29 October 2001
Harriet Ann Dy

Zhang Ziyi may say that she is not in the rush to stardom, but the bright lights and big movie capital seems to be catching up fast on the lithe and pretty Beijing-born actress.

Zhang Attack!
Not since her breakthrough role as Jen in the Oscar-winning 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' has Hollywood sat up and noticed the ingnue. In fact, she currently shuttles between the US (where she just finished 'Rush Hour 2' with Jackie Chan) and Asia where she has just finished doing the promotional circuit as the newest woman ambassador of Tag Heuer's Alter Ego ladies' watches; which was how Tsinoy.com was able to catch up with her in Hong Kong during the regional launch last July of the watch company's new time ambassador, the first Asian international celebrity to do so.

At 21, this former dancer and wannabe kindergarten teacher is definitely on the cusp of serious stardom. No less than People magazine recently named her as one of the '50 Most Beautiful People in the World'. She has also appeared in several style magazines, a beauty that has inspired many to compare her to Audrey Hepburn.

Such fascination was evident during the cocktail event at the Cyrano Restaurant at Island Shangri-la. She sparkled silently in a black Fendi ruche dress, diamond studs, and, of course, an Alter Ego watch as journalists from Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines jostled for her attention.

'I think she has a lot of talent and is extremely intelligent,' says Dominique Taieb, regional marketing director of Tag Heuer's Asia-Pacific operations, of the company's choice of Zhang Ziyi as spokesperson. 'She is a perfect match to Tag Heuer's Alter Ego line.'

Such intelligence shone through the next morning during the exclusive interview session with the Filipino press. Despite the fact that she doesn't speak a word of English, she made sure her interpreter answered questions just as eloquently in Mandarin.

Zhang: More than a Pretty Face
Asked how Zhang Ziyi feels about another Chinese actress, Bai Ling, making it to American movie mainstream at the expense of renouncing China's political stance, she says: 'I don't want to be compared to anybody; I have a long way to go and I want to be focused and project a healthy image. I want to bring pride not just to myself, but also to the Chinese people.'

The patriotism was consistent on her belief that she 'cannot represent 5,000 years of Chinese history'. 'Chinese people are all very hardworking and they strive to improve continuously and this spirit is very important,' she stresses. 'They are very aggressive for progress and progress is what is happening to China right now. Like the rest of the Chinese, I also want to continue improving.'

She also spoke passionately about being an empowered woman. 'I don't care if you are a housewife or a career woman; I believe that the important thing is to have your own personality to express your inner self,' confident words, indeed, from someone who left home at 11 to attend the exclusive Beijing Dancing College to be a dancer and gymnast.

Looking back, in 1997, her audition tapes for a shampoo commercial landed in the hands of well-known director Zhang Yimou. He immediately cast her in the lead role of 'The Road Home'. The movie, in turn, caught the attention of Ang Lee who offered her the role of Jen in 'Crouching Tiger'. The rest is still history in the making.

'Five years ago, I never thought I'd be in Hollywood,' she gushes. 'But now that I have very good opportunities, I will definitely try my best. I will also use this opportunity to let foreigners have a good view of the Chinese people.'

As it is, she is already (in every inch) the perfect poster girl for the changing face of China.

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