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| Fish Liew states that she longs to win the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress |
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| Fish Liew feels that each of her strong opponents' work has its own merits |
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Amy Lo and Natalie Hsu courtesy of on.cc |
For this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, the Best Actress
competition has been called the "category of death". First time nominee
Fish Liew Chi Yu although won the Directors' Guild award and took the
lead, in the face of strong competition from Zhang Ziyi, Fala Chen, etc.
she humbly said that she was not in control of the victory. Once out of
work, she was also worried about the "curse" of no job for 3 years. Her
thinking was wandering between victory and defeat from time to time like
she had schizophrenia!
The "44th Hong Kong Film Awards" will be held tomorrow. The
competition for "Best Actress" has been very fierce. Liew Chi Yu (Fish)
would "arm wrestle" with the SHE'S GOT NO NAME "triple golden Best
Actress" nominee Zhang Ziyi, the DUMPLING QUEEN nominee Ma Li, PEG O' MY
HEART (SHOOK MUNG)'s Fala Chen and MY FIRST OF MAY (MO MING JI)'s
Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi). Earlier awarded the "Best Actress" at the
Film Directors' Guild Awards ceremony earlier and finally got a shot in
the arm for the Hong Kong Film Awards, she was a Best Actress favorite
online. Seen as the Best Actress favorite, Fish humbly said, "Even the
favorite would have the chance to be upset. Frankly speaking, I
definitely want to win the award, because I may not have another chance.
I may have to wait 20 years next time? However it doesn't matter if I
really can't get it, I care more about whether I would have a movie to
make or not."
As a film enthusiast, she has appreciated the works of several
rivals and said with a smile, "Everyone have things worth appreciating,
especially Zhang Ziyi with her natural born movie face; when she
appears, she tells everyone what a big production is. I remember very
well that I was nominated for "Best New Performer" in my early years,
and Zhang Ziyi won the Best Actress that year. I didn't expect that I
would have the opportunity to compete with her for the award this year.
(Tony) Leung Chiu Wai, (Louis) Koo Tin Lok and (Aaron) Kwok Fu Sing all
attended that year, and the scene was still vivid in my mind! At that
time I thought it was shocking to see so many big stars at once, haha!"
Looking back on her past acting career, Fish revealed that she
has gone through a period of unemployment. On days with no job she
would pay attention to the trends of various teams, then recommend
herself for audition. "Yu Heung Ying won the Hong Kong Film Award with
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT (BAK YUT JI HA), which actually I also auditioned for.
Later Yu Heung Ying was chosen, and I was very happy for her!"
Originally from Malaysia, she has a deep affection for Hong
Kong, chose to cross the ocean to come to Hong Kong 14 years ago and
seek development opportunities. Today this Hong Kong Film Award Best
Actress to be in others' eyes actually had a dark side and pressure that
few knew about, on a certain level she still lacked self confidence. No
wonder when talking about the odds of winning this "Best Actress" crown,
she said frankly, "As the Hong Kong Film Awards are getting closer and
closer, my anxiety and pressure appear and I seem to have two selves in
my heart. The first one would say 'What should I do if I don't have a
movie to make for 3 years after winning the award?' The other would
retort, 'Are you going to win it for sure?' It's like schizophrenia,
but I understand that many things are beyond my control."
Actually Fish's experience in the industry is a bit similar to
Shu Qi's, she also came to Hong Kong alone to make a name for herself.
In order to get the opportunity, she could only let go, take a gamble
and made a nude performance. Looking back suddenly, she described
herself at that time, "It's like a raging fire was in front of me.
There is something I really want in the fire, so I choose to reach into
the fire and pick up the key. I made such a big decision, which should
probably prove my absolute sincerity! Actually now people still talk
about it (nude scene), and some people even sent me private messages of
the stills from that time. I really don't understand what they are
thinking, do they want to hurt me? To be honest, I was just looking
for an opportunity at the time. Actors should try to meet the needs of
the role and try to tell a good story the best they can!"
Recognized for her acting skills in recent years, Fala Chen
competed for the "Best Actress" at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards for
the first time. When asked if she was confident that she would win the
actress at first try, she stated that she was full of confidence in her
performance. "When I perform I am fully prepared, coupled with trust in
the script and the director. This time (Nick) Cheung Ka Fai personally
wrote the script and directed it himself. He played a role opposite me,
and grasped the role very precisely. He was a good actor too. He
explained the role to me very clearly, so I act with a lot of accuracy
and clarity; knowing how I want to act, and letting go and trusting the
guidance given to me by the director." However she believed that
winning the award was not within her control. "Every award has many
factors, every role is difficult to compare, every actor must do a very
good job to have a chance to be nominated. I am confident in my
performance, but winning the award is beyond my control and
understanding."
Speaking of the performances of other opponents Fala said that
because she was overseas, she did not have the opportunity to watch the
works of other nominees. Thus evaluating them would be difficult.
However she praised them for their own merits. "It seems that Zhang
Ziyi is a very experience actress, and there are young actresses who can
on their own; so that there is no gap among the actresses in the Hong
Kong film industry. I am already very please with the appearance of
such rich women's subject films, I am very happy for the Hong Kong film
industry."
br>Regarding the great sacrifice of having to wear ugly makeup and
interpreting mental disorder in the film, Fala joked that someone
finally asked her to be herself. Then she said seriously, "If it
weren't for the insanity having such a big span, I might not have taken
it. Finally I had to give it a try, not just playing someone else's
wife or an ordinary officer worker. Acting in this role is more
comfortable for me, suits me very well, I have a lot of fun and
enjoyment of acting. The uglier I am, the crazier I am, and the happier
I am." She said that she had a pleasure working with Cheung Ka Fai,
praised him for having ideas and unique aesthetics, and looked forward
to working together again. "Maybe next time I will be the director, he
will be an actor."
Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi) is nominated for Best Actress.
Yesterday when she attended the event with Amy Lo Wai Man, she said that
she was calm about the awards. However she would be very happy to see
everyone then, and revealed that she has already chosen what to wear --
a different sexy style from last year. Would Mama be present to support
her? She said no, and said with a smile, "Because sitting for two hours
is a long time, I think she would rather stay at home comfortably and
watch TV in her pajamas."
As for Amy Lo's role in NIGHT KING (YEH WONG), it finally saw
the light of day in the director's cut a few days ago. Some viewers
praised her for despite not having many scenes, her aura is quite
powerful. She said with a smile, "Actually I had a bit of pressure to
hold down the scene at that moment, because everyone was staring right
at me!"