According to CNA, the actress was not present at the awards ceremony held on 22/11 in Taipei. Director Zhang Jianan accepted the trophy on her behalf. When her team called to inform her, she expressed gratitude to the organizers, jury, and director for the opportunity. She stated: "This role was not just a physical transformation, but also a spiritual resonance between myself and the character. During that time, as I immersed myself in the role, the character guided me to mature and helped me deeply understand the resilient strength of women."

This achievement marks Fan Bingbing's first nomination and win at a Chinese-language film festival since her 2018 tax evasion scandal. During the phone call with her team, she sobbed upon seeing the trophy. Other nominees in the same category included Fang Yu-ting, Rene Liu, Ariel Lin, and Kao Yi-ling.

Fan Bingbing in the film "Green Night".

Earlier, on the red carpet, director Zhang Jianan told Stars that Fan Bingbing genuinely wanted to win a Golden Horse Award, adding that "if not for that, she would not have joined my film". After the film failed to win any awards at the Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan), Fan Bingbing encouraged the director, saying: "It's alright, we still have the Golden Horse Awards." According to him, the actress regretted not being able to attend the ceremony in person.

The Golden Horse Awards have been held annually since 1962. Directors and actors such as Zhang Yimou, Zhang Ziyi, and Zhou Xun have won awards at the festival. Director Ang Lee and actress Gong Li have served as jury presidents. Alongside the Golden Rooster Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Golden Horse Awards are considered one of the three major awards in Chinese-language cinema. Fan Bingbing previously won best actress at the Golden Rooster Awards for her leading role in the film "I Am Not Madame Bovary" (2016).

The film "Green Night", filmed in 2024, features Fan Bingbing as a farmer with the power to perform exorcisms using ancient magic. One day, the exorcist confronts a mysterious spirit, uncovering clues to her husband's enigmatic death. To suit the character, she tanned her skin and gained nearly 10 kg.

Malaysian director Zhang Jianan's work received eight nominations at this year's event. In addition to best actress, these included: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Film Score, Best Makeup and Costume Design, and Best Original Film Song.

In 2018, Fan Bingbing was investigated and penalized for tax evasion. She paid 883 million yuan (128 million USD) to avoid criminal prosecution. According to On, for the past 7 years, Fan Bingbing has faced restrictions on entertainment activities in mainland China, not appearing at any film events or acting in Chinese-produced films.

The actress has achieved some success in business but expressed distress over not being able to act, citing her passion for cinema and desire to perform throughout her life. She deeply yearns for art and craves suitable scripts for this new chapter of her life.

The actress has sought acting opportunities in other countries and territories. She has also purchased script rights for several films, intending to develop her work behind the scenes.

On her social media, the actress once wrote that she always strives for control in her life. "I would rather work hard and suffer to take the initiative. I often tell myself, for those who rely on themselves, fate will not be bad."

Thanh Thanh (Source: CNA, Stars)