Jolin’s best-seller
Compiled by THAM AI MEI
WHILE Taiwanese R&B crooner Jay Chou has a whale of a time romancing his new girlfriend, TV host Hou Pei Cen, his ex-squeeze Jolin Tsai is working doubly hard to boost her popularity.
A report in Nanyang Siang Pau said that the pretty 25-year-old popster has recently launched a very successful English publication entitled J1-Jolin De 24 Tang Ying Wen Re Ji (loosely translated as “Jolin’s 24-Hour English Diary”). The book has notched up a pre-print order of over 50,000 units. So popular is Tsai’s book that several publishers in Taiwan are falling over themselves to acquire the copyright to her book.
By contrast, Tsai’s “love rival” Hou was evasive and noncommittal when asked about the facts and sales figures to her own book at a press conference held to launch the publication.
Tsai’s love life, however, pales in comparison to her rosy career. It has remained at a standstill, to say the least.
The Taiwanese artiste apparently took extra precautions to avoid Chou, 26, when they were both in Hong Kong recently. She also declined speaking to the media during her brief visit.
As fate would have it, Tsai did indeed come face to face with Chou! But no, not the man himself, but an impersonator who participated in a Hong Kong talent contest of which the singer was a special guest.
The (un)fortunate imitator turned red-faced when Tsai stepped onstage and stood next to him after he had emerged as one of the top four contestants.
When asked to advise the aspiring singers, the wily star quipped: “Don’t ever try to ape anyone, the best thing is to just be yourself.”
Price of fame
LEE Young Ae has been hailed as the new queen of Korean drama serials following her powerful performance in the period show Dae Jang Geum or Jewel in the Palace (the 70-episode TV series which recently concluded its run on 8TV). The 34-year-old made a huge impression on her native South Korean as well as Asian and American television audiences portraying the historical figure of a determined girl who rises from the ranks of a palace servant to be the imperial physician.
According to Nanyang Siang Pau, fans have called it “a Korean drama that is truly meaningful.”
Prior to taking up the demanding role, Lee had been noticeably absent from the acting scene for close to two years. Now some sources claimed that the ultra-sweet actress had been living a life of luxury under the care of an identified wealthy man during her hiatus.
Lee is also said to have pocketed an obscene amount for playing Jang Geum.
Success does come at a price.
Mind her English
ZHANG Ziyi was a bundle of nerves just before she presented an award at last week’s glittering Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, California, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.
The source of her apprehension? Her yet-to-be-mastered command of the English language.
Looking fabulous in a sexy black ballgown by Monique Lhuillier, the Chinese star appeared onstage together with The Day after Tomorrow’s Jake Gyllenhaal, saying her lines in faltering English.
Some Chinese media pointed out that the 26-year-old had mispronounced numerous words such as “picture” (Zhang reportedly said “picter”).
Thankfully, Zhang managed to relax herself after uttering the first line as she was seen smiling thereafter.
Nevertheless, the young lady should be given credit for her effort in improving her English. Before this, the only words she could say with confidence were “I think”, “you know” and “be myself”.
Despite the comments, the Beijing-born actress is reportedly quite pleased with her performance at the Oscars.
Asked if she’d want to be a winner, rather than a presenter, Zhang wisely said: “I just want to give my best in my movies because that is all that matters to me. Winning an award is just the icing on the cake.”
Fun-loving Faye
FAYE Wong may appear cool and aloof but away from the limelight, the 34-year-old is a lover of fun and games. She has reportedly formed a “playgroup” called Liu Nian Yi Ban (Six Years in a Class) with her close pals in Beijing recently.
According to a report on the Yahoo! Hong Kong website, the Chinese pop diva has even named herself as the “class monitor”.
Liu Nian Yi Ban comes with its own rules for members. Among them, all attendees of the group’s parties are obliged to wear red scarves. Guys are to turn up in the classic black pants and white shirts while the girls will wear short black skirts and white shirts.
So what do the parties entail? Lots of fun games and wholesome stuff like rope-skipping and relay races! Losers will be punished in undisclosed ways, apparently.
Wong, a frequent traveller between Hong Kong and China, is said to require her Beijing friends to “report” to her whenever she returns to the mainland. According to some of her close pals, the singer loathes being alone and likes to surround herself with friends.
They also revealed that whenever Wong hits the karaoke joints with them, she will insist that they don’t sing her songs. When her friends defy her, the superstar will just tune out!
Good omen
CANTOPOP heartthrob Andy Hui wrapped up his recent three concert shows in Hong Kong on a bright note.
The Yahoo! Hong Kong website reported that one of the spotlights burst towards the end of Hui’s final show but fortunately nobody was hurt.
Offstage, upon hearing of the incident, the singer immediately asked if anyone was wounded.
“If there is no one injured, I think that the bursting of the spotlight is a good omen for me,” Hui, 38, assured himself.
Amongst his special guests for the night were Hui’s buddies, namely Hacken Lee, William So and Gigi Leung. His ex Sammi Cheng was nowhere to be seen.
When jokingly asked which of his good friends he would save first from being drowned, Hui replied: “I will definitely save William first because he is too fat to swim.” After which So good-humouredly bared his fleshy midriff.
Hui’s fellow veteran singer Lee, 38, in the meantime, expressed his gratitude for Hui’s friendship through the years, adding that he considers Hui a worthy opponent in the singing arena.
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