Reporter: How about wearing a kimono in the movie? It’s quite different from what you wear in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers.

Zhang Ziyi: I feel that the kimono and other Japanese-style costumes and makeup are very helpful. They provide the environment to find the right feeling. I feel the character has gotten more and more under my skin.

R: What do you think of the Geisha story?

Z: I feel it’s a very rich story.

R: Do you feel the Chinese culture and Japanese culture are similar or completely different?

Z: I feel there are a lot of similarities. I found that the traditional culture is well-preserved in Japan. You can still see many people dressed in kimonos walking on the Tokyo streets. At the same time you can also see very Western, very modern aspects.

R: What kind of research did you do for the role?

Z: I don’t feel the characters we portray represent a culture. I feel I’m portraying a person, her story. Only the story happens to be about this woman who has a special historical background.

R: How was it working with Rob Marshall?

Z: It has been a very good experience. The director is very intelligent, and he’s very meticulous about all the details. He also has great control over the performances and he has very clear ideas as to what he wants.

R: Do you have any particular director or actor that you want to work with?

Z: Many. There are many excellent actors in Hollywood. My favorite is Al Pacino.

R: And how is it working with the Japanese actors in Geisha?

Z: Very good. You can learn a lot. For example, they often say: “It’s better if you put your hands here,” or, “It’s better if you walk like this.”

R: So you’ve been working all the time. Do you have any breaks?

Z: No breaks. Maybe I can rest after this movie.

R: Where do you want to go? Or do you just want to lie down on a beach?

Z: I really want to go to London.

R: Why?

Z: I’ve never been there, so I really want to go and take a look.

R: You have a dance scene in the film. How was that?

Z: It was quite difficult, because I had to wear shoes this high (gesture). I remember the day of shooting the dance scene, Steven Spielberg came to the set. He came to me, praised me, and then he said: “I have this question — how do you get down from those shoes?”

R: Your character is a teenager in the beginning of the movie — well, actually, she’s a kid — and then later on she’s gotten older. Is it difficult for you to play the character?

Z: I’m very grateful the director was able to find an actress for my younger years. She is really very lovely, and very smart, too. The portrayal of my younger years is excellent. The rest of the task is left to me, and I’m doing the best I can. I can’t say how well I complete the task. But I believe everyone has been doing their best.

No one can deny that Zhang Ziyi has become one of the most influential Chinese actresses in the international movie market. While costarring with Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh in the big-budget Memoirs of a Geisha, she outshines the two more experienced actresses. With the international opening of Geisha in Tokyo on November 29, Zhang talked about her role.

(Shenzhen Daily December 7, 2005)