Vicki Zhao: ‘I can take care of myself’, Friday July 17, 2009 Singapore

BEING called a tomboy is her biggest pet peeve.

And Chinese actress-singer Vicki Zhao is quick to tell you that ‘I’m very womanly okay’.

In a phone interview with The New Paper, the doe-eyed beauty asked that we clear the air for her.

Said Vicki, 33: ‘I am feisty by nature, the kind of female who would stand up for my rights.

‘Women who have inner strength and attitude are not necessarily tomboys, I would say I’m very gentle.’

Perhaps it’s her famous portrayal of a wilful and fearless princess in the 1997 Chinese drama, Princess Pearl, that still resonates in viewers’ minds.

The character she plays in her latest film, Hua Mulan – a girl who dons a male disguise to take her ailing father’s place in the army – certainly hasn’t helped.
Click to see larger image

So it was with great relief that she accepted the role of a gentle, self-sacrificing wife in last year’s Painted Skin, a movie about a fox spirit that feasts on human hearts to maintain her youthful appearance.

It will be shown on Star Chinese Movies (StarHub Ch 62) on 18 Jul at 9pm.

In the film, Vicki’s character turns a blind eye to her husband’s indiscretions with the fox spirit.

‘In real life, I definitely won’t suffer in silence if my husband cheated on me.

‘But I learnt a good lesson from my character. That is, people shouldn’t give up on love so easily,’ she said.

Zhao, who is single, is eager to get married, but admitted that her soulmate hasn’t ‘appeared’.

Rumors

What about Chinese actor Chen Kun, her co-star in both Painted Skin and Hua Mulan, whom she has been rumoured to be dating?

Vicki brushed the rumour off and explained that since she and Chen Kun are ex-classmates, the relationship would have taken off ‘10 years ago’ if there were indeed sparks between them.

She then responded with mock horror when we broached the topic of Hong Kong actor Jaycee Chan.

In a recent report on English news portal China Daily, photos of Vicki enjoying an intimate dinner with Jackie Chan’s 27-year-old son were posted on the multimedia website, ifeng.com.

‘Oh, please don’t let that get out! And if Jackie gets wind of it, I’ll never hear the end of it. Jaycee is really like my little brother, in fact I’m closer to Jackie,’ she said laughing.

Vicki also revealed that she had no qualms about dating younger men so long as her only condition was met – her partner shouldn’t expect her to give up her career for love.

For now, she is content to bask in the company of her dashing co-stars.

In Painted Skin, apart from Chen Kun, she also worked with Hong Kong martial arts actor Donnie Yen and local China-born actor Qi Yuwu.

Describing Chen Kun as a sensitive soul, Donnie as ‘very manly’ and Yuwu as ‘extremely dedicated’, Vicki said she was glad to be surrounded by ‘men of calibre’.

But don’t mistake her for a weakling, she is quick to add.

‘Although I like the feeling of being protected by men, I certainly can take care of myself.’

At a press conference to promote the film in Beijing last year, Vicki recounted how a photographer had tried to take indecent pictures of her by positioning his camera on the ground and directing the lens at her skirt.

The spunky actress then yelled at the lensman and demanded that he be barred from future media events.

Said Vicki: ‘I didn’t sue him or even try to delete his film, I merely wanted to educate him. His lack of professionalism is an insult to others who are excellent in the profession.’

But the incident hasn’t stopped her from wearing sexy clothing. In fact, that is something she wants to indulge in when she attains ‘the perfect figure’.

She admits that she doesn’t work out, but aspires to become a gym bunny one day.

‘At present, I try not to look at my body’s imperfections lest it gets me down.

‘I can’t wait for the day when I achieve my goal and my sexiness is properly ‘disseminated’,’ she said giggling.

http://tnp.sg/show/story/0,4136,208069,00.html?