"GONG LI - 'MY FIRST LOVE: ZORRO!'"  

Paris Match

August 17-26, 2006 Issue

Paris Match: After "Memoirs of a Geisha", you disguised yourself again in an American film. What made you say yes to "Miami Vice"?

Gong Li: Three reasons. I love very much the work of director Michael Mann. The story is very rich. Finally, the person that I play, Isabella, who didn't exist in the television series, is very complex, although the film is made for the general public.

P.M. You refused for a long time to make a film produced by Hollywood…

G.L. Yes, in the past, many American producers offered these roles to me that I refused, because in the majority of them there were stereotypes, and they didn't give me the possibility to express something new. And as I did not want to waste my time...

P.M. Your husband is a powerful business man. You have said in the past that you were lucky that he is a modern man. What do you mean by that?

G.L. The important thing is that he [a partner] be a good man who understands perfectly the constraints of my career.

P.M. Isn't that unusual for Chinese men?

G.L. No, as a matter of fact it's rather common. Nowadays, men and women are very much equal in China. In the large cities, in any case.

P.M. According to you, are there still certain things that need to change?

G.L. I think that women could benefit more from freedom and independence. In the factories, the workers must, according to the law, retire at the age of 45 or 50. They go on pension and are sent back home, as though they are no longer useful to society. It is necessary to allow them to find work so that they will have a sense of security. And a certain feeling of accomplishment.

P.M. Is there something about American society that you don't like?

G.L. There is such a gulf between rich and poor. The same thing can be said about China, and it's true.

P.M. What were you like as a child?

G.L. Reserved, introverted, not talkative. I hardly spoke. When I became an actress, my parents were a little surprised. They told me, "It's curious, you don't have a personality appropriate for that."

P.M. In China, children obey their parents more than in the United States, for example. Did you happen to rebel against your parents?

G.L. In China, children are indeed obedient. That's the case for my brothers and sister. I am more rebellious. While growing up, I was thirsty for freedom, but my parents never pressured me against my desires. They asked me very few questions about my boyfriends, for example. One day, I announced to my mother that I was going to get married. She simply asked, "Who are you going to marry and when are you going to get married?" I told her and she added, "Bravo, my congratulations!" She trusted me.

P.M. What values did your mother teach you?

G.L. My parents told me that I could do what I want as long as I don't break the law, don't lie, and don't cheat others. They also told me: "You must rely on the same things as us because we are simple people. We are university professors and we don't have contacts. You must work hard in order to obtain the things that you want."

P.M. Which of your parents influenced you the most?

G.L. They have both influenced me. My father communicated in a direct manner, typical of the Chinese. Often, when he had something to say to me, he discussed it first with my mother and told her, "Repeat to our daughter what I have just said to you." One day, Mom finished [the discussion] weary and perturbed: "If you have something to say to Gong Li, why not tell her, not me? I feel guilty because what I tell her isn't coming from me, but from you." My mother has a strong personality, and her intensity has rubbed off on me.

P.M. She didn't find you pretty, it appears…

G.L. As long as I wanted to enroll in the music conservatory, my physical appearance wasn't important. Only my voice counted, and I have a pretty voice. And then I failed [to gain entrance] and at the age of 20 fell back on the Drama Academy. My mother regarded me from head to toe and told me: "You are thin and your eyes are not big enough. Your complexion is not fair enough. I am not certain that you make the grade. But if you are not accepted, don't take it badly. In my heart, you will always be the prettiest girl in the world."

P.M. At what age did you discover Western cinema?

G.L. Very young. At that time, the school organized free screenings that one could attend once per week. "Zorro" is the first film that I saw. Love at first sight: to my eyes, Zorro was the most handsome man who existed. Later, I saw television series about war or underwater adventures. At university, I discovered several films of Meryl Streep, my favorite actress. I adore "Out of Africa".

P.M. You were born under Mao and have seen the Cultural Revolution. What memories do you have?

G.L. I especially recall that there was no longer a school. My brothers and sister played all day long. We were young and didn't understand well what was happening. My parents didn't work because the university was closed. Later, my father worked in a factory where he was given employment as an accountant. My brothers and sister worked in the countryside. Me, I was too small to go there.

P.M. Where do you live today?

G.L. In Peking. I lived in Hong Kong for only a brief period.

P.M. What do you do when you are not filming?

G.L. I sleep a lot, between eight and ten hours. Sleep is good for one's health. I often make the trip to visit my mother who lives five hours away by train. And then, I play billiards! I adore it!