SINGAPORE - She's been hailed by critics and netizens as China's queen of television, thanks to her role in the popular 2012 period drama, Empresses In The Palace.

But few may know that Betty Sun Li, 30, got her first showbiz break after participating in Singapore's Star Search competition back in 2001.

The Zhejiang native passed the overseas auditions in Shanghai before coming to Singapore for the TV competition.

Then 19, Sun said she had joined the contest only to be with two friends, who also passed the auditions.

Although she did not win that year (the title went to Malaysian contestant Michelle Liow), it opened the doors for her to other acting opportunities back in China.

Ironically, Sun was not that interested in acting then, but says in a Straits Times interview last year that "now, I am completely head over heels in love with acting."

And her hard work has paid off.

Sun is among 19 stars that have been named in a recent list of the most popular actresses in China, according to Xinhua.

She is among the Top 5, coming behind other popular young actresses like Yang Mi and Liu Shishi.

Click on the thumbnails below for other Chinese actresses that made the most popular list.

(Photos: Internet, Weibo, mioTV, Singtel)