Mainland actress Chen Shu will play "Jane Eyre" in the namesake stage drama that is scheduled to hit the National Center for Performing Arts in December. [sina.com]

"Love in a Fallen City" star Chen Shu will take over the lead role for stage drama "Jane Eyre" in its second round of performance from December 10 to 23, Beijing Star Daily reports.

Rumor has it that the original female lead, Yuan Quan, who announced her marriage with follow actor Xia Yu in late August, is now pregnant and had to drop out of the production.

As the first original stage drama presented by the National Center for the Performing Arts, "Jane Eyre," co-starring celebrated actress Yuan Quan and Chinese Broadway star Wang Luoyong, was widely acclaimed by the audience after its debut in June.

Chen Shu talked about the pressure in recasting the fine image portrayed by Yuan Quan while not being restrained and affected by the original.

Actress Chen Shu became well known after playing Bai Liushu in "Love in a Fallen City," a TV adaptation from Eileen Chang's novel. Before that, she was already an established actress on stage, and has successfully played a slew of roles such as Chen Balu in the play "Sunrise."