Gong Li

"I think as an actress, it's very important to have a beginner's mind, and how you stick to it. If your environment is very noisy, how do you focus on the character? Shaping (the role) is not easy, so I hope my environment is not too noisy."

"No matter what you do, you should focus on it. Focus on doing it well, and you will get what you want. As an actor, sometimes it's hard to stick to it because there are so many temptations in the current society. How do you stick to what you love? Only true love can make you stick to it."

"Of course in terms of dialogue, there is a language difference, and this does make a difference. When I speak in English, my expressions become different. My attitude too. I'm not sure why, but there really is a difference. My hands move differently when I speak English. But in terms of performance, it's not that different. It won't be that because I'm in a foreign film that my approach is different. My training allowed me to make contact with a number of different possibilities. Four years in college let me work with excellent teachers who gave me a good foundation."

"You learn to focus on what you do well. Especially if you already have an instinct for acting, training allows you to improve very quickly. It allows you to pinpoint your talents and avoid taking roles as extras or supporting characters that aren't that beneficial to your career."

"As an actress, my criteria for accepting the role — who is the director, who are fellow cast and, above all, whether there is a good script – are basically the same whether I’m being offered a film or TV role."

"China is still a good place to work in the cinema industry. Every country has its own political system. China has a huge population of nearly 1.4 billion people and therefore needs good, strong governance."

"The tax issue is a universal one – everybody needs to pay their tax and be responsible for doing so."

"Movie is an important part of my life; I endeavor to do my best in understanding and rendering each character, as well as devoting myself with enthusiasm in the world of movie."

"Some Hollywood film-makers have asked me to play an Asian beauty but a good script is all that matters. Does it blend in well with you to create a chemistry? Or are you just a pretty face who runs around in the film, playing a role in which nobody cares if you live or die? If so, it’s meaningless even if it is a box-office success."

"Economic development can bring prosperity but it can also be a drag to arts and culture."

"When I play a character that can tap into my potential and fully unleash what I have to offer, I can’t get enough of it. But if I get an average character, I just can’t wait for filming to end."

"I don’t want to play an irrelevant role in a Hollywood production just for the sake of it."

"Rather than winning awards, it’s more important that the film is recognised on an international level. Films are not produced just to make money – they are a limitless form of art."

"I’m not going to change to make people like me because I’m not an entertainer. I’m an actress. It’s my profession and it’s my pride."

"Fans in China are very different from those overseas. In China, many people really love me and care about my life. But there is always some jealousy mixed up in this feeling of love. I think that is the big difference. Overseas, there is none of that."

"I guess my personality is that of a modern, strong Chinese woman. I don't believe in destiny. There are many things that can be changed. I don't like to be defeated by difficulties. I love freedom so when I am shaping a character, I usually do it the way I want. I always find some part of my own character in a role."

"Time has passed. We have grown up. We feel a stronger sense of social responsibility. What we say and what we do influences people. We think more about what we can do for our country. It is not a case of being inside or outside the system. I don't think I have changed a lot. I just pay more attention to what is going on around me and try to find something to do for my family, my friends and all Chinese people."

"She was co-operative and down to earth. You don’t see a lot of actresses like her. Her beauty is timeless and international."

"Gong Li is best celebrated among those born during the 1980s. In the 1990s and early 2000s, she won a major award almost every year. She is a driven, determined woman (self-described as “stubborn”) who has overcome many obstacles to get where she is today, and still takes her craft seriously despite her many laurels. In an industry where older women are often pushed out, Gong Li earned the title “most beautiful woman” in 2006, at age 40."