Fan Bingbing Wins Best Actress at Golden Horse Awards, Shines in New Role

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing won the Best Actress award at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards on November 22, 2025. The Golden Horse Awards are a prestigious event often called the Chinese-language Oscars. Fan was recognized for her outstanding role in the Malaysian film Mother Bhumi, where she played a widowed farmer and ritual healer. This role was very different from her usual glamorous characters and marked a strong comeback after her career was affected by a tax evasion scandal in 2018.

Fan Bingbing could not attend the ceremony in Taipei but gave her acceptance speech over the phone. She shared how the role was a deep and meaningful experience for her, both physically and emotionally. Fan recalled a conversation with the director, who asked if she was willing to change her look for the role. She replied confidently that she was ready to “go all the way.” This role helped her connect deeply with the character and appreciate the strength of women.

Director Chong Keat Aun accepted the award on her behalf and also won for the best original song in the movie. He thanked Fan Bingbing and asked, “Where are you?” He expressed hope for her new beginning, dedicating the winning song to her.

The Golden Horse Awards have seen some political tensions in recent years. Since 2018, many Chinese directors and actors have avoided the event due to political issues between China and Taiwan. Beijing banned entertainers from attending in 2019 after a Taiwanese director showed support for Taiwan’s independence during a speech. Despite this, the awards continue to attract talent from across the region.

Besides Fan Bingbing, other winners included Taiwanese film A Foggy Tale for Best Film, which explores Taiwan’s political history. Hong Kong director Jun Li won Best Director for the drama Queerpanorama, and Taiwanese actor Chang Chen received Best Leading Actor for his role in Lucky Lu, a story about an immigrant delivery man in New York.

The 2025 Golden Horse Awards showcased a variety of films and talents, highlighting powerful stories and performances in the Chinese-speaking film community. Fan Bingbing’s win marks an important step in her return to the film industry after her difficult years.