Gong Li From China with Good Will

About Gong Li

Born in Jinan, Shandong Province, in 1967, she studied at the Central Academy of Drama of China in 85–88. When she was a sophomore, she was selected by Zhang Yimou to be the leading actress in Red Sorghum, which led to her worldwide fame.

Later, she acted in films Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern. Her greatest success came in 1992 when she starred in The Story of Qiu Ju, which won her the Best Actress Award at 49th Venice Film Festival. This was the first international award won by a Chinese actress.

She later starred in films such as Farewell My Concubine, To Live, The Emperor and the Assassin, 2046, Memoirs of a Geisha, Miami Vice, and Curse of the Golden Flower. In 2007, she will star in a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs.

 

An internationally renown film star, Gong Li uses all the opportunities at her disposal to tell the world about China and the Beijing Olympic Games. She is eager to be an Olympic volunteer next summer in Beijing.

 

Beijing 2008: What are your most unforgettable memories about Beijing’s successful bid of the 2008 Olympic Games in 2001?

Gong Li: I will always remember the day when I was appointed as one of the Good Will Envoys. I was really excited and couldn’t sleep for the whole night. I went to Moscow accompanying former Vice-Premier Li Lanqing.

I will also remember the moment when it was announced that Beijing won the bid; we jumped and cheered with raised arms and also burst into tears. The whole night, no one could sleep. The feeling was completely different from that of winning a movie award. 

How did you play your role as one of the Goodwill Envoys?

Actually we had no detailed job assignment. As Goodwill Envoys, our mission was to show our confidence and passion to the whole world. It was important to show genuine feelings. We were confident about China’s progress, not only in culture, but also in economic growth.

At that time, I felt very nervous, just remembering to keep smiling. You know, afterward when I saw the video, I found my smiles stiff.   

What does the charm of the Olympics mean to you? The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games? Do you think it will change your life?

The most charming aspect is the competition. The Olympic Games is not just a competition involving physical performance or physical ability: it’s also a competition involving human power, wisdom and break-out force. It can be an inspiration in our lives; sometimes you can gain strength from it. The spirit of competition amazes me and inspires me.

From 2001 to 2007, how have you worked for the Olympic Games?

In these years the Beijing Olympic Games has become a focal point in the world. When I attend movie festivals or other events, most questions that reporters ask me are about the Beijing Olympic Games. I always answer with confidence, especially when some reporters do not know China and have misunderstandings about China, on topics such as air quality, food safety and others. I hope that the 2008 Olympic Games will help the world learn more about China, and that the Chinese people can learn more about the world.

Do you think the Olympic Games will bring more opportunities to the Chinese movie industry?

Yes, but not just the Chinese movie industry: the entire Asian economy will benefit from the Games. Quite a lot of foreigners do not know anything about China. They think Chinese mainly eat rice, because in their countries, all Chinese restaurants serve rice as a main food. I think that through the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the life in China will be broadcast to many places. More foreigners will come here to attend the Olympic Games and experience the real China. The 2008 Olympic Games will really be helpful in letting the world know more about China.

You became a recipient of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in June 1998. What do you think about this honour?

To most foreigners, Chinese culture is still a mystery. I think this is because of our long history. I was glad to receive the award. I have done some work in the area of cultural exchange between the two countries, and I hope I’ve done a good job.

You said you wanted to be a volunteer. What do you think about volunteer work?

Yes, I really want to be a volunteer. Volunteers should meet the needs of the job, such as medical service. In this, we need professional volunteers. I think I can be a volunteer of support services, or maybe an interpreter, but I don’t know if I am qualified. I can communicate with American and British people, but when it comes to the English with people using other accents, I have no confidence.

When you starred in Miami Vice, because the character spoke English with a Cuban accent and some Spanish, you worked very hard on it. Can you share your experience with Beijing residents who want to learn English?

My personal experience was to try to hear more and speak more: just reading was not enough. At the beginning, maybe you cannot write a word, but try to understand when you hear the word. Our aim in learning a foreign language is communication. Dumb English is bad. Vocabulary is also very important. 

Do you want to join the torch relay of Beijing Olympic Games as a torchbearer? What are your opinions of the torch relay routine and the ceremony to light the flame

in 2008?

If I could be one of the torchbearers, it would be great. I exercise every day and will continue to do so. Oh, there is a little problem: if I have a cramp in the leg or lose my balance at that moment, what should I do? And at the lighting ceremony, if they could shoot an arrow to light the cauldron, that could be very exciting, but I don’t think I can do that!