Andy Lau > Special > Ray Magazine

Interview: The people like when I'm daying at the end

Andy Lau, one of the Top Stars from the entertainment industry from Hong Kong comes to Vienna and talks about the beginning of his career and how it is to do 15 movies a year and about his astonishing physical fitness.
Port-guesses/advises by Andreas Ungerboeck

 

AU: Andreas Ungerböck AL: Any Lau AU: There is not much known about your origin and background. Could you tell us something? AL: I was born in the New Territories outside Hong Kong. I have 3 older sisters and one younger brother. My parents belong to the Middle class. That it is said I was from a poor background is not correct AU: When was the first time you thought of becoming an actor. AL: In the beginning I did not. I want to write or direct. Rather at the end of my High School time I wrote a play for our school theatre but I was not interested in playing a part in it. AU: You were not interested in movies? AL: Yes it was. But it was a long way from home to the next cinema. You just could not go there anytime you want to. AU: Were there any actors who had impressed you? AL: Yes of course; as for every Chinese boy my favorite was Bruce Lee, later also Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Chow Yun- Fat AU: But how did you finally land with acting? AL: I attended a course at the TV station TVB, where you learn everything; directing, writing, acting, dancing and singing. They told me I had talent for acting and singing. I was not convinced of that. 1980 I appeared on the first TV show AU: Afterward you played your first main movie part, in Ann Hui´s Vietnam refugee’s drama Boat people. How did you get it? AL: Actually Chow Yun.fat should play this part but he was busy with another movie at the same time. I was lucky and got the contract. Above all I met George Lan and we have been good friends since then. AU: Then things were happening fast and you also got famous as a singer. At that time you made up to 15 movies a year. How did this work? AL: Yes I did and also I did a lot of concerts. It is all a question of organization (he laughs). My management is very well organized. It was a lot of fun. But I have to admit I cannot do the same anymore today. Right now I am doing approx.50 concerts a year. AU: It seems to me that your image as actor is quite different to the one as a singer. In your movies you are the tough guys and as a singer you are a “softie”. AL: In Hong Kong it has to be so. The people only want to hear love songs. It does not make sense to change this. AU: How do you manage to stay at the top? Every year, specially in Hong Kong, there are so many new singers. AL: You have to keep your style. If I do every year something new I would get into problems. But I thing there is enough space for everyone. AU: One favorite marketing strategy in the pop business it to retreat “for ever” and to do a big comeback the following year. Have you got already this idea? AL: There is no need for me to do this (he laughs). No really I don’t like this sort of games. That’s kind of childish. AU: You are 40 years old and you played in more than 100 hundred movies. Recently I saw in “Fighter’s Blues” where you played a Thai- Boxer. How do you manage to keep yourself fit? AL: I look after my body fir 45 minutes a day. That is really enough. I can explain this to you; 45 minutes a day and you are in top condition. AU: You did THE DUEL together with director Andrew Lau. How was the cooperation? AL: Fantastic. We have known each other for quite a while, since I played in Wong Kar-Wai´s AS TEARS GO BY and he did the camera. We understand each other without words. AU: How would you describe you part in THE DUEL? AL: I play a hero with supernatural powers. As so many times before I had to die at the end. The people seem to like it. (He laughs) AU: THE DUEL is in the same time action movie, a melodrama and special effects spectacle. Do you think this mixture is working? AL: I think it does. The people in Hong Kong love it. I am sure it also works for the Western Countries. I am happy that this movie is shown in Europe. AU: In the western countries you are not so known as Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat or Jet Li? What’s the cause? AL: I never planned to. I feel happy to work in Asia. But I will be happy if THE DUEL does well over here. AU: You played in more than 100 movies. Are there any personal favorites? AL: Yes some of them: I like especially AS TEARS GO BY, SAVIOUR OF THE SOUL and one of my newest ones: THE FULLTIME KILLER, which I also produced. AU: You have reached everything in your career. Aren’t you sometime tired? AL: Not yet. Please ask me again in 10 years ::: Translated by Daniela Pusskacs :::