Feature Article

In the entertainment circle, there aren't many actresses who do kungfu. The 60s and 70s were the most glorious moments of female action stars, seeing the appearances of Zheng Pei Pei, Shang-guang Ling-Feng, Kara Hui Ying Hong, etc. In the 80s were Moon Lee, Michelle Yeoh, Yukari Oshima and Cynthia Khan. In the 90s, this type of female action stars are fast disappearing from the movie industry. Besides Michelle Yeoh and, to a lesser extent, Cynthia Khan, only Jade Leung remains on the silver screen, continuing to portray the contemporary heroine who goes about ridding the world of evil and helping the weak.

Jade Leung: The Modern Day Heroine

u-weekly, May 2002, Issue 53
Ah Wei
 

Striking a Niche

There is a common Guangdong saying: Who would want to go bald when they have had hair? This is the most apt phrase to describe Jade Leung's career path.

Ten years ago, when Jade Leung was a newcomer to the entertainment circle, Tak Poh Film Co was in preparation for Black Cat. Jade Leung, who had some martial arts background, was chosen to be the leading lady, and she became famous overnight. In addition, she was also billed as "Modern Day Heroine" and whenever film studios are making action movies, they would think of Jade Leung. Jade Leung has done no less than 10 movies thus far.

"Actually, I didn't think so much and look so far ahead back then. I only felt that Tak Pok Film Co was a very good film-making company then. Moreover, as a newcomer, why should I reject such a good chance? Not every newcomer was as lucky as me, and so, I agreed."

Only after having signed up for Black Cat did she realise that it was so exhausting shooting an action movie. Did she ever thought of giving up?

"No, since I had already given my promise, I had to persevere, no matter how hard it was. I kept reminding myself to try it out, to go through it, so as to enrich my experience as an actress."
 

Got Scorched by Flames

Having been in limelight for over 10 years, having done many action roles, Jade Leung candidly admits to making some illogical movies for the sake of money-making, such as Fox Hunter. The production was very taxing on her and she was leading a life of zombie on the set everyday.

"There is no sense whatsoever to the movie's content. The personality, the fate, the changes of the character I was playing were hard to believe. It was also the most arduous, most painful movie I have done. Had it not been for monkey, I wouldn't have done this type of movie."

While Fox Hunter makes her gnash her teeth, Enemy Shadow gives her creeps as Jade Leung looks back.

"I can never forget the accident that happened on 3 September 1995. On that fateful day, I was acting as an undercover agent who was pursued into the alley by the police. Then, the bullets the police fired hit the oil pipes, which burst into flames. After that, I ran out through the blazing flames. Initially, that scene was meant to be done with one take. However, when the director watched the cuts, he found that the flames were not strong enough and gathered the crew to shoot the scene again the next day. However, he neglected the fact that the firearms expert had changed hands, the timing was different, and no forecast on  the wind direction was made. As such, when my surrounding exploded, I felt something was amiss. When I opened my eyes, I was enveloped by blistering flames. During that moment, many questions that I had never thought of before flashed across my mind, there was a thin fine line between life and death. Afterwards, remembering that the camera was rolling in front of me, they were waiting for me to dart out to conclude the day's work, I ignored everything and made a dash."

When Jade Leung opened her eyes again, she was lying on the hospital bed. "When I woke up, the first thing I did was to look into the mirror. I couldn't believe that the person with such swollen mouth, with eyebrows being completely gone, with such unsightly look was me."

After seeing herself after being so badly burned, even the stouthearted Jade Leung, for the first time, broke down and cried her heart out. Her mother wept too, sincerely persuaded her to leave the entertainment field, to find a reliable better half.

Jade Leung said that while it was slightly frightening recollecting the event, she didn't develop any phobia, "I did not become scared of shooting action movies since that mishap, however, I am now extra careful, and would not force myself doing something beyond my ability."

Jade Leung also joked that doing action movies help her in slimming.

Acting as a Ghost for the First Time

Not long ago, Jade Leung published a health book on slimming, and even pose in a daring sportswear for the cover. She said that she has experience in slimming, for slimming is something every woman should take into account, and she has to be in shape when in front of the camera. According to her experience, exercise is the most effective.

"My current weight is still ideal (Height: 165cm , Weight: 50kg), but I feel that my arms and legs are too broad. After having read many relevant books, I have fixed a slimming procedure for myself - do more exercises, eat more vegetables and drink lots of water. This method is most ancient, yet most effective."

Jade Leung said that she has learned a lot in the past ten years. She gets to travel to many different countries, to learn about the cultures and customs of various other countries. It is an eye-opener and broadens her knowledge. Actually, every role that she has done gives her a taste of different aspects of the real world life - birth, old age, sickness and death."

"I can say unequivocally that, I have gained more than what I have lost over the past ten years"

So, what are her plans for the future?

"I hope that I need not shoot action movies. I hope to act as some gentler characters, such as the recent drama serial that I have completed, Battle Against Evil. I played a thousand-year old ghost, and there are some complicated feelings of love. Roles such as this is a big challenge to me, so I hope to do different roles."

As far as love is concerned, Jade Leung indicated that she has never given it any thoughts. Right now, what is most important is creating a whole new world in her career, for what she has done in the past ten years are but sowing the foundational seeds. And the present time represents a new beginning in her career, it's time to fight. So how would she have time to think about boy-girl relations?

[ Main ]