In 2007, 31-year-old Ruby Lin self-nominated to play Diao Chan, but the director refused: "You're not beautiful enough." Ruby Lin then asked, "Can I play Da Qiao or Xiao Qiao?" The director's response almost made her furious.

In 2007, news that director Gao Xixi was preparing a new version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" caused a frenzy in the entertainment industry!
This was a major production with an investment of over a hundred million, the most anticipated film and television project that year. Countless actors jostled for a role, and even the already nationwide-famous Ruby Lin couldn't help but be tempted.
At that time, Ruby Lin was 31, having long been a national goddess with her gentle Ziwei in "My Fair Princess" and the soft, kind Ru Ping in "Embroidered Spring." Her beauty was gentle and elegant, refined and dignified—an ideal in many people's hearts.
But she was not content with her comfort zone; she wanted to challenge herself. She set her sights on the most stunning role in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"—one of the Four Beauties, Diao Chan. Diao Chan is a peerless beauty capable of making Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo turn against each other, possessing both breathtaking looks and the courage and tenderness in turbulent times. If she could play it well, it would be a highlight of her acting career!
Confident, Ruby Lin approached Gao Xixi to recommend herself. She believed her experience with many ancient beauties made her capable of handling Diao Chan. But Gao Xixi's response was like a cold splash of water—he bluntly refused: "You're not beautiful enough to play Diao Chan."
Those words were so direct that Ruby Lin was stunned. Since her debut, she had only received praise; no one had ever outright denied her looks, especially not in such an important casting.
But in fact, Gao Xixi didn't mean to be difficult; he had already formed a clear idea of Diao Chan in his mind.
Ruby Lin's beauty was gentle, noble, and the image of a refined lady, lacking the captivating charm and allure that Diao Chan needed. Without that "disruptive" charm, he envisioned Diao Chan as a more radiant, more flirtatious actress. Later, the role was given to Chen Hao, who naturally carried that enchanting aura—his vision was truly accurate.
Rejected, Ruby Lin didn't give up. She lowered her expectations and cautiously asked the director, "If Diao Chan isn't suitable, then I can play Da Qiao or Xiao Qiao, right?"
The Jiangdong Two Qiaos are also stunning beauties from the Three Kingdoms, gentle in temperament, and her image seemed fitting.
But who knew Gao Xixi's next answer would be even more painful, nearly making Ruby Lin faint from anger.
Gao Xixi looked at her and straightforwardly said, "Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao are teenage girls from the south of the Yangtze River. You're 31 years old. That's too old for these roles. They should be played by younger people."
This remark not only dismissed her looks but also hit her age hard. Under this double blow, Ruby Lin's smile completely faded. She never expected that her attempt to lower her stance and fight for a role would result in two consecutive "heartless rejections." Anyone would feel awkward and wronged.
But fortunately, Gao Xixi didn't completely dismiss Ruby Lin. He thought her temperament and acting skills might be better suited for another role—Sun Shangxiang, the sister of Sun Quan.
Sun Shangxiang is fiery and spirited, a stark contrast to Ruby Lin's usual gentle, soft image. It was a challenging role, and Ruby Lin readily accepted it. She focused on understanding the character, and ultimately, her portrayal of Sun Shangxiang's decisiveness, stubbornness, and hidden tenderness was deeply nuanced.
Later, when "New Romance of the Three Kingdoms" aired, Ruby Lin's version of Sun Shangxiang unexpectedly became a classic, receiving countless praises and leaving a deeper impression than some of the originally cast main characters.
Looking back at her earlier rejections, it wasn't so much a blow as a precise positioning. It wasn't that Ruby Lin wasn't beautiful—her beauty simply didn't belong to the charm of Diao Chan or the innocence of a young girl. Instead, it belonged to the kind of beauty that combines strength and softness, like Sun Shangxiang—bold, unique, and stunning!