HK stars Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng sizzle in S’pore
It's taken them 8 long years to get back together again, but the Mr and Mrs Smith of Asia's cinema scene have finally reunited for another hotly-anticipated 3-in-1 thriller rom-com, Blind Detective.
Hong Kong's Heavenly King Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng will play a blind ex-detective and an up-and-coming young policewomen who make use of each other to solve their own personal cases.
The unlikely pair end up getting their lives - and hearts - hopelessly intertwined as they hunt down a serial killer together in a series of high speed, heart-stopping chases.
In Singapore on Wednesday to promote the movie, the chemistry sizzled between the two as they walked on stage hand in hand and bantered like old flames completely comfortable in each others' company.
Lau, 51, looked dapper in a vest and rolled-up shirt combi while Cheng, with her pixie haircut, was stylishly androgynous in a bow-tie and red cape getup.
First things first - with that much electricity in the air between the two co-stars, why has it taken them nine long years to decide to act together again after Magic Kitchen (2004) - did things turn sour between them?
The reason for their "long-term separation", according to Lau, is a lot less interesting.
"Since the last time we acted together, we were hoping and looking out for a script that stood out for us, but until now (Blind Detective), nothing came along, so we just waited," he said.
"To is my first priority, I have full confidence in him," said the slim and noticeably radiant Cheng, 40.
After nine years apart, was their reunion emotional or difficult, and was the connection still the same for them?
"On a physical level, there is no big difference in Sammi. She went through a difficult patch, but now, she is back," said Lau, possibly referring to Cheng's battle with depression in 2010 and her relationship woes with on and off boyfriend Andy Hui.
"Eight years ago, I would have described Sammi as a very good colleague, but now, she is like family to me. The relationship has changed, the dynamic is different and difficult to describe, we're now in a different generation and time," mused Lau thoughtfully.
Cheng gushed about working with Lau again, saying that she felt "honoured and lucky" to be acting opposite an actor like Lau, who has helped her grow and develop as an actress.
"In the past, I really admired Andy's success in his career. However, as time passed, I discovered his true character and how kind and compassionate he is as a person," said Cheng.
Both also said the script came along at the perfect time - Lau was at his peak physical condition after completing a series of concerts while a New Year concert Cheng had been working out and getting fit for had been cancelled due to an ear imbalance problem.
[Check out more photos of Andy and Sammi in our slideshow here]
"Although we had gone through some ups and downs in our personal lives in previous months, it was all over and both of us were at a peaceful and stable period of our careers when we decided to join this movie," said Lau.
However, both are quick to dismiss any notion that shooting the movie was a piece of cake.
"People think acting in comedic roles is easy, but it actually requires very high energy, and immersing yourself into a funny or humorous character takes as much effort as any other movie," said Cheng, who maxed herself out physically in action scenes which required her to tumble down stairs and go on high speed chases.
"Physically and emotionally, this movie was quite exhausting. However, the positive energy was very high on set, we all really put everything we had into this movie," she said.
For Lau, the biggest challenge came in learning to credibly portray a blind detective. For his role, he spent three months with the blind, learning how they felt and trying to imitate the emotions behind their actions.
"They taught me a very sincere and enlightening lesson. They said that, for blind people, every movement and every expression they make they do so with the goal of making normal people feel like they can actually see. I modeled my character on this attitude and way of thinking," said Lau.
"I felt it was difficult. It wasn't a traditional or common kind of role. It is also never mentioned specifically in the movie that my character is blind. There is no introduction of him as a blind man, he is just another character in the show."
With so much invested in the movie, are Lau and Cheng worried about getting bad reviews for their performances?
When asked if she would feel upset if the movie only received a rating of 2 out of 5 stars, Cheng was frank.
"Movies are subjective.. of course I would be affected if the movie gets only two stars," said Cheng, before pleading jokingly with reporters not to give it two stars.
Pressed to reveal how she would rate the movie, Cheng said she believed it was worthy of 4.5 stars.
Machoman Lau on the other hand, said (with a straight face) that he was "very used to getting 2 stars".
"Most of my movies are two stars, so whether it's one or two stars, no problem," said Lau with an uncharacteristically cheeky grin.
"I just want honest real feedback, something I will take to heart. So.. I don't need 5 stars, 4.5 stars are good enough," said Lau with a laugh.
Blind Detective opens in Singapore cinemas on 4 July 2013.
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Check out more photos of Andy and Sammi in our slideshow here
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