Yifei Liu, Golden Sparrow in The Forbidden Kingdom, is a huge star in Asia from her work in music, TV and movies. The Forbidden Kingdom is the first film that will introduce Yifei (who also goes by Crystal Liu Yifei) to international and western audiences.
She gave an interview to Chinese news service Xinlang Media and talks about her character, working with Jackie Chan and Jet Li, dubbing in Mandarin for the Chinese release and scenes you might only see on the DVD, and we’ve got a translation thanks to AngeLLina from the forum Crystallized!
Details after the cut…
Xinlang Media Reporter (XMR): This time for you to play a tough character, may be something you have never tried before, because your original and previous roles were more of the pure and innocent type?
Liu Yi Fei (LYF): I think that what you have said is one sided, because a character isn’t categorised using toughness, pureness, innocence, a character can have many different elements. In the film, I not only play the role of Golden Sparrow, in the modern US scene, I always play the role of an Asian American. Through the 90 minutes movie, the audience can see a tough heroine from the olden days, and also the modern sweet girl. The contrast is very big, and I’m very happy that I can let the audience see such a huge contrast.
XMR: The details in action part, there’s horse riding and darts, did you do any sort of practice of it before this?
LYF: I feel that in the long time of filming of Return of the Condor Heroes, it gave me a strong mental encouragement, so this time, I felt kept relaxed instead. Because our team gave us a day off every week, and I even had sufficient time to sleep every day.
XMR: On the poster, there is a picture of you playing the pipa, it is extremely beautiful, were you really playing it yourself?
LYF: Yes. For Forbidden Kingdom, I learnt the pipa for two months. Because I feel that if it’s just pretending to, it would be very fake. Because the Golden Sparrow uses her pipa as a companion, the playing the pipa is the way for her to express her emotions. When she plays the pipa, she thinks of many things, it is only when I grasp the technique of playing the pipa, when I’m acting, I would not thinking of how to play it, nor whether what I should do if I don’t play it well, it is then that I will have the confidence to let the audience believe me.
XMR: But I know that in North America a small audience has seen it, and it seems that your kiss scene will cut off, is because they made this opinion, that the movie should not be over-romantic, do you feel it’s a pity?
LYF: I think that in reality, my scenes and the male lead’s scenes should be the very stereotypical Hollywood characters and love story. So when they were writing the script, because what he needs is to let both the Western audience and China’s audience to like it, and therefore there must be some adjustments, or some cutting. I heard from the director that in the final film after the cutting, all our characters seem to be very perfect, which is very good. But in reality, for that scene, the main part is not the kissing, but the last profession of love to each other just before the final battle, so I feel that this is just like the feeling of first love, I like it a lot myself, and there is also a sort of melancholy entwined in, because on the second day, they… So now while playing the pipa there are very sad emotions, because when filming that scene, the whole feeling is, why are we talking about this now, (I didn’t get this part) because it’s very touching, it’ll make everyone like it when they see it. I especially want to thank Peter for filming Michael and my scene to be so romantic.
XMR: Will this movie have a Chinese version when showing in China?
LYF: Yes, I’ve already finished recording my voice.
XMR: Maybe now what everyone is very concerned about most is that you have signed on to a very big (famous) management company in Hollywood, and your development in future. Do you mind being compared with Zhang Ziyi?
LYF: No, because everyone will always love to make comparisons. I feel that now there’s nothing much to compare, because every person is different. She is so outstanding. Through her shows, Chinese culture is introduced into the Western world, she is the glory of the Chinese. What I need to do now is to follow my character to develop, and I hope to have more films and areas for learning.
XMR: Actually, your conditions are much better than Zhang Ziyi’s.
LYF: Times are different. During Zhang Ziyi’s times, China’s development wasn’t as good as it was now. Only now that China’s development is so good, that I can chase up, that it’ll be better.
XMR: It’s related to the environment?
LYF: Yes. Without the environment, the Chinese wouldn’t be able to feel so proud and elated towards the foreigners after being suppressed for such a long time.”
Translated By: angeLLina of crystallized forum.
With extra thanks to angeLLina. These new pics of Yifei, the excellent translation, and more can be found at Crystallized!
the first image is nice, altho i like this one better (same series)
(thanks, firdonyt, it’s on the post now! -ed.)
Wow, pretty!
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Yes are truly pretty.
hi Crystal
how i can call whit you?
I need to call you and it is very nessesary.
thank you.
This site isn’t affiliated in any way with Yifei Liu. We’re not in contact with her in any way, shape or form and can’t forward any messages to her. Thanks.
LYF is very pretty..
i like her face the most
she’s dammed so pretty!!!
she’ cute
i’m in love with LYF
hi im fan of yours.ü
hi
I have seen the movie The Forbidden Kingdom! just Because of Jackie Chan and Jet Li.. But I have to say ,, I really enjoyed it .. I also liked the character of Michael Angarano and Yifei Liu ..
But I was really impressed by Yifei Liu,, as I have never seen her on screen and she gave a grate performance.. She also looks stunningly Beautiful in the movie.. All in all it was a Grate Movie..
i’m a lui yifei’s fan so if i can get those that wouid be great
if any one have lui yifei`s photo`s plz mail it to me
she’s soooo beautiful and imaginatif girl . The movie maker make her character unique.
u r gorgeous
I loved this film!
your are so beautiful
i like you very much
hae! u are very beautiful.
i like most beautiful face like ur face , lui yi
i want to speak with u.
can u tell me ur gmail.
OR
can u invite me(singsmarter1937@gmail.com) lui yi fei/
i’m fan of LYF.i will very happy if i can have LYP’s address or speacial information of LYP. who are LYP fan please share with me
hi…
Its really nice to see your movie and to be honest i am kind of movie and drama freak…
I like chinese ancient-traditional movie and korean love story..
And i am also a big fan of Harry Potter books…while i was going through the books i thought that …cho chang(chinese) will be looking like you since book has romanticized the character a bit..but in really i am very sorry to day its bit different ..at length …you are my Cho…
Ya….i don’t know may be you will not give a heed to the comment or the messages which is written over here for you were very busy and time is very precious for you…through google search engine i got to know that you were an eco-friendly person..I am really proud of you for doing such a great job at your age…because i am an ordinary computer student and sharing same age…
But through you i could realised that i should not waste my time and do something for my society…
This messages ..i guess will not reach you but i pray that my prayer will reach to god and grant you a successful healthy and a happy life..
with regards
your invisible fan
Samdup(a Tibetan guy)
hi…
Its really nice to see your movie and to be honest i am kind of movie and drama freak…
I like chinese ancient-traditional movie and korean love story..
And i am also a big fan of Harry Potter books…while i was going through the books i thought that …cho chang (chinese) will be looking like you since book has romanticized the character a bit..but in really i am very sorry to say its bit different ..at length …you are my Cho…
Ya….i don’t know may be you will not give a heed to the comments or the messages which is written over here for you were very busy and time is very precious for you…through google search engine i got to know that you were an eco-friendly person ..I am really proud of you for doing such a great job at your age…because i am an ordinary computer student and sharing same age…
But through you i could realised that i should not waste my time and do something for my society…
This messages ..i guess will not reach you but i pray that my prayer will reach to god and grant you a successful healthy and a happy life..
with regards
your invisible fan
Samdup(a Tibetan guy)
hi crystal liuyifei . i like u very much .i knew from THE CONDOR HEROES . i like it very much .and also the forbidden kingdom
YIFIE LIU……….I really luv u i thnk……U R really damn sexy..gorgeous…..beautiful……wow
She is very clever and pretty actress.
What is the name of this film that has image above?
i like this film…..look like a natural
This movie is very interesting .I would like to see next film.I hope it more interesting and pay a little money to produce
it.
i like Yifei Liu it so cute..
I like Yifei Liu,.so cute.
i like the scene when Yifei Lui pull up Micheal when he is about to fall down in the dessert, and when she is going to kill the bad guy who kill her family with her sparrow. nice movie and shes beautiful
hi liu yifie.. ur so much beautiful… i lve the way u smile..
Hi , Crystal LiuYifei. I am the audience of you. You are so beautiful girl.I have the arrangement for come to CHINA and meet with you.But i have no free time . But no matter. I am still dream of becoming it. I woult like to speak with you befor this time. If it won”t cause you too much inconvenience, Please give me your gmail address. OR can you invite me ( kyeldagun@gmail.com).
Hi, this site has no affiliation whatsoever with the movie or the people involved in the movie. Sorry.
Cute!! I have been watching her drama. Return Of Condor Hero. Very interesting!! Her clothes very beautiful 🙂
your so so so so beautiful>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!