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Movie star Xu stays grounded
By Chehui Peh |
June 30, 2012, Saturday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
"THE important thing is to have passion," says Xu Fan as she ponders over the best advice to give aspiring actresses. "And don't compare, just do it."
One of the most famous actresses in China today, 45-year-old Xu is known for her numerous achievements in a career that began in 1985 with the movie 15 Cases of Divorce.
Despite being a juror at the Shanghai International Film Festival, Xu believes that competitions and judging directors is unnecessary.
"Filming is difficult in itself and completing a movie is already an accomplishment," Xu explains.
And Xu should know, as the wife of famous director Feng Xiaogang, a box office favorite whose films consistently achieve commercial success.
Directors who have worked with Xu have commented that she has never failed them at the box office.
One of her most famous recent movies is the 2011 film Aftershock, based on the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.
"it was a very difficult movie to make," Xu recalls. "The set is exactly like what you see in the movie - filled with debris and ruins.
We had to sleep in tents and we were given good food but in those surroundings, it was difficult to eat."
Xu says she has a rule where she never thinks too much about the future.
"I never think about what I want to do next. I read screenplays, and if I get the urge to film, I do it."
Ironically, the outgoing Xu says she was quite different at school. "I was very quiet and shy then," she says with a laugh.
"My husband was probably the one who influenced my humor."
Recent gossip said Xu and her husband are moving to Canada for their daughter's education, but Xu dismisses this with a wave of her hand.
"We like architecture, and viewing different homes. Everywhere we go we look at houses and I can make changes to our house based on what we see."
Xu shows no signs of fame having gone to her head and her philosophy for keeping her feet on the ground is simple.
"If I change, I still have to come back down to reality. What's the point of floating above then?"
Her confidence and long years of dealing with the media shines through in her final comment.
"I have my own faults and merits. They can all say what they want."
One of the most famous actresses in China today, 45-year-old Xu is known for her numerous achievements in a career that began in 1985 with the movie 15 Cases of Divorce.
Despite being a juror at the Shanghai International Film Festival, Xu believes that competitions and judging directors is unnecessary.
"Filming is difficult in itself and completing a movie is already an accomplishment," Xu explains.
And Xu should know, as the wife of famous director Feng Xiaogang, a box office favorite whose films consistently achieve commercial success.
Directors who have worked with Xu have commented that she has never failed them at the box office.
One of her most famous recent movies is the 2011 film Aftershock, based on the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.
"it was a very difficult movie to make," Xu recalls. "The set is exactly like what you see in the movie - filled with debris and ruins.
We had to sleep in tents and we were given good food but in those surroundings, it was difficult to eat."
Xu says she has a rule where she never thinks too much about the future.
"I never think about what I want to do next. I read screenplays, and if I get the urge to film, I do it."
Ironically, the outgoing Xu says she was quite different at school. "I was very quiet and shy then," she says with a laugh.
"My husband was probably the one who influenced my humor."
Recent gossip said Xu and her husband are moving to Canada for their daughter's education, but Xu dismisses this with a wave of her hand.
"We like architecture, and viewing different homes. Everywhere we go we look at houses and I can make changes to our house based on what we see."
Xu shows no signs of fame having gone to her head and her philosophy for keeping her feet on the ground is simple.
"If I change, I still have to come back down to reality. What's the point of floating above then?"
Her confidence and long years of dealing with the media shines through in her final comment.
"I have my own faults and merits. They can all say what they want."
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