In my humble opinion, Tao Huimin is one of the prettiest and talented Chinese actresses. She became known nationwide after casting successfully in the 1989 film by Xie Tieli, Dream of Red Mansion (Hong Lou Meng), adapted from the Chinese classic novel of the same name. The novel and the film centered around the tragic love story of the rebellious Jia Baoyu (Fu Yiwei) and his cousin Lin Daiyu (Tao Huimin) in the ruthless royal family of Jia.
A young and beautiful girl, Daiyu (or Lin Meimei - as most people call her) is one of the most beloved fiction characters in Chinese culture. Why? I don't know.
Maybe beacuse we admired Daiyu's courage to stand up agaisnt the oppression of the royals? Or maybe because we sympathize with her failed love with Baoyu? Or it could be that we just love Daiyu for all she is -- kind, gracious, beautiful and intelligent.
Tao Huimin, even not a skillful actress at the time, did a good job to revive the image of Lin Meimei, and I'd like to applaud her.
Recently, after seeing her play (as Jin Zhi) in the 16-episode TV series of Northern Stories (Bei3 Fang1 Wang3 Shi4) on satellite AATV, I must say that Huimin has emerged more matured. As her role evolved from a country girl to city house wife and later on a mistress, I am sure many audience (at least me) wish she will have a good ending, although we were all disappointed.
In real life, is Huimin happier and succesful than Daiyu and Jin Zhi? Can she prove wrong the saying that beauty is trouble (a societal ideology underlining many of her roles in film and TV)?
No matter how, our readers and I, wish Huimin well...
(Reviewed by muzi, Sep 25th, 1997).
