STORY KEE HUA CHEE


She has appeared or starred in around 70 movies including Irma Yip, The Soong Sisters, In The Mood For Love, Hero, 2046 and Clean.

Many recall her memorable role in Jackie Chan’s Police Story series but it was As Tears Go By in 1988 that launched her as a serious actress under director Wong Kar Wai.

Prolific Hong Kong superstar, Maggie Cheung has gone where many Chinese actresses have not in the global film industry, after nearly a quarter century in showbiz. The only Chinese actress to sit on the jury for the 1997 Berlin Film Festival, 1999 Venice Film Festival and 2007 Cannes Film Festival, Cheung is also the first Asian actress to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival, a predominantly white affair.

Born in Hong Kong but raised in the United Kingdom, Cheung has always enjoyed a duality in her life. Her parents took her to England aged 8 and at 18 she returned to Hong Kong for a holiday and the rest is history.

Cheung won Best Actress Award in the 1992 Berlin Film Festival for Centre Stage and Best Actress Award in the 2004 Cannes Film Festival for Clean. 2004 was also the year she became the muse of jewellery brand Qeelin, touted as the Chinese version of global fine jewellery. The brand is owned by jewellery designer Dennis Chan and French businessman Guillaume Brochard.

Says Clisura, "Daniel and I work on the designs based on the unique properties of each rough like shape and size. Each rough is our muse. We create a jewel based on the rough and not vice versa. The rough diamonds can be worn on their own or enhanced with pave, polished diamonds. Each is a masterpiece of nature." A rough diamond loses 20 to 60% of its weight before emerging from the cutter's table in its rejuvenated, polished form. In the process of perfection, the price does a quantum leap. Few mortals can afford a 10ct polished diamond but a brown 9.7ct diamond crystal from Guinea costs around USD 4,500 while a 14.5ct cubic diamond crystal USD 5,500. Diamond in the Rough offers an entry price of USD 2,000 for its wedding bands with prices of USD 4,500 to 10,000 for its mainline.

Why did you agree to be Qeelin’s ambassador?
MC: Like most women, I love jewellery so I was very interested when Guillaume Brochard proposed I be the spokeswoman for a new Franco-Sino alliance featuring fine jewellery blending the best of west and east. When Dennis Chan showed me his concept of using classical Chinese motifs and turning them into universally appealing jewels, I said ‘yes’ immediately.

You wore the Wulu diamond pendant at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival which caused a sensation. Did you expect this reaction?
MC: I expected positive reaction as I not only looked good but felt beautiful. The wulu made its international debut at Cannes and brought me luck as I won the Golden Palme Best Actress award. It has since become a modern jewel icon and copied endlessly, but you know where to get the original.

Are you involved in Qeelin’s images which show you as being very classy and sexy?
MC: I came up with the ‘On The Road’ concept and the images had cinematic elements synonymous with my career. It was also my idea to work with Audi. I conceptualised the wardrobe, styling and make-up which is modern and fashionable to balance the traditional longevity lock from their Yu Yi collection. As I have been involved with Qeelin since its birth in 2004, I have a special feeling for this brand that updates Chinese icons to suit our contemporary taste.

What are your favourite stones?
MC: I don’t have any favourites as it depends on the designs and suitability of stones. If it appeals to me, then I like it regardless of the gems used. Everyday I choose jewellery to match the clothes. Both must fit my activities for the day.

What is your favourite jewellery?
MC: I like jewels that are simple, stylish and that possess their own character. They must be easy to match with my wardrobe and be meaningful. Unlike most Hong Kong stars, Cheung’s English is impeccable. So are her French, Mandarin, Shanghainese and native Cantonese. In Centre Stage, she really took centrestage by switching seamlessly from Mandarin to Shanghainese and Cantonese while in Clean, she repeated the feat in French, English and Cantonese. Catch this thespian in her 2010 hit, Hot Summer Days.