Zhang Ziyi may be the most recognizable Chinese face in Hollywood, yet she sees herself as “a well-treated guest” there. She has never had to audition for a role, but “it is not a place where you can fly as high as you want”. In a one-on-one interview with China Daily, the 30-year-old actress talked about her philosophy, or rather, the lack of one. She denied that her latest foray into comedy, Sophie’s Revenge, was a career move in the footsteps of Julia Roberts. “I’ve never seen My Best Friend’s Wedding,” she said, referring to the movie that some critics say was the inspiration for Zhang’s late-summer release in the Chinese market. Furthermore, she did not intend to follow Roberts in her choice of roles. “I have no role model in my career, or I did not set out to imitate anyone in choosing drama or comedy. We all grew up in different environments. Read more… »

We wanted to wish Ziyi a very happy 30th birthday! We hope that all her wishes come true and that she spends a wonderful day with her beloved ones!

One of China’s most famous actresses has been accused of being unpatriotic after becoming a Singaporean citizen. Some say Gong Li, star of the film Memoirs of a Geisha, has turned her back on her Chinese fans. But the actress is not the only Chinese citizen to seek another country’s passport. They do it for convenience, to improve job prospects and as a safety net. Despite China’s increasing economic and political power, a Chinese passport is still seen as restrictive by many of its citizens. Gong Li, whose husband is from Singapore, is just one of many film stars who have given up their Chinese passport. According to news reports, Hong Kong film star Jet Li holds US citizenship. And Zhang Ziyi, the star of kung fu movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, holds a Hong Kong residency card. Gong Li’s passport switch led to a commentary in the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper. “We should think about why our laws, our system and cultural society have churned out so many of these so-called ‘super citizens’, people who live in China but their hearts are set on being a citizen in another country,” it said.

Chinese-American director Wayne Wang is talking to Singapore financiers, directors and film industry authorities about making movies in the Southeast Asian city-state. For a long time, Singapore was not on Wang’s filmmaking radar because he long thought that films and television produced here were “rather boring.” “They were always very middle of the road. But lately I have seen more interesting things coming out of Singapore,” he said. Now, Wang, who was born in Hong Kong, says he has several scripts that could “easily be adapted to Singapore” and be ready by spring. “I don’t think anyone has really made a contemporary film about Singapore, so I’m very intrigued,” said Wang, adding that the films’ budgets could range from $1 million or less up to $10 million to $15 million for a mainstream movie with star casting. Wang’s latest project is based on Chinese novelist and filmmaker Guo Xiaolu’s book, A Concise Chinese English Dictionary for Lovers, about a young woman from China who goes to school in England and falls in love with an Englishman in his 40s. “I’m interested in Zhang Ziyi and Jude Law for it. They would be a great couple,” Wang said.

Zhang Ziyi was recently interviewed on a Chinese TV network:
She said (in translation): “The first time I was the lead in an English-language film, I received some high praise. And especially as a Chinese person, I thought that was something to be proud of. At the Cannes Film Festival, in front of all that media, then they call your name… And as a Chinese person, they then call you by your Chinese name… I was pretty emotional. I’ve never thought about changing my name, changing it to an English name. I’ve never thought about adopting an English name just to accommodate them. My father and mother gave me my name. It’s mine, and if you want to remember me, you have to put some thought into how to pronounce it. It’s mine.”