Vivian Hsu Opens Up About Unstable Childhood, Moved House More Than 60 Times Growing Up

The Taiwanese star shared how constantly staying busy became a coping mechanism after growing up without stability.

Taiwanese star Vivian Hsu may be one of Asia’s most recognisable stars today, but behind the glamour was a childhood marked by constant moving and uncertainty.

Appearing on the latest episode of talk show Have A Seat, Let’s Talk, the 51-year-old opened up about her difficult upbringing and the emotional toll it left on her.

Vivian, whose parents divorced when she was young, revealed that she moved house more than 60 times while growing up and transferred schools five times during her six years in primary school.

As her mother rarely explained why the family had to keep relocating, she became used to living without stability from a young age.

Even now, the actress-singer admitted she still experiences moments of disorientation after waking up in unfamiliar places due to her hectic work schedule.

“Sometimes when I wake up and my son isn’t beside me, I suddenly don’t know where I am,” she said.

Vivian shares her 10-year-old son, Dalton, with ex-husband, Singaproean businessman Sean Lee. 

Having started supporting her family at just 14, Vivian said she learned early on to treasure every opportunity that came her way.

She recalled joining the Taiwanese talent competition Talented Beautiful Girl as a teenager despite having no professional training unlike many of the other contestants.

Her reason for entering?

“Because first prize was a motorbike,” said Vivian.

She later caught attention with her performance of Diana Yang Lin’s ‘Break Up Words’ and debuted as part of the girl group Girls Team, though the trio disbanded after only two years.

Her career eventually took her overseas after a Japanese agency spotted her potential and invited her to develop her career in Japan.

Despite barely speaking Japanese at the time, Vivian packed up and left for Japan alone after just one week of preparation.

Before she had even properly mastered the language, the company arranged for her to release an album in Korea as well.

Looking back on those lonely years abroad, Vivian said it was never the workload that made her cry.

“The only thing that truly made me cry was homesickness,” she confessed.

She also reflected on how constantly staying busy eventually became a coping mechanism.

“Constantly working actually became my sense of security,” she said.

Despite the hardships, Vivian managed to buy her first home at just 21 years old using her own earnings, becoming the breadwinner and pillar of support for her family at a young age.