Taiwanese Actors Share Grueling Tales: Near-Fatal Accidents, Extreme Conditions, and Dangerous Stunts

Taiwanese actors Ke Shu-yuan, Weng Chia-ming, and Yen Hsiao-chun recently appeared on the program "Ou Yeh Yi Ji Bang" to promote the new CTV drama "Upstairs and Downstairs," where they shared intense and often dangerous experiences from their careers.

Ke Shu-yuan, known for his dedication, revealed the grueling reality of filming Taiwanese dramas, where scripts are often written and revised during production. He recalled one instance of working for eight consecutive days and nights without returning home, a common practice in the industry. The exhaustion from such schedules led to perilous situations, including a time when he admitted to driving while extremely tired, recounting, "I was driving myself, my eyes were open, I saw the utility pole behind me, the radar was beeping, but you just end up hitting the utility pole."

Veteran actor Weng Chia-ming spoke about the physical toll of his roles. He described an incident during the filming of "Liao Tianding" where an action sequence resulted in a severe nosebleed that has caused lasting sinus issues. He also recounted filming in the extreme cold of Changbai Mountain in northeastern China, where temperatures were so low that speaking became difficult and the scripts felt like "knives" against the skin. He cautioned against the common mistake of using hot water on frostbitten limbs, emphasizing the need for gradual warming to prevent severe tissue damage.

Actress Yen Hsiao-chun shared a particularly terrifying experience where she nearly lost her hearing during a scene. Playing a comatose character, she was submerged in water and instructed to continuously exhale to create bubbles. The inability to equalize pressure while diving to a depth of five meters, due to her character's limitations, caused immense pain. "The pain was unbearable, like my eardrum would burst, and my ears could be permanently damaged," she recalled. Host Ou Hans-sheng expressed shock, noting that such pressure issues could be fatal if not properly managed.

These accounts highlight the extreme sacrifices and risks actors undertake, often pushing their bodies and minds to the limit for their craft. The stories shared underscore the demanding nature of the entertainment industry and the personal dangers involved in bringing dramatic narratives to life.