭妮三姝同台競美 |date=28 August 2024 |website=United Daily News |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003140307/https://reading.udn.com/read/story/7046/8187906 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kim-soohyun-knock-off-disney-korean-crime-series-1236118024/ |title=Kim Soohyun and Cho Boah Head Cast of 'Knock-Off,' Disney Korean Crime Series – Global Bulletin |date=26 August 2024 |website=Variety |last=Frater |first=Patrick |access-date=2 September 2024 |archive-date=2 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902051154/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kim-soohyun-knock-off-disney-korean-crime-series-1236118024/ |url-status=live }} followed by a release on Netflix on 7 November.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/netflix-chinese-language-content-taiwan-born-for-the-spotlight-teaser-1236075739/ |title=Netflix Readies Chinese-Language Content Plans, Unveils Teaser For 'Born For The Spotlight' |date=3 September 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |last=Merican |first=Sara |access-date=3 October 2024}}

Joel Keller of Decider gave a positive review of Born for the Spotlight, highlighting its "amiable charm" from the chemistry among the lead cast and noting that, despite its soapy nature and disjointed storytelling, the series effectively captures the friendships and dynamics of women "navigating a cutthroat industry" with "fun" interactions and performances among the actresses.{{Cite web |url=https://decider.com/2024/11/08/born-for-the-spotlight-netflix-review/ |title=Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Born For The Spotlight’ On Netflix, A Taiwanese Dramedy About Actresses In Different Career Phases |date=8 November 2024 |website=Decider |last=Keller |first=Joel |access-date=20 December 2024}} Kwok Ching-yin of Esquire found the series to be "compelling", praising the strong female ensemble and the captivating performances of Cheryl Yang and Hsieh Ying-xuan, which effectively showcase the complexities of the Taiwanese entertainment industry, despite some "over-the-top performances" and a tendency for forced dialogue.{{Cite web |url=https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/netflix-born-for-the-spotlight |title=Netflix《影后》影評：女角搶鏡！呈現台灣影視圈眾生相 |date=22 November 2024 |website=Esquire |last=Kwok |first=Ching-yin |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=zh}}

Berton Hsu, writing for The News Lens, compared the series to director Yen Yi-wen's previous work The Making of an Ordinary Woman (2019–2021), noting the more complex worldbuilding and challenging portrayals of the Taiwanese film industry, while commending its high production value and star-studded cast.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewslens.com/column/streaming/244511 |title=【劇評】Netflix《影后》：在華麗卡司的背後，其實還是有些關於「角色」的小小遺憾 |date=10 November 2024 |website=The News Lens |last=Hsu |first=Berton |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=zh}} Wang Tin-yu, writing for CommonWealth Magazine, offered a rather critical review, lamenting the series for portraying female characters primarily defined by their relationships with men and suggesting that it fails to challenge existing gender norms, instead reinforcing stereotypes while expressing a desire for more nuanced narratives that explore women's autonomy and inner growth.{{Cite web |url=https://opinion.cw.com.tw/blog/profile/486/article/15546 |title=《影后》說出女演員群像，但每個人的結局，最終還是回到男性身上 |date=21 November 2024 |website=CommonWealth Magazine |last=Wang |first=Tin-yu |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=zh}}

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Category:2024 Taiwanese television series debuts

Category:Netflix television dramas

Category:Taiwanese drama television series

Category:Television series about actors

Category:Television series about show business

Category:Television shows filmed in Taiwan

Category:Television shows set in Taipei