Beijing News: Why didn't you attend the premiere of 2046?
Maggie Cheung: I didn't feel entitled to do so. In this film, I was just a friend who gave a hand and I'm more like part of the audience than the cast. And I knew about director Wong Kar-wai's arrangements before I came here. In fact, I only prepared one eveningwear for the Clean premiere.
BN: You appear as a 'guest actor' in the credits for 2046, but many people didn't see you in the film?
M: I'm in two scenes. I remember there were many figures walking in the background, and I just appeared among them.
BN: Why did you decline to have a bigger role in 2046 which is such an eagerly awaited film?
M: The main reason was that I didn't want to act as 'Su Lizhen' [Cheung's character from In the Mood for Love] again. Repeating the same role is meaningless to me. From last August to September, I gave my free time to Wong, and tried on a dozen stage costumes. However, the film wasn't shooting at the time and this January, as I was about to shoot Clean in Canada, I told Wong that if he still wanted me to play a role, I hoped to act the part of the future robot character which Faye Wong played, since I love that stage image very much. Perhaps it's fate! I never came back.
BN: Actor Tony Leung once said he also didn't want to repeat his role. So he volunteered to put on a fake moustache. Have you ever talked about it?
M: We haven't talked about it together, as he's the unchangeable actor in Wong's film. So I won't let my personal thoughts affected him. Besides, I am very grateful to Wong Kar-Wai, and we will surely make another film in the future.
BN: Do you like 2046?
M: I like it very much. It's typical of Wong Kar-wai's films. If you're one of his fans, you'll find this film is great. And if you're not, you may like his work even less!
BN: It's been eight years since you started co-shooting film with French director Olivier Assayas. Has he changed a lot during this time?
M: I feel he has become more mature, and more restrained when filming. If he had shot the Clean eight years ago, it wouldn't have turned out like it did, and Emily [Cheung's character in the film, a former-drug addict] wouldn't have had the bright future she has.
BN: I thought your acting in this film was more naturalistic than before. Did the director ask you to act this way?
M: Actually, I intentionally acted that way. I spent three months portraying the character, and I often thought about the character when we were not filming. The whole film only lasts 90 minutes, and Emily is a kind of ordinary woman commonly seen in Canada, France and even Hong Kong. So I kept reminding myself not to overact. At the beginning, I was not sure whether the director would agree or not. To my surprise, he thought it was very good. So we kept that style of acting.
BN: The audience at the screening was visibly moved by the film's ending when Emily regains the strength to start her new life. Did the role move you too?
M: Yes. I was quite sad even after we had finished shooting the film. Emily has quite a miserable life and I didn't know how to get her tragedy out of my mind. So I suppose I will cry during tonight's premiere. I may have some lot with Emily. Although her life and mine are very different, her spiritual condition seems to have entered my body during that period. I felt like I was her.
Maggie Cheung in Clean
BN: The film's Director Assayas said that the film was written particularly for you, and Emily has much in common with you.
M: You can say that. I'm a stubborn and unyielding person. So is Emily. For instance, when she asks a friend to give her a hand, if the person often makes excuses then Emily will straightforwardly say: "OK, no problem, I'll find someone else." I don't think women must rely on men. And Assayas is right, Emily does have much in common with me. Of all the directors I've cooperated with, he's the only one who really understands me. I can be thoroughly relaxed when working with him.
BN: You are the favorite for the best actress prize. If you win it, you'll become the first Chinese actress to get the best actress prizes at both the Cannes and Berlin film festival.
M: Clean is like a dream for me. Of course, I'll feel very happy if I get the prize. But it's not the most important for me, I still feel happy when hearing that audiences like it.
BN: You sing one of the songs in the film.
M: I love the relaxed feeling of singing, because you don't need to act like you do while filming. Filming is more restrained, it requires lot, such as the actors' releasing their motion, so much coordination - it's not really human!
BN: You act as a mother this time, and the director said you love children very much. Have you ever considered having a baby of your own?
M: I have four god-daughters. They drive me crazy if the four of them are together with me at the same time. On the other hand, although I'm getting old, and the time for me to make the decision is approaching, I'm still quite reluctant because I often can't even take good care of myself. Maybe at the last moment, I'll suddenly make up my mind and take a year off work. Who knows?
BN: You're a Hong Kong actress but many European directors would like to work with you. Do you have any plans to make a film in Hollywood?
M: As you can see in Clean, Emily is always moving around. My living style is similar to hers. Today I'm in Hong Kong, tomorrow New York, the next day may in Paris, and then in Beijing. My blood is Chinese, but when I'm with friends from different countries, I feel as though I'm multicultural. When I accept an invitation to do a film, I never think whether it will be shot in the United States, Europe or China. It makes no difference to me.
BN: You're 40 now, and have been in the film business for 20 years. What are your plans for the future?
M: I don't make plans for myself; otherwise, I'll miss the pleasant surprise when it comes true in the future, and my expectation to become the best actress this time is just the same. I think in the same way I did 20 years ago. To live a colorful and meaningful life every day is enough for me.
(CRI May 28, 2004)
