Working in Hollywood, it’s clear the more money you have, the more technology you can get. So you can build a whole Japanese set. Only in Hollywood!

I wanted to become a kindergarten teacher like my mother.

I knew nothing about martial arts. And I don’t really like it! But in the film, I not only had to pretend that I knew all about it, I had to be the best at...

China’s cinema has been rising for some time; it has more exposure, so my chances of becoming internationally known are better. But the first thing I have to do is learn English. If I can...

I really want to do something in Europe. With a small movie, it can be an interesting challenge. But I have to get the right project. I don’t think it’s so important to go to...

In China, we don’t consider someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a long time, and we know what’s underneath the skin.

I am a professional actress, and that is what I do. I learn about a character, and then I play that character.

Chinese women are much more modest than American women when it comes to clothes. We tend to show less flesh.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Even though I’ve done Hollywood films, I still don’t think of myself as a Hollywood actress.

Immediately I liked him. Now I love him, and I think he likes me too.

There’s nothing in Chinese culture that is an equivalent of the geisha. It’s so different, so special to Japan.

I always think it’s really hard if you are Asian or Chinese to be really in Hollywood. There are not so many really great characters for you.

From my opinion, ‘geisha’ means a woman skilled in the arts. Like dancing, singing and playing musical instruments.

For myself I don’t like the geisha look. It’s like a mask.

I was really interested in geishas’ work, and wanted to meet real geishas.

From my opinion, geisha means a woman skilled in the arts. Like dancing, singing and playing musical instruments.

I’ve discovered that I value simplicity above all in dressing. I don’t like anything I wear to be too complicated or fussy.

My parents sent me to a dance class, so it was a road chosen by them, not me. But I enjoyed it so much I knew I would become a performer.

House of Flying Daggers

I suspect people always thought I had a boyfriend, so nobody came after me.

My profession has helped me to grow up.

They are also skilled in the art of conversation,

I want, through my roles, to express the parts in the hearts of Chinese women that they feel unable to let out.

Whatever you see – any good results – are all from the pressure.

The word ‘world’ for me is really hard. A hundred times later, I was able to say it.

It’s not that I wanted to be an actor; it’s that I didn’t want to be a dancer! I was trained in traditional Chinese dance, and after working so hard it seemed unfair to just...