Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who starred in hit 2001 series Meteor Garden, has died from pneumonia at the age of 48.

Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death to local Taiwanese media through a statement and said that Barbie Hsu passed away from pneumonia after falling ill during a family trip to Japan.

Barbie and Dee Hsu began their careers together in a pop duo, before picking up TV hosting and acting roles.

Barbie Hsu, who had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, was hospitalised previously due to seizures.

Hsu also starred in TV series like Summer’s Desire and Corner With Love, as well as films like Reign of Assassins and Motorway.

Taiwan’s Meteor Garden was a series adaptation of a 1990s Japanese comic of the same name. Hsu played Shan Cai, a teenager from a middle-class family who attends an elite private school and becomes caught in a...