The new film comes hot on the tail on Zhou's success at the Hong Kong Film Awards, where she bagged Best Supporting Actress for her part in mainland director Feng Xiaogang's blockbuster, The Banquet.

Ming Ming, directed by Susie Au, sees the 31-year-old actress take on the double lead role as twins, Nana and Mingming.

Zhou told BJW the part was quite a challenge, given her characters vastly different personalities.

Nana is the passionate, hot modern woman while Mingming is like a dormant volcano - quiet but with a molten core. The two girls fall in love with the same man, played by Hong Kong actor, Daniel Wu.

"The acting challenged me a little because I had to switch roles quickly," said Zhou, who last year won Best Actress gongs at both the Golden Horse and Hong Kong Film Awards for Peter Chan's musical, Perhaps Love.

"Mingming is a modern girl skilled in kungfu, soft on the outside but ruthless inside, whereas Nana is like many girls, pretty and keen to love," Zhou said.

"Where they resemble each other is in their determination to pursue the life they want and the man they want, so their psychology is not too different."

Zhou had to spend three to four hours with the make-up assistant each time she switched roles.

Also co-starring Hong Kong star Daniel Wu (pictured left with Zhou herself) and Taiwan singer and actor, Jeff Cheung, Ming Ming impressed its audience at its Hong Kong preview last week. The Hong Kong film critic circle said the feature belonged to a new genre of film not seen before.

The film was also highly praised at October's 11th Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea.

But it is not the first time Zhou has split her talents in such a way - she played look-alike girls in Suzhou River (2000, directed by Lou Ye).

Other earlier works include, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2001, directed by Dai Sijie).

In person, Zhou is a quiet, soothing presence, speaking slowly in the deep voice that caught the attention of Susie Au, a veteran Hong Kong music video director.

Already an actress and singer, Zhou has also recorded the film's theme, Look Look, with a music video clip recently released.

A collaboration between Zhou and Hong Kong singer, Anthony Wong, the music mixes rock style with electronic flavor, creating a tune matching Ming Ming's plot about legendary women in a modern city.

Zhou's reputation as a flexible actress is reflected in her music, and evident in her previous albums.

"I like my rock style. I think singing the same style of songs is not an interesting thing," she said.

"Just like an actress trying different roles, you can taste a variety of music."

Zhou, who studied dance, not acting, is known for her versatility and an instinctive approach to her craft, winning praise from former directors such as Feng Xiaogang.

"She doesn't act with technique. She acts from the heart, so she can be very sincere. Many formally trained actors can complete their jobs perfunctorily, but their flaw is that they're not sincere," Feng said.

Certainly, her lack of formal film training has not been a hinderance.

In Perhaps Love, she skillfully handles her character's transformation from a desperate, struggling dancer and aspiring actress to a cold, callous star. She's a playful cafe owner who consults an imaginary friend about her love life in A West Lake Moment.

In Hollywood Hong Kong, Zhou brings to life a worldly prostitute who effortlessly manipulates and seduces those around her.

Ming Ming is scheduled for release in Beijing on April 26.