KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese actress Fan Bingbing said that she almost lost her chance to star in local filmmaker Chong Keat Aun's upcoming movie Mother Bhumi as she was deemed "too pretty" for the protagonist's role.
At a recent interview, Fan, 43, said that Chong initially hesitated to cast her as the heroine Hong Im because he feared that her striking looks might overshadow the film's gritty storyline.
However, she proved Chong wrong, and today he is full of praise for her portrayal of Hong Im.
"I'm an avid fan of Chong's movies such as Snow In Midsummer and The Story Of Southern Islet. Therefore I was determined to play Hong Im," said Fan.
"I told him to treat me like 'rubbish' during our first meeting last year, and on my part I will showcase my best look at film festivals."
Fan first met Chong during her visit to Malaysia last December, with her manager facilitating the introduction.
Set in 1990s Kedah, Mother Bhumi is about Hong Im, a farmer grappling with the loss of her husband while raising their two children near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
While using her magic to assist the villagers with their daily problems, she encounters a ghost who reveals a shocking secret about her husband's mysterious disappearance.
The film also stars Hong Kong actress Natalie Hsu, Taiwanese child actor Bai Run Yin and Malaysian actress Pearlly Chua.
Fan's work ethic impressed Chong, who described her as a dedicated and disciplined actress.
"She had many scenes that involved planting rice in the padi fields.
"Although I had arranged for a stand-in to handle those shots, she had no hesitation about stepping into the fields herself.
"We ended up planting rice together, and she completed it in just half a day," said Chong.