Au Revoir Taipei, Bonjour S’pore!
Taiwanese actress-singer Amber Kuo in town to promote new movie, Au Revoir Taipei
By Tan Kee Yun
July 27, 2010
IF AU Revoir Taipei had turned out to be a heavy, depressing picture instead of the lightweight urban rom-com it is, actress-singer Amber Kuo might have had to leap over a giant emotional hurdle while shooting some of her outdoor scenes.
As part of the film’s storyline, the petite, porcelain-skinned 24-year-old Taiwanese spent hours criss-crossing a bustling street market with co-star Jack Yao.
The market, teeming with food stalls, used to be one of Kuo’s haunts before she entered showbusiness.
PICTURES: TAN KEE YUN, CATHAY KERIS FILMS
She and her ex-boyfriend, who stayed in the area, would often hang out there.
Unfortunately, he was caught two-timing and their relationship gradually soured.
One of their many heated arguments – described by Kuo in a previous interview as ‘soap opera-like’ – took place in the middle of that street market.
When The New Paper caught up with Kuo last Saturday, she good-naturedly acknowledged the incident.
‘In a way, I’m glad that Au Revoir Taipei is slightly campy and over-the-top,’ said Kuo in her trademark high-pitched voice.
‘Filming those scenes, Jack and I had to run all over the place. It was a lot of fun and didn’t give me time to think about the past.’
Looking for love
She was in town with co-star Yao and director Arvin Chen to promote their new movie, which opens here on Thursday.
Kuo plays optimistic, bubbly bookshop salesgirl Susie, who takes a liking to the geeky, love-struck Kai (played by Yao).
Kai comes by the shop every night to flip through French language textbooks and Kuo’s character boldly strikes up a conversation with him.
Currently single, Kuo also took the opportunity to refute any speculation about her and Malaysian singer-actor Nicholas Teo being an item.
Two years ago, she and Teo, 28, were rumoured to have hooked up.
They were photographed by the Taiwanese paparazzi wearing matching black spectacles as they queued to buy movie tickets.
With a grin, Kuo said: ‘Any celebrity pairing that’s exposed by the media is likely to be untrue.
‘Personally, if I were really in a relationship, I would have chosen to keep it private and not tell reporters.
‘I guess the gossip about Nicholas and me arose then, because not only were we record label mates (both are signed under Warner Music), we had acted together in the idol drama Invincible Shan Bao Mei.’
But she is unabashed about her desire for love.
‘I think most people in the creative arts would agree with me that love fuels our lives. With love, you gain more inspiration, be it to act or write better songs,’ said Kuo, who has released three Mandarin albums to date.
‘Also, as the days go by, it can get pretty lonely. It’ll be nice to have a person I cherish by my side.’
While real-life sparks did not fly between her and Yao on the set of Au Revoir Taipei, Yao – a newcomer in the film industry – had nothing but praises for his co-star.
‘Working with Amber shattered my initial impression of her,’ said Yao, who is in his mid-20s.
‘I remember her first album cover where she sported a ponytail; I thought she’d be just another fresh-faced little girl.
‘But as I got to know her better, I began to realise she’s someone who is very clear-minded. She knows exactly what she wants from her career and how she plans to take care of her family in the long run.’
Indeed, Kuo – feeling upbeat from her Best New Talent win at the Taipei Film Festival two weeks ago – has set her eyes on attaining longevity in entertainment.
‘I’m very happy that people have come to accept me as an actress,’ she said.
‘Fans of my music are mostly teenagers. Acting helps me to reach out to a broader, wider audience.’
The NewPaper