MARIE CLAIRE CHINA

December 2006 Issue

Thanks to NewPath for translating the highlights from the article:

The reporter wrote: "The woman in front of me, no need to introduce her, but we still can salute her, and thank her for still being herself. She is like a graceful queen on a trip for many years, and all of a sudden, she's back, with such a force, but composed."

They did the interview in a make-up room in Beijing Films Studio (the movie was filmed there too). There were an Australian hairdresser, French stylist, Asian's best photographer... and then Li stepped in. The reporter said she didn't expect Li to be this tall and skinny. "Li is so tall. She is standing there, I have to look up to her. I don't know if it is because she is really that tall, or maybe I admire her so much that I have to look up to her." Li was in casual clothing, no jewelry, no make up. When she talked to the reporter, her answers were very simple and direct. Li refused to answer complex questions about the film. When a HK reporter asked her whether the theme of COTFG is about woman in that society to protest against her fate, she said, "this question is too big for me. It is a question for the director, not me."

When asked about her feelings about the collaboration with Zhang Yimou after 11 years, the reporter said she was surprised that Li answered with poise, no hesitation, no hiding, very natural. Li said: "I feel familiar and unfamiliar. The work is easy, I know what he wants, and he knows what I can give him. But we are too different. I am too simple. Other than acting, I do not want to be involved in anything else. Now, his life is very complicated. When we shot the film, he had a lot of other things to take care of. I think he is not as focused and concentrated as he used to be. But this may be because of his status... not necessarily a bad thing."

When asked how she manages to keep her energy up, to be so fresh, she said: "You have to keep a simple life. As an actress, I don't want to solicit too many social activities or business. I want to keep my life as simple as possible. I am not a complicated person, if it's getting too complicated, then I can't do it. We should not think we can do everything..." Again, the reporter discussed Li's way to keep energy: "Have your own life. At home, I sleep and eat at will, I spend time with my family. My mom is now over 80. Whenever I get a chance, I will go back to Jinan (her hometown) to stay with my mom. Get along with yourself, read the books you like, see some movies, spend your life following the rhythm of your heart..."