|
Zhang Ziyi grows into international star
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-14 16:27
Zhang said both roles were challenging and had strikingly contrasting styles,
both cinematically and in fashion. She wears elaborate kimono and customs in
"Geisha" and slinky cheomsongs, the high-collared form-fitting silk dress, and
high heels for her "2046" scenes set in hedonistic Hong Kong of the 1960s.
BOOT CAMP
As a Chinese actress cast to play a Japanese geisha with all the dialogue in
English in a Hollywood production, the Beijing beauty had to endure what she
laughingly called pre-production "boot camp" to prepare.
"For us, who can't speak English and must speak with an English accent and a
Japanese accent, that was really hard, so much pressure," said Zhang, who
studied English for the role and who used a translator sparingly during the
interview.
"But this opportunity to work on this film that has a great cast, has a great
script, a great director, I think anyone would take this seriously and do it
well.
"We spent a lot of time learning. We called it boot camp. We got to learn how
to walk, how to play the shamisen (musical instrument), how to dress, add to
that the cast is entirely non-English speaking and you can imagine how hard it
was," she said of the adaptation of Arthur Golden's novel.
"I will be proud of this movie. I know this will be a very beautiful, very
emotional, very touching."
"2046," a follow-up to Kar Wai's acclaimed "In the Mood for Love" was also a
stretch for Zhang, who plumbed her emotions for a performance The New York Times
described as "shockingly intense."
"I think this character for me so far was my most difficult role I ever
played," Zhang said about her role in "2046," which won her best actress honours
at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Working with Kar Wai was a unique experience for Zhang.
"They didn't have script. Every day I got two pages of handwriting. You don't
need to memorise lines. You just give your real feelings. I just enjoyed this
lady, being her, showing her true feelings.
"As I understood her more, I gave more, building slowly. We shot a lot of
different takes instead of rehearsing. It was a great training for me as a young
actress."
Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, which is distributing
"2046" and brought "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," to the United States among
other Asian hits, said the crossover of a talented international artist such as
Zhang was nothing new for Hollywood.
"Zhang Ziyi going from 'House of Daggers' and '2046' to 'Memoirs of a
Geisha,' is no different than Catherine Deneuve going from her French hits to
American success, or Sophia Loren going from Italian movies to big Hollywood
star," he said. "It's happening with Asian actresses today."
|
 | | | Ladies' bellybands displayed in fashion show | | |  | | | Wild orgies leave the Great Wall in mess, and tears | | |  | | | Tony Leung to appear in Hollywood film | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Life
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
