Cecilia Cheung in Chen Kaige's period flick
(cri)
Updated: 2005-05-24 14:50

Hong Kong superstar Cecilia Cheung politely declined a glass of rose wine and ignored the plate of gnocchi, asparagus and mushrooms placed in front of her.

Cecilia Cheung dances in a peacock-feature-costume in mainland dirctor Chen Kaige's latest film "The Promise." [baidu]

Perhaps the svelte 25-year-old felt that it would be "unglam" to tuck into the French cuisine while speaking to Today about her latest movie, Chen Kaige's The Promise.

In the epic period fantasy, Cheung plays a beautiful princess who is the object of affection and political intrigue for a duke, a general, and a slave - played by, respectively, Cecilia's ex-boyfriend Nicholas Tse, Hiroyuki Sanada and South Korean heartthrob Jang Dong-Gun.

In Cannes to promote the film, to be completed in September, Cheung talked about how much she enjoyed working with the leading men of the film and her admiration for the man in charge: Straight-talking, no-nonsense Chinese director Chen.

"He's been in the United States so long, he seems more like a (Westerner)," said Cheung. "He's really funny and open, not like Hong Kong directors. If he doesn't like anything, he'll just spit it out."

"I don't have to guess what he's thinking."

One incident during the shoot opened Cheung's eyes to the level of professionalism Chen demanded from his cast and crew.

On a day when only her feet, running, had to be filmed, Cheung had to wake up at 5am, put on full makeup and go out in the freezing cold to "act".

"There was no chance to use doubles," she recalled. "I couldn't rest for a minute."

During the gruelling six-month shoot in China, Cheung worked so hard that she fell ill. A kidney infection knocked her out for 10 days and required hospitalisation, but Cheung sounded rueful about having to delay the shoot.

She was less forthcoming, though, on talking about having to work with Tse. She said tersely that they were still friends and also professionals, and that she didn't want the media to focus their attention on them.

It would be "a waste of the others' efforts" if the press preferred to write "that same old story" instead of concentrating on the result of the production team's hard work, she said.

Asked which of the three leading men she felt the most sparks with, Cheung girlishly admitted that she "feared" looking into the rugged 33-year-old Jang's eyes - in case she fell for him.

Indeed, the South Korean actor seemed to be considerate to Cheung's needs at this press event, keeping his sunglasses on indoors.

"He's killing all the women," she joked. "I won't look into his eyes so closely, otherwise I can't help myself. He has a wild face, but he's also really gentle in his heart."

In order to fully immerse herself into the role of a stunning princess, as opposed to a coquettish schoolgirl, Cheung leaned on the advice and support of director Chen.

"I had to feel like a princess. He made me feel comfortable and relaxed," she said. "He gave me confidence. He told me I was the most beautiful woman in the world."

Being in Cannes, where "nobody knows me", also helped put Cheung at ease. Accompanied by her mum, the actress said she was looking forward to going shopping incognito, free from the customary hounding she gets from tabloids in Hong Kong.

Back home, of course, she is a media darling - but she doesn't yet consider herself a bona fide star.

Asked whom she really considered big stars, she named Julia Roberts, Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia and Maggie Cheung.

"They really have the face, the beauty, the character and attitude," said the award-winning actress and singer.

So, does Cecilia have that complete package? This reporter gave her the once-over.

Her hair had a pink-ish hue about it. She wore a pink bra-top, visible through her white long-sleeved blouse with a gold Snow White motif; had pink nail polish on; and wore gold shoes with a glittering mini skirt to match.

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