Zhang Ziyi: Having a laugh

Zhang Ziyi plays a cartoonist desperate to win back her fianc in her new film Sophie's Revenge.

"Why not sit closer?" Zhang Ziyi tells journalists after walking into the room to promote Sophie's Revenge (Feichang Wanmei), her latest film, in which she tries her hand at romantic comedy for the first time. When the reporters don't move she bows and moves her own chair closer to the throng.

In the film, Zhang's character, Sophie, a cartoonist, takes the same kind of initiative to win her fianc back. She is willing to crawl on the floor, or dress up like a sheep.

For most of her 11-year acting career, Zhang has taken on tough roles, such as the kungfu warrior in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wohu Canglong) and Hero (Ying Xiong), the empress in Feng Xiaogang's adaptation of Hamlet - The Banquet (Ye Yan), and Sayuri in Memoirs of a Geisha. She also played a villain alongside Dennis Quaid in the 2009 American-Canadian crime thriller Horsemen.

Here, for the first time, she is a neighborly type of girl, fashionable and lovely.

"People have seen me flying over roofs too many times," Zhang says with a smile. "I want to do more contemporary urban romances."

The $7.3 million romantic comedy is in theaters now and audiences will determine whether or not the girl who can take a hit can tell a joke.

The film, also co-produced by Zhang, is directed by first-timer Eva Jin. Jin approached Zhang with the screenplay. The influential Zhang secured the funding and cast another five A-listers from China and South Korea.

Zhang seems content with her role as a producer.

"Young directors need opportunities," Zhang says. "I want to give her a helping hand. We were all inexperienced once, so this is a great risk, but what harm is there in trying?"

Producer is another addition to the 30-year Beijinger's impressive resume. She has worked with all the top Chinese directors, including Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Wong Kar-wai and Feng Xiaogang. At Sophie's premiere, all four called to congratulate their pretty protg. Time Magazine calls her "China's gift to Hollywood".

Zhang, however, says many people are unaware of how hard she has had to work to become famous and wealthy.

For her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she practiced martial arts for five months, and persevered even after Lee kept auditioning other actresses for her role.

In Cannes in 2004, she was criticized for her command of English when she said: "I need a translate " But just one year later, she stared in Geisha, an all-English film.