In Chinese, Hua Ping, literally
a flower vase, is used to refer to an actress who is beautiful
but empty. Xu Jinglei is supposed to fit the Hua Ping code:
170cm tall, 105 pounds, sweet smile, and neighborhood girl
looks - whether dressed in a black Armani outfit or a plain
pair of jeans and shirt.
Although Chinese audiences were enthralled with her fresh
beauty, they mercilessly taunted her after her debut in
director Zhang Yang's 1997 film Spicy Love Soup and some
TV series during the 1990s.
Xu was referred to as one of the "Four Film Queens
in China" along with Zhao Wei, Zhang Ziyi and Zhou
Xun. "She can only smile in front of the camera",
said her critics.
But the caustic remarks soon abated as Xu's career took
off. In five years, the actress has donned many hats - as
a movie director with three works under her belt, a blog
writer with the most clicks in China and the world, and
as editor-in-chief of an online magazine, Kai La.
However, these changes were not all planned. Xu, 34, says
change is in her personality.
"I wanted to be an actress after I graduated in 1996.
However, doing the same kind of roles soon bored me and
I wanted to try out something new. I am interested in many
things and am not afraid of trying them out."
Xu's father wanted her to be a calligraphy master but Xu
applied instead to the Beijing Film Academy. She rose to
fame with her TV series, when she was just 21.
In 2002, she finished her first film as a director, My Father
and I, which explored the subtle relationship between father
and daughter. Indeed, it was her popularity as a TV actor
that paved the way for her becoming a movie director. Chinese
film directors Ye Daying, Jiang Wen and Zhang Yuan not only
acted in her film but also contributed their talents in
directing. Xu says she learned a lot from them and is grateful
for that.
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