Taiwanese actor shied away from work – now he sells chicken, runs a Pilates studio and is a DJ

A Taiwanese actor made headlines after fans found out about his side job.

Chris Shen is a 34-year-old actor known for his roles in dramas Spider Lilies (2007) and Memory Love (2017). He has played a mix of supporting and lead roles since his debut in 2003.

Although not the most famous actor in the local entertainment industry, he still has a loyal group of fans such as his 46,000 Instagram followers. That’s why it came as a shock to many when photos of him working at a wet market were dropped.

He was spotted manning the raw chicken stand himself, slicing and marinating it. It was a stark contrast to the glitz and glamor he experiences while acting.

On January 8, the actor took to Instagram to share the background of this surprising find. He revealed that he runs the stall with his girlfriend, Prettyto earn extra cash. He also has other sources of income such as a restaurant and aesthetic clinic, but his interest in the wet market business was piqued after his friends told him that they earn NT$80,000 – NT$120,000 (about $2,550 USD – $3,800 USD) from their stalls.

Kris Shen’s chicken business has been open for more than three months and he earns about NT$20,000 ($640 USD) a month. He doesn’t mind the public seeing him as struggling financially, saying he’s used to working hard to earn a living.

I was never born rich. If I were, I wouldn’t have to enter showbiz at the age of 10.

— Chris Shen

Kris’ last acting credit was the lead role of Li Yuan Zhi in the 2022 drama Rally for Love.

Kris almost moved on from acting, but instead found his new passions, including running a pilates studio.

He also moved in to DJ and performed at various venues in Taiwan and abroad.