Editing Ruby Lin (section)

===Breakthrough: 1997–2001===
After playing minor roles in various series and films, Lin was selected by Taiwanese writer [[Chiung Yao]] to audition for a main role in the comedic period drama ''[[My Fair Princess]]'', a joint production by mainland China and Taiwan which was adapted from Chiung Yao's own novel. Originally picked for the role of Princess Saiya, Lin was ultimately chosen by the company to play Xia Ziwei instead, as the actress scheduled to play the main role was unavailable.<ref name="coverstory"/>
{{cquote|"After it was decided that I played the role of Ziwei, I got the script only three days before I had to leave for filming. And that was also the first time I was leaving my native place for such a long time for filming and I had to overcome the challenges of being in an unfamiliar environment. (Taiwan Cover story Interview in 2001)"<ref name="coverstory"/>}}

The drama quickly became a phenomenal sensation, appealing to large audiences in [[mainland China]], Hong Kong, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Lin rose to prominence and became a household name overnight.<ref name = "Biography">{{cite web | url = http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/lin_ruby.htm | title = Ruby Lin Biography | date = December 8, 2003 | publisher = lovehkfilm.com | access-date = August 23, 2007 | archive-date = July 10, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150710230949/http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/lin_ruby.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

After ''My Fair Princess'', Lin starred in a number of successful television series. In 2000 she starred in Hong Kong [[TVB]]'s production of ''[[The Duke of Mount Deer (2000 TV series)|The Duke of Mount Deer]]'' with [[Dicky Cheung]], [[Shu Qi]] and other well-known artists. In this series, Lin played Princess Jian Ning – a sassy, funny girl. This role demonstrated her acting range, since it differed from the nice, sweet image she had developed from her role in ''[[My Fair Princess]]''. The following year, she starred in ''[[Romance in the Rain]]'', a costume drama based in the 1930s and 1940s, also written by [[Chiung Yao]]. The series was a commercial success and recorded the highest ratings of the year. For two consecutive years (2000 and 2001), Lin was included in the Top Ten Most Famous Asian Superstars.<ref name="awards">{{cite web | url = http://fb.fans001.com/thread-382414-1-1.html |title=Awards and results | date = March 7, 2007 | publisher = fans001.com | language = zh | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212151918/http://fb.fans001.com/thread-382414-1-1.html | archive-date = December 12, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The same year, she was selected in fourth place in "Malaysia 2001 Heavenly Kings & Queens".<ref name="award46">{{cite web |url=http://www.zhaoweinetfamily.com/en/vote-octopus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109172730/http://www.zhaoweinetfamily.com/en/vote-octopus |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2007 | title = Malaysia's 2001 Heavenly Kings & Queens | date = April 23, 2001 | publisher = octopus.com }}</ref>

As Lin felt she had achieved all she could in television, she started venturing into films. In 2000, she appeared in three Hong Kong films - ''[[Winner Takes All (2000 film)|Winner Takes All]]'', ''[[Comic King]]'' and the action movie ''[[China Strike Force]]'' with [[Aaron Kwok]] and Taiwanese actor-singer [[Leehom Wang]]. Although Lin had only a supporting role, she considered it a learning experience. With these films, she made inroads into the Hong Kong market.<ref name="Biography"/>