Greg Hsu and Lin Po-hung Lose! Netizens Vote for 'Favorite Taiwanese Male Actor' — The Winner Is Him: Handsome, Sunny, and Not Overly Smooth, His Breakout Role in 'One Legendary Drama' Earns Praise for Outstanding Acting

A recent wave of discussion has swept across Chinese social media over the topic of 'Favorite Taiwanese Male Actor,' drawing enthusiastic participation from thousands of netizens. Initiated by a user on Xiaohongshu, the poll featured rising Taiwanese actors including Greg Hsu, Chen Hao-sen, Joseph Zeng, Chu Hsuan-yang, Lin Po-hung, and Peng Chien-yu. Despite Greg Hsu being widely favored, Joseph Zeng emerged as the top choice, thanks to his breakout role in 'The Exorcist's 7th Sense,' reigniting conversations about the charm of Taiwanese male stars.

The Xiaohongshu poll on 'Favorite Taiwanese Male Actor' sees Joseph Zeng surpassing Greg Hsu in popularity

A Chinese netizen launched the poll with the question: 'Do you have a favorite Taiwanese actor? Who made you fall for Taiwanese men?' The candidates included Greg Hsu, Chen Hao-sen, Joseph Zeng, Chu Hsuan-yang, Lin Po-hung, and Peng Chien-yu. Comment interactions revealed overwhelming support for Joseph Zeng, with fans leaving messages such as 'I pick Ma Hua,' 'Cute +1,' 'I love Joseph Zeng,' 'Ma Hua’s single eyelids are sexy,' 'He’s stunningly handsome in real life,' and 'Ma Hua is my first choice.'

'The Exorcist's 7th Sense' becomes the key to Joseph Zeng’s rise, boosting his popularity

Joseph Zeng first gained attention in the film 'Detention,' then rose to fame with 'Your Name Engraved Herein' and won the 2025 Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor for 'My Family Matters.' His brief but powerful performance as Yu Yun in 'Da Mong' was praised: 'Even with just a few minutes of screen time, Joseph Zeng pulled the audience’s emotions to the fullest.'

However, it was 'The Exorcist's 7th Sense,' co-starring Sonia Sui and Peng Chien-yu, that catapulted him to mainstream popularity on Chinese social platforms. After airing on iQIYI and other platforms, the series sparked intense discussions on Weibo, Douban, and Xiaohongshu, with its Douban rating peaking above 8.9. Joseph Zeng gained a massive fanbase, and the on-screen chemistry between him and Peng Chien-yu attracted a large number of cross-strait 'CP' fans, becoming one of the hottest post-release topics and further boosting Zeng’s visibility.

Taiwanese netizens shared their thoughts: 'The original world-building of 'The Exorcist's 7th Sense' is so fascinating, and it’s based on a novel by a Taiwanese writer — the perfect adaptation is a major plus.' 'Acting-wise, 'The Exorcist' might still feel a bit raw, but I find it endearing and fitting for the character.' 'His performance in 'Sun' shows greater depth and complexity — he handled it well.' 'Joseph Zeng’s acting in 'If I Had Never Seen the Sun' was excellent, though the plot is heavier and requires more reflection.' 'For 'The Exorcist's 7th Sense,' Joseph Zeng even practiced calligraphy intensively — he truly commits to his roles.' 'The character Joseph Zeng plays in 'The Exorcist' is adorable — the show is worth watching even if you’re not a fan of him.' 'Highly recommend 'The Exorcist' — he fully commits to every role, never phoning it in. He’s convincingly creepy as a villain and genuinely naive as a fool. He shines no matter the role!' 'I wasn’t particularly interested before, but after watching 'The Exorcist's 7th Sense,' I’m completely hooked.' 'In 'My Besties and the Four Ghosts,' he played a loser very different from his usual image — the emotional impact was strong, I cried uncontrollably.' 'He’s handsome, sunny, and not slimy.' 'It’s not just about looks — he has a unique charm, like a friendly neighborhood guy. Similar to how Greg Hsu and Lin Po-hung were when they debuted.' 'Joseph Zeng’s acting is truly outstanding — one of the rare young actors who excel in both looks and skill.'

'The Exorcist's 7th Sense.' (Image: Official Facebook Page)

Greg Hsu, Lin Po-hung, and Peng Chien-yu maintain strong popularity; Chu Hsuan-yang’s image affected by controversy

While Joseph Zeng took the top spot, other actors still have strong followings. Greg Hsu remains a heartthrob for many Chinese fans, with some calling him 'a must-see in Taiwan.' Lin Po-hung has loyal fans declaring, 'My husband is Lin Po-hung.' Peng Chien-yu also drew support, with fans saying, 'Of course Peng Chien-yu! He looks so sweet and innocent.'

As for Chu Hsuan-yang, some netizens believe past relationship scandals have hurt his image, calling it a shame. Others mentioned actors not included in the poll, such as Eddie Peng, Roy Chiu, Joseph Chang, Tsao Yu-ning, and Chris Wu, as notable omissions.

Chinese netizens analyze the appeal of Taiwanese male actors — 'boyish charm' is the key

Beyond personal favorites, many Chinese netizens shared why they prefer Taiwanese male stars: natural looks, minimal makeup, combined with strong acting and charisma, offering a distinct contrast to mainland Chinese idols. Comments include: 'Taiwanese male stars look healthy, unlike mainland actors who wear heavy makeup like female celebrities.' 'I really hate heavy makeup.' 'Taiwanese men always have that boyish charm.' 'Taiwan’s aesthetic standards are consistently high.' 'Taiwanese actors have more character; mainland ones often look like generic pretty boys.' 'Their acting keeps improving — nothing to complain about.' 'Taiwan has never lost when it comes to charisma!'

Compared to the overly polished, heavily made-up style, the natural, clean, and distinctive look of Taiwanese actors resonates more deeply, helping them steadily gain popularity on Chinese social media.

Top 10 Most Popular Taiwanese Film Actors!

Additionally, 'Net Temperature DailyView' used its public opinion analysis tool 'KEYPO Big Data Key Engine' to rank the 'Top 10 Most Discussed Actors' from five Taiwanese films that grossed over NT$100 million in the past year (March 2, 2025 – March 1, 2026). Lin Po-hung claimed the top spot.

In the high-speed rail disaster thriller '96 Minutes,' which dominated Netflix, Lin Po-hung delivered the most intense performance of his career. His dedication was praised even by real-life bomb disposal consultants, and senior actor Li Lee-ren dubbed him 'Tom Cru-hong.' Audiences raved: 'His eyes are incredibly expressive,' 'His acting rivals the veterans,' 'Please give him Best Actor!'

Top 10 Popular Actors from Recent Billion-Grossing Taiwanese Films. (Image: Net Temperature)

Source: Net Temperature

Editor: Chen Te-fu