Word: shu
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...place her as the young love interest of a middle-aged man (Jackie Chan, Gorgeous) or a destroyer of older men (Eric Tsang, My Loving Trouble). But she was missing out on some big roles. Taiwan director Sylvia Chang chose then Hong Kong It-Girl Gigi Leung over Shu Qi for Tempting Heart in 1999, fearing the growth of the character from teenage girl to mature woman would be too much of a stretch for Shu Qi. The actress, Chang feared, couldn't successfully communicate innocent. For good reason. "At 13, I'd done what most people...
...through all that dross, Shu Qi showed that she could act?if only now and then, when it was easy, when the talent just poured from her. There was her first lead role, in Gorgeous, and a celebrated part in Mabel Cheung's City of Glass. Though she says she tries hard only "about 50% of the time," even that can surpass her most strenuous co-stars' efforts. Leslie Cheung says he was practically acted off screen by her womanwithal in the clever porn-parody Viva Erotica, her sixth Hong Kong film. Hong Kong heartthrob Nicholas Tse says she "intimidated...
...manager Wong. His role in the past four years, he says, has been teaching her to say no. "She's very casual in some ways, and she keeps changing her mind every 10 days," he says. But others in the industry regard Wong as the problem. Two years ago, Shu Qi had numerous chances for a break into big roles; many thought she could become a Chinese version of the young Juliette Binoche. But Wong kept her on the treadmill, keeping up with the churn-out-the-crap-fast mentality of the local industry. Hong Kong chews up and spits...
...biggest wrench occurred in 1999, when Shu Qi went to the U.S. to talk with Taiwanese director Ang Lee. He was working on Crouching Tiger and wanted her in it. Shu Qi was Lee's initial choice for the role of Jen, the young beauty who steals the sword, the center of the kung fu epic's plot. "Physically, she's incredible," Lee enthused at the time. Shu Qi was on board?for eight weeks. Then manager Wong pulled her because he had committed her to a Japanese tea commercial for Coca-Cola. "She was supposed to shoot from April...
...That's one way of looking at the worst debacle in his client's career. What does Shu Qi say about giving up the part? "These things are all about timing," she snaps. "For God's sake, don't give me a hard time. It's not like I haven't been trying." She has a point. Directors routinely talk of Shu Qi's soul as an actress?and how little of that essence makes it to the big screen. And that pinpoints one of the biggest problems with Hong Kong's cinema industry, now so celebrated in Hollywood. Drama...