2003: Amy interview on Tony Leung
Amy Magazine 2003-11
An English Translation of Amy Magazine
What are your merits and shortcomings?
Merits: Patience. For example, I am able to be engaged in one movie for more than 5 years.
Shortcomings: I tend to spend my time as one pleases. To some certain extent, this is okay. But sometimes I might be a bit childish or selfish, or even to the extent people might think I have unintentionally hurt others. Another shortcoming is that I am atypically lazy. I like to think I grow up with special talent when I was a child (beaming – a child prodigy), and I learn everything very fast. All of these make me practically very lazy – just like the rabbit in the rabbit-tortoise fable. I know this is a problem, but I just kind of let it slide.
Take singing for an example, I know my voice is okay, but I didn’t spend a lot of time in practicing. I thought to myself – how I wasted all that talent! Then I would say myself, just forget it. There are days I would dream of living a life without ever working. Luckily, I enjoy acting very much, so that I would have something to concentrate and put forth effort into.
What do you consider to be a complete life? How would you plan your future?
A complete life? I am happy with my situation now. I never thought a married life would make life complete. I don’t have that planned for the future.
What is your favorite sports?
I would like to keep working for a long time. Occasionally, I want to take a vacation, such as, take a ski trip in Japan.
Do you spend a lot of time to take care of your look? How do you keep your skin so healthy?
Hmm, I don’t think so. I do care how people perceive the acting profession (all about how one looks better than others; I think it’s quite typical of jealousy nature of what have and what have nots). I will take care of my skin when necessary. For example, I would prefer not to put too much facial cream when the weather is too dry and my skin becomes sensitive. Sometimes, the make-up artist would force me. Just like when I was in Korea, I brought a lot of skin care products, but I did not use them. If I don’t need to work, I would let my hair to dry naturally. It’s just lots of trouble.
What kind of woman who are most attractive to you (many fans dying to know)?
Woman who concentrates and spends effort in whatever things she is working on – in that moment she is very sexy. I appreciate woman’s ability to work, and I will accept those are who smarter than me.
Many actors said they would come to a stage when they suddenly got the right “key” of acting. Do you have such experience?
I am not aware of such stage. I guess when you started enjoy acting, you get the “key”. I think every actor needs a period of adaptation. During that period, one would feel nervous about acting. Gradually, one would get used to it and learn the skills, and deeply involved in a role. And there goes the “key”.
In ‘Police Cadet 1984′, I put a lot of effort role playing. Others might think the acting is too abrasive. However, I would leave it to the audience to comment on my role, to understand role playing is a part of being an actor.
Your acting is well-appreciated by peers. Does anyone or anything presents a challenge for you?
Each new role is difficult for me.
I would like to spend a lot of time preparing for such role, sometimes it involves with doing a bit research here and there. For example, in ’2046′, I need to perform the role of Mr. Chow again (from ‘In the Mood for Love’), I think about new acting method, and that has been difficult.
For example, ‘Seoul Raiders’ is a comedy with a lot of actions. I did not have much time to prepare, and it is quite difficult. Each movie is a new challenge for me.
Have you set any goals for yourself, such as improving your acting ability?
I hope to improve in each film, I am never satisfied in this aspect.
When I need to promote the movies in different places, I watch the films I made at least 5 to 6 times. Afterward, I would review audiences’ feedbacks.
Every time I watch the movie, I would discover issues and sometimes more problems than issues. But these problems are very minor that others won’t discover them, unfortunately I would pick up them instinctively. It may be an eye contact, or a simple gesture. I would tell myself maybe it would be better to use another form. I would remind myself to make adjustment next time.
Until now, I still do not have a satisfied piece of work. Maybe that’s the reason I think I have to keep on improving myself.
Your motto is…
I keep on reminding myself, to work hard on everything that I do. Like skiing, you need to concentrate or you would fall to instant death. Although there are a lot of issues happened around me, I try to not allow myself to become disturbed, I guess this takes a special kind of training.
Any setbacks in your life?
I am a lucky person, I received a lot of applause throughout my careers. I have met many good people, great scripts, and wonderful actors. I feel I am lucky, and there hasn’t been that much setbacks.
Definition of New kind of man…
Someone who can manage both the business side of life and the private side of life. Money is not the only driving force in his life, but he would spend time with family, girl friend and friends, and take good care of them.
The old concept of man is to take care the world outside, leaving it to the woman to take care of the family.
Family is important to me, but happiness is not so easy to achieve. Sometimes I wonder what makes them happy? Do you know?