Hong Kong leading man Tony Leung Chiu-wai has a little secret. Leung - undoubtedly one of Asia's biggest

stars - is reputedly not averse to stretching things just a bit when it comes to his own size. While the 42-year-old star's agent insists he is 1.73m tall, Leung's real height is reportedly closer to 1.67m, according to an "old friend" and veteran producer from Hong Kong TVB school, where Leung studied acting. But who could blame the man for his apparent little, white lie? After all, what man wants to be the same size as his woman? Leung's long-time girlfriend, Hong Kong actress Carina Lau, is also 1.67m tall.

Leung, who stars in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution as the sophisticated top Japanese collaborator Mr Yee, was "introverted and shy" as a student at Hong Kong TVB training school. Yet it hasn't stopped him from going on to star in more than 60 films.

According to rumor, the actor's height was also an issue in the casting of his latest project, Wong Kai-wai's new film, Lady from Shanghai. Entertainment news said he was initially considered "too short" to star with the impossibly tall Nicole Kidman, the film's leading actress. Those concerns seem to have been overcome, with the pair now in shooting. Kidman, after all, is no stranger to appearing with vertically challenged male superstars. After her real-life break-up with Hollywood heavyweight and ex-husband Tom Cruise, Kidman joked she was happy to be able to wear high heels again.

(China Daily 11/07/2007 page3)