Taipei — Two of Taiwan’s most celebrated television actors, Wu Kang-ren and Hsueh Shih-ling, will both sit out this year’s Golden Bell Awards, marking the second consecutive year neither has entered the individual competition categories. The decision, confirmed by their respective production companies, comes as the 61st edition of the awards prepares to announce its full nominee list on September 15.
Wu, a Golden Horse and Golden Bell best actor winner, declined to submit his name for any personal prize category for his role in the series Intimate Sea. The 43-year-old, who won best actor at the 59th Golden Bell Awards in 2023 for The Time of My Life, has now voluntarily withdrawn from individual award consideration for two straight years.
His production company confirmed the decision to local media, stating that Wu felt his performance in the drama—where he played a gay character named A-rong opposite Li Zhi-zheng—fell short of his own standards. “Wu Kang-ren felt he did not have a good grasp on the role this time and still has room for improvement, so he declined to apply,” the company said in a statement. “We respect his decision.”
The move surprised many industry observers, as Wu’s portrayal in Intimate Sea had been widely praised, particularly for its emotionally charged intimate scenes. He previously won best actor at both the Golden Horse and Golden Bell ceremonies and was seen as a strong contender for a nomination this year.
Legal trouble sidelines Hsueh
Hsueh Shih-ling, often called a “award machine” for his rapid string of five nominations in three years, has also opted out. The actor, who won Golden Bell best actor for Forever Love and Taiwan Crime Stories: Derailment, and a mini-series supporting actor award for The Workers, has largely stayed out of the spotlight since being charged last year with evading mandatory military service.
A court issued a two-year-six-month prison sentence for Hsueh, though the case remains under appeal. His career effectively stalled. According to his management company, Hsueh chose not to submit for the best actor category for the series The World Between Us 2, in which he co-starred with Vic Chou. “Yes, he did not apply,” a company representative confirmed.
The double absence highlights an unusual trend among top-tier Taiwanese actors stepping back from awards competition—whether for personal artistic reasons, as in Wu’s case, or legal complications, as in Hsueh’s. It also opens the field for rising talent in what is expected to be a competitive year, with several critically acclaimed dramas already generating buzz.
The Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Emmy Awards, honor excellence in television. The 61st ceremony is expected to take place in October. Neither Wu nor Hsueh have commented further on their decisions, nor have they indicated whether they will attend the ceremony.
