Zhang Ziyi

Personal quotes:

"In China, we don't consider someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a long time, and we know what's underneath the skin."

After Crouching Tiger (Wo hu cang long (2000)), there was a big change for me, with all the attention thrust upon me. I got lot of work: my first Hollywood film, Rush Hour 2 (2001), and a lot of advertisements in Asia. I think for me it's a very good part of my life. I've been lucky, because I've had great characters to play. Now I really want to work with good directors.

You know, I never think I can become an actress. But it happened. Not because I dreamed it, but because it happened.

It's my first time in a lead and I have to speak English! In a Japanese accent! [on Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)].

It was so hard working for him, but I like the challenge. We don't learn the script, every day we had to, erm ... improvise. [on working with Wong Kar-wai in '2046']

"For Western women, it's much easier to be yourself. If you want to do something, you just go and do it. In an Asian context, women are still much more modest and conservative. I want, through my roles, to express the parts in the hearts of Chinese women that they feel unable to let out."

Chinese women are much more modest than American women when it comes to clothes. We tend to show less flesh.

I've discovered that I value simplicity above all in dressing. I don't like anything I wear to be too complicated or fussy.

"Even though I've done Hollywood films, I still don't think of myself as a Hollywood actress."

"I always think it's really hard if you are Asian or Chinese to be really in Hollywood. There are not so many really great characters for you. I always think you are lucky to get offered [something like] 'Memoirs of a Geisha', but I don't think it will happen all the time."