TIME talks to "Shaolin Soccer" star Zhao Wei
Princess Zhao - TIME talks to "Shaolin Soccer" star Zhao Wei
BY STEPHEN SHORT
(25/9/2001)
Actress Zhao Wei leapt to fame at the age of 21 when she was plucked from Beijing's prestigious Film Academy to star in the Chinese television series Princess Pearl. Zhao, who won a Golden Eagle (China's top TV award) for that role, went on to star in several more television shows and movies, and recorded a number of albums. The 25-year-old also recently starred in Shaolin Soccer, Hong Kong's highest-grossing film ever, which combines martial arts and football. She spoke to TIME Asia entertainment correspondent Stephen Short. Edited excerpts:
(演员赵薇在21岁便成名，当时她从北京著名的电影学府外借去演出电视剧「还珠格格」，她也借著演出这角色而夺取了金鹰奖最佳女主角(金鹰奖是中国最俱代表性的电视奖项)。之后，她演出了数部电视剧及电影，还出了数张唱片专辑。现年25岁的赵薇，最近参演了「少林足球」，「少」片已成为了香港最卖座的本地电影，片中揉合了中国功夫及足球。赵薇接受了《时代杂志》(亚洲版)的访问，节录如下：)
Q: How did you score the part for Shaolin Soccer?
(问：你怎样评价你在「少林足球」的演出？
A: Stephen Chow, who stars in the movie, had seen me in Princess Pearl, the Taiwanese television series, and approached me directly. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it at first. I was reluctant.
(答：片中的主角周星驰，从「还珠格格」这部台湾电视剧中看过我的演出，他亲自来接洽我。最初我不知自己是不是真的想去演，感到很犹豫。)
Q: Where did you learn to act?
(问：你在哪里学表演？)
A: I studied at the Beijing Film Academy, but I'm not really a film actor.
(答：北京电影学院，不过，我还算不上是一个真正的电影演员。)
Q: It must be a very small world, the academy, or not?
(问：学院的世界一定很小，不是吗？)
A: It is. And people are more aware of those behind the camera than those in front.
(答：是的，而我们对于幕后的认识远多于幕前。)
Q: Do they make you work like a dog?
(问：你认为在学院里辛苦？)
A: Like a dog in the military.
(答：辛苦得有如军训。)
Q: What time did your day start?
(问：你每天什么时候起来？)
A: We had to wake up at six o'clock every morning and exercise.
(答：我们每朝六时便起床，还要做早操。)
Q: Did you have to sing the national anthem and raise flags?
(问：要唱国歌及升国旗吗？)
A: Once a week.
(答：每星期一次。)
Q: Does (Chinese director) Zhang Yimou lecture there.
(问：张艺谋(中国导演)会在那儿演讲吗？)
A: Yes, quite often. He always draws the biggest crowd. There are a lot of younger filmmakers there who are very talented but they don't get much recognition.
(答：时常会，他总吸引到最多的听众。那里有许多有才华的导演，可是他们不太为人认识。)
Q: Do you like Hong Kong?
(问：你喜欢香港吗？)
A: I prefer China. But the people and media here are very nice to me. I first came to Hong Kong about four years ago. The traffic surprised me: it's very hard to drive here. China's roads are so huge it's much easier.
(答：我比较喜欢中国，但香港人及传媒对我也很友善。四年前当我第一次来香港，这儿的交通让我惊讶，驾车实在是件难事，不像中国的道路都很宽阔，驾车会轻松得多。
Q: Could you care less about Starbucks opening in the Forbidden City?
(问：你介意「星巴克咖啡馆」开在紫禁城吗？)
A: If I was head of state I would not allow it, but I'm not, so my reaction is 'why not?' I'd go there.
(答：如果我是领导人，我不会容许，但我不是，所以我的反应是「为什么不行？」我也会去光顾的。
Q: Do the Chinese treat you well or do they try to put you down?
(问：中国的观众喜欢你吗？还是会打压你呢？)
A: China's my main market: they like me because of Princess Pearl. I also gave a concert in Vietnam a few months ago in front of 20,000 people.
(答：中国是我的主要主场。他们因为「还珠格格」而喜欢我。此外，我曾在越南，在20,000名观众前举行演唱会。)
Q: What's your style of music?
(问：你喜欢什么类型的音乐？)
A: Jazz and blues.
(答：爵士乐及蓝调音乐。)
Q: Do you write your own music?
(问：你有创作自己的音乐吗？)
A: No. I learned to play the piano, but never had classical training. I just play it by ear.
(答：没有。我学过弹钢琴，但没受过正统的古典乐训练，我只是凭聆听去弹奏。)
Q; How many CDs have you released?
(问：你推出了多少张唱片？)
A: Four, but there's none I particularly like.
(答：共4张，但没一张我特别喜欢。)
Q: Why don't you like them?
(问：为什么呢？)
A: Because I haven't been able to express any opinion in the music, there's no personal style.
(答：因为那些音乐都没加入我自己的想法，那是没有个人风格的。)
Q: What opinion or style do you want to get across?
(问：那你想表达什么样的想法或风格？)
A: I haven't had time to realize that yet. But I'm looking for a new record contract right now.
(答：我还未有足够时间去思考这个。不过，我现在正物色一份新的唱片合约。)
Q: What are your plans for the future?
(问：你将来有什么计划？)
A: I still want to make films, but not too many. Perhaps one a year. It's not all about movies for me; I'd rather live a real life than have to live an acting life all the time. People think about TV and film very differently in China. Cinema does seem a little more elite. People think they're a little edgier if they watch cinema rather than TV.
(答：我仍然想拍电影，只是不会太多。或者一年一部吧！电影并不是我的全部，比起长时间过著演艺生涯，我情愿活得真实。在中国，人们认为电视跟电影是很不同的，电影的层次较高。人们以为看电影比观看电视更容易投入、更能牵动他们的情绪。
翻译：费纶
