FIRST ASIAN
‘I HAD TO CHANGE MY UNDERWEAR EIGHT TIMES A DAY’
December 04, 2009
His character in fantasy martial arts epic The Storm Warriors might be one of the most invincible villains in Asian film history.
But as Hong Kong star Simon Yam found out, it sure wasn’t easy stepping into those shoes.
The charismatic 54-year-old veteran actor takes on the role of Lord Godless, a ruthless Japanese warlord who has no qualms killing off all who attempt to thwart his plans of conquering China.
While Lord Godless gleefully tortures his captives, in reality, Simon was ‘tortured’ by the bulky metallic costume he had to wear each time he was on the set.
‘My attire, especially the headpiece, was extremely heavy and cumbersome,’ Simon told FiRST over the phone from Hong Kong.
‘I had difficulty breathing and it was hard doing the fight scenes with so much weight on me.
‘During the course of filming, I was sweating perpetually and had to change my underwear eight times a day!’
The Storm Warriors, the hotly-anticipated sequel to 1999′s Storm Riders, opens in cinemas here on 17 Dec.
Problems in the fashion department aside, Simon described his experience of working on the film as ‘immensely enjoyable’.
‘Doing a wuxia (martial arts) movie is actually something very fresh and new for me,’ he said.
Before playing Lord Godless, he had never done a wuxia flick in his 30-year acting career.
‘In the past, I’ve always hesitated when it comes to taking on wuxia roles.
‘The characters live in a time that’s too far removed from reality, they are unable to reflect modern sensibilities and the emotions of real people.’
He soon changed his mentality after signing on to do The Storm Warriors.
‘It might not touch us or connect with us spiritually, but it definitely entertains,’ he said.
‘It’s straightforward action with amazing special effects; audiences will love it for these aspects.
‘It doesn’t matter if you feel for the characters or not. After all, it’s impossible to expect one single film to have all the elements you want.’
It helped that filming was made fun by having lots of other male actors on the same set.
The Storm Warriors also stars Hong Kong heart-throbs Aaron Kwok, Ekin Cheng and Nicholas Tse as well as veteran actors Kenny Ho, Kenny Wong and Lam Suet.
‘It’s a joy to work with the guys,’ said Simon, who is best known for his gutsy cop roles in PTU (2003) and Eye In The Sky (2007).
‘On many occasions, it didn’t feel like work at all when we were filming.
‘Every day, we were just play-fighting and mucking around.’
Away from the screen, Simon shared with us that ‘it has been a most eventful year’ for him.
‘My kid has grown up a lot, she has learnt how to paint and play the piano,’ said the proud father.
‘And guess what, I’m learning the piano along with her, so that we can play together!
‘I’m really enjoying blissful family life right now.’
Simon has been married to former supermodel Chi Chi since 1997. The telegenic couple have a 3-year-old daughter, Ella.
Despite his hectic filming schedule – this hardworking actor starred in eight films last year – he claimed to have mastered the art of work-life balance.
‘You can say it’s one of my greatest strengths,’ he said, chuckling.
‘Don’t worry, my family will always be my top priority.’
Tan Kee Yun
ARIEL THE DEVIL BLISSFUL MIRIAM TOM HANKS FOR PRESIDENT
Taiwanese actress Ariel Lin (Free As Love) is known for her roles as a silly naive girl.
But in her latest play, Man And Woman: War And Peace, she plays both the devil and angel.
The constant costume changes had to be quick and at times, she had to change her clothes at the side of the stage.
‘It was quite embarrassing,’ said the petite star who revealed that the wardrobe assistant would just go over to her and remove her clothes.
What’s more, she also had to dance to Korean pop group Wonder Girls’ Nobody and Super Junior’s Sorry, Sorry.
‘Dancing on heels was really painful and you have to stay balanced, and yet still look classy and elegant.
‘After doing six performances, I have 24 bruises on my feet,’ she said.
TOM HANKS FOR PRESIDENT
That is … in a Bollywood movie.
There is talk that the Oscar winner will play US President Lyndon Johnson in a biopic of the life of India’s first and only woman prime minister, Indira Gandhi.
The film, directed by Asian-American filmmaker Krishna Shah, is set to be released next year.
Titled Mother: The Indira Gandhi Story, the movie is be shot in India, Britain, US and Russia. Madhuri Dixit will play Indira Gandhi.
Hanks has never acted in a Bollywood film before.
Bollywood World also reported that Tommy Lee Jones is being approached for a pivotal role in the film.
BLISSFUL MIRIAM
Hong Kong actress-singer Miriam Yeung, 35, who recently revealed that she has secretly wedded businessman Real Ding Zi Gao, is truly blissful in love.
At a UNICEF event organised by Disneyland Hong Kong last week, the couple did their respective parts for charity. Miriam made a special guest appearance with fellow stars Vic Chou and Huang Xiaoming, while her fit, energetic hubby participated in a marathon to raise funds.
Miriam told reporters that she had encouraged Real to ‘consume bananas and bread before his race, so that he has the energy to complete the entire distance’.
She also admitted that she ‘was influenced by him to start running’.
On Real’s end, he chuckled when reporters asked him why his wife did not run with him.
‘She’s too slow. She’d end up completing the marathon one hour after I’m done!’ he joked.
The NewPaper