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AsianConnections: In
America, it's been historically difficult for Asian women to get great
roles, like your recent role in "Anna and the King." How do
you envision your future career in America? Asian women in America
have been mostly subjugated to sex kitten and Asian stereotypical
roles, and really not offered many serious roles that you've already
played.
Bai
Ling: I think you have to believe in what you are doing
and think in a positive way as my philosophy. I believe this
is changing, I believe from my experiences that see "Red Corner"
and "Anna and the King," those roles are serious and they are�very
powerful roles and very positive. And those roles are really
wonderful roles. And I have it. It's played by me and
I am from a different country. The way I see this is I appreciate
much more of this opportunity that's presented to me instead of
complaining. I think this way. I think it is changing.
And plus, we are just talking about China. The whole Asia
is open. I think more and more, we will have more roles like
that. But me, including other actresses here, from different countries,
we are all doing the same thing and gradually, people notice. Hollywood
is changing too. But it's like I said, as a person, it needs its
own time. It's still difficult but I'm positive about it.
AsianConnections: Would
you accept a sex kitten role if you knew it's a stereotypical role?
Bai
Ling: I do. I do. I think it's a stereotypical
role only because you don't have other roles. But for me, I did
"Red Corner" and "Anna and the King," so I have the serious work.
I think if it's a stereotypical role, or sex kitten role, it's part
of the character, too. It's fun. You know, I don't mind.
Like for example, "Wild Wild West," I had fun doing that
role. I think she's very sexy and funny. So I'm satisfied.
I don't, like, if we see, this stereotypical role, this pretty woman,
we already stereotype that. You have to be open and accept all of
those roles too.
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Photo:
Andrew Cooper -
20th Century Fox
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 AsianConnections:
What about nudity?
Bai
Ling: Actually I don't mind nudity. I think if
it's necessary for the part; and I think because as an actress,
I think my body is like instrument. Whatever is needed, I
give, like I shaved my hair. I am nude. It's like when you take
off your clothes, you don't feel nude. But when you shave your hair,
you really feel nude. Try it. [Laugher] Somehow
I feel like when you need a tool/instrument to help and to serve
or to give whatever the film needed, if nudity is necessary, I have
no problem. Of course, I'm against?like just show your breast because
it's sexy or something. You have to connect to the story or
the emotion or the journey of the character.
AsianConnections:
Who inspires you?
Bai
Ling: Believe it or not, who inspires me, I would say
my grandmother, because she has this beautiful spirit. For example,
when I was a child, I remembered that I lived with her and traveled
with her on the train all the time, to different cities, I remembered
like every Chinese New Year, we are in the North, we make dumplings.
Every night I like to sleep late, and the next day I wake up, I
remembered we lived this courtyard, and she was awake, like two
hours earlier than everyone, and cleaned up all the snow around
the neighbors.
Another time is like we were [kind of] poor, we don't have
a lot of money, but she has all of her money saved and bought candy
to give to the neighbors' children. She's doing that not to
show anybody, just for her pleasure. She's very happy; I see her
she has this smile, she has something beautiful to give. Even
she doesn't have, she saves it for others. You know, that spirit,
though she's not an actress?nbsp; she's still elegant and beautiful.
And she want[ed to be an actress], but my grandfather was against
that. My grandfather is a professor. And in China, they look
down at performers at that time. She did not become [an actress],
otherwise she would be movie star [at that time]. So I'm just
thinking that she is not an actress, but somehow the spirits, influence
me, and it stayed in me when I play roles such as Tuptim in "Anna
and the King," so I can relate to something, I can give, which is
[the] generous spirit of giving.
AsianConnections:
Was it hard for you to learn Thai? What was it like for you
on the Anna and the King set?
Bai
Ling: Oh yeah. Of course
it is difficult. It was driving me crazy!
The first week of the shooting, I didn't know anybody.
And there was so much pressure on me, I said I haven't gone through
anything, and you're already punishing me? You know, they normally
shoot the least important thing first, and take you through this
journey so you get used to the cast, and where you are and the environment.
I don't know Jodie, I don't know anybody. Everybody there was watching.
I felt like, oh my God! And I learned Thai. I only had a few
days. And they say you can't ask for the board, something
to read. I said, are you kidding me? I said, if I'm reading,
I'm reading from a book, and I'm too professional for that, but
I really had no time. I couldn't sleep, everything in my mind was
tight. And then I finally went crazy with my coach. I was sitting
and I said, I cannot do this tomorrow! And I called Andy [Tennant],
the director, I know he was filming, so I just left a message, entirely
in Thai. I said, nothing can drive me crazy, but I'm just tired,
and you drive me crazy! But it's my job. And the next
day we're there, he's looking at me. He says, "We're gonna
knock them out!" [Laughs] I said, Okay, that's easy
for you to say! It was just difficult. Also, the studio
people who liked me in "Red Corner," they knew this was extremely
important. They said, "You know Bai Ling, I changed my ticket.
Do you know why?" I said for what? He said, "I just
want to watch how you do this." Okay, why are you telling
me that? You know? Just added [to] all this pressure.
It's difficult, but somehow I feel like I'm lucky enough, some forces
around me are helping me to achieve whatever is on screen.
AsianConnections:
So the first scene was the courtroom scene and you were bald?
Bai
Ling: See, they shaved me, I had trouble learning Thai,
and I had to do this tough scene. I said, it's trouble! It's
really difficult. Then you have to somehow, against all this
trouble, kick them out first, [re-examine] yourself then come back
to yourself to find the truth to that scene.
AsianConnections:
What kind of advice can you give to young Asian women, or young
women in general?
Bai
Ling: I think no matter what you do, I think everyone
is a star, in his/her own way. And everyone has his/her own potential
in different way. And the one thing is to satisfy yourself, and
to lead you far is to follow your heart, to do things you really
love. And for example, as me, and as an actress, people look at
the glamour, the fame, the money, but this has nothing to do with
me. What I'm doing is the work. If I do good work, other things
will come to me. It's basically like others appreciating your work,
they give you something, but that's not your goal. Your goal
is to do what you love to do and to do your best.
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