LiveWorld Transcripts

NBCi presents

Bai Ling
"The Lost Empire"

March 08, 2001

Read our chat with one of Hollywood's fastest rising stars, Bai Ling. Bai Ling stars as Kwan Ying, the beautiful Goddess of Mercy on a mystical, magical adventure in NBC's "The Lost Empire."

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NBCi: Welcome to a very special evening as we are joined by one of Hollywood's fastest rising stars, Bai Ling. Bai Ling stars as Kwan Ying, the beautiful Goddess of Mercy on a mystical, magical adventure in NBC's “The Lost Empire.” . Welcome Bai Ling, it's great to have you with us tonight!

Bai Ling: And thank you! I'm very happy to be here, and welcome everyone to be in this chat room, I am very happy.

Noah: Do you find that people in the industry still stereotype you and put you in only stereotypical Asian roles? Do you in fact enjoy playing these types of roles?

Bai Ling: Actually, I feel I'm pretty lucky, since the first leading role I played in Hollywood is the role in “Red Corner,” and she is a smart, intelligent and independent modern woman, and also very feminine. Then I was in “Anna and the King.” In "The Lost Empire," I play the Goddess of Mercy. I feel I'm very lucky, because all of them are very beautiful roles, very intelligent, for Asian actors, so I don't think that's the case, that I've been stereotyped. Of course, it's the fact, that the movie industry is a factory, making product--and most people here, the majority, are Caucasian--so it's natural that most of the movies have Caucasian leading actors. So, I accept that fact, but for me it's a great challenge and adventure, like the Journey to the West, to change myself.

Malaysian Nut: What do you think the differences are in working in Asian films and with Hollywood movies?

Bai Ling: For me, of course, the big difference is language. And then there is a cultural difference, because in Asian culture we respect the value of the group, but in Western culture it's more about the culture of the individual, so therefore when I first shot the movie “The Crow,” after we wrapped I was trying to help people in moving the lights, and people were mad at me; “Why are you moving the lights?” And they said, “what are you doing moving our lights? You are an actor; you are supposed to do your job, we do our job.” In Asia, after the film wraps, we all help everybody to clean up the sets, that's a difference.

Gnu Age: What was it like having to shave your head for your role in Anna and the King?

Bai Ling: Oh, it was a torture! But I really appreciate now the opportunity, because I learned a lot from that experience. I learned to value things when you still have them. I think that the simple things that I learned from this experience, and also learn to trust nature, because we are a part of it. When I shaved the first time, when I walked out of the hair and makeup room, I had my palm above my head, and I was wondering “what if something dropped from the sky? I would be the first person to get hit!” Then I learned that all these butterflies and birds and leaves--they are so beautiful, fragile and delicate, while they are happily dancing in nature, they are not afraid. Why should I be afraid? So we are all part of nature.

Justin: I can't imagine how it must have been like to be in the Chinese army's acting troupe! Care to shed a little light on the experience?

Bai Ling: Yes! I cannot imagine either, now, when you are asking this question. But again, I think I am very lucky in life; I had all this wonderful, wonderful experience, to experience life, to learn about life, and to confirm the sense of the romantic, poetic side of life. I'm especially into that, because that's a fantasy, a magic land, and right now I'm writing a book about my experience there. Hopefully, with my busy schedule, I will finish the book soon, so I can dedicate it to all the people who care about me.

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