Chen Shu plays Bai Liusu in the TV adaptation of Eileen Chang's novel Love in a Fallen City. Photo provided to China Daily

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For years, she has been taking on different roles to prove her ability to play a wide range of characters. Last year, she starred in the popular TV series Honey Bee Man.

In the show Chen plays the leading role of Ye Shan, an independent and single office worker who falls in love with her best friend. Chen's public image may be of a woman of grace and beauty, but in Honey Bee Man she has short hair, talks loudly and walks with a masculine swaggar.

"It was really different for me since I usually play characters that are more feminine. But the result was surprising and convincing," Chen says.

She also participated in designing the look of the show, and traveled to Hong Kong to purchase clothes and accessories for the role.

"We have 80 sets of total looks for Ye Shan, from being sexy to casual to professional. The role represents today's Chinese young women, unmarried, financially independent, well educated and confident. They look for love and enjoy a good life," Chen says.

"Every role I play contains my own personality. I am a woman living in modern society, and I use my own life experience to interpret the role."