Shu Qi Says She's Done With Romance Roles: “I’m Old Already”

“We have to open the sliding door because Shu Qi doesn’t like aircon,” says a PR minder just a few minutes before our interview with the 49-year-old actress-turned-director.

A murmur of acknowledgment spreads throughout the group of journalists, all suddenly giddy with excitement that they’ve become privy to this unknown factoid about Shu Qi.

Shu Qi doesn’t like aircon. Who knew?

It would be one of the few personal things 8days.sg would learn about the Taiwanese star during the chat. Prior to the interview, we were told and reminded to keep our questions strictly related to her directorial debut, Girl.

The coming-of-age film, set in the late ’80s, follows an introverted girl trying to escape her abusive parents. The movie, which stars teen actress Bai Xiaoying, actor Roy Chiu and singer 9m88, is partly based on Shu Qi’s traumatic childhood. It nabbed her the best director award at the Busan International Film Festival in September.

Girl is also the opening film of the Singapore International Film Festival, which is why we’re sitting in a room on the 10th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel — with an awesome view of the SuperTrees and Gardens by the Bay — waiting to speak with her.

Shu Qi doesn’t so much enter the room as she does glide into it. She is followed by her posse of photogs, hair and make-up people, her manager and more minders. Joining her are Bai Xiaoying and 9m88.

She takes a seat on the couch and smiles at the group of us normal-looking folks. She is, if you’ve ever imagined meeting her, heartbreakingly beautiful in person.

Of course someone has to ask her about not liking air-conditioning.

“Oh it’s not that. I just don’t like the draft,” says Shu Qi.

Oh.

Correction: Shu Qi doesn’t not like aircon. She just doesn’t like the draft that comes with it.

Early in the interview, Shu Qi rises to close the sliding door that had been opened just for her. She says she’s concerned that the sounds of traffic below might be too noisy and distracting.

“Is this better now?” she asks.

The film draws inspiration from Shu Qi’s own traumatic childhood. When asked how she managed to move past those experiences, she explains that it isn’t something one truly gets over. Rather, it’s something you slowly learn to live with.

She shares how, like the titular character, she used to hide in her wardrobe to escape her abusive parents.

“That’s why I have very serious claustrophobia,” she says. “I don’t dare to take elevators. I don’t dare to live on high floors. But I have to take planes and elevators every day… I know nothing will happen, but the fear inside is undeniable. Still, you have to step [into the lift]. You have to reach your destination. And you realise that you can do it.”

She pauses, then slips into an exaggerated elderly voice as she imagines her future self: “Maybe when I’m very, very, very old… I’ll go, ‘Aiyah, I’ve been through so much… it’s nothing. What was I even scared of last time?’”

When we ask Shu Qi if there’s another part of her life she thinks could make a great story for the big screen, she deftly sidesteps the question by shifting the spotlight to her friends instead.

“I think beyond my own life, many of my friends’ stories could also be explored and adapted,” she says. “Lately, I’ve been thinking more about women’s issues — their bodies, their inner worlds, their place in society — but still within the context of family.”

“I think the next one would be set in a more modern era. Filming this movie, which takes place in the ’80s, was really too tough. We spent so much time and effort recreating the period, and along the way, a lot of time was wasted. So I would want to make things simpler.”

What about romance? Would she ever make a film about love, we ask.

Shu Qi, who is married to Hong Kong actor-director-heartthrob Stephen Fung, pauses for a moment, pursing her famously plump lips as she ponders the question. Then she breaks into a smile.

“You’re so happily in love now,” we prod gently.

She laughs, then turns thoughtful.

“As an artiste… Director Hou Hsiao-hsien once told me that we have a certain influence on society, and we should use it to do something positive. We should use whatever medium we have to spread things that are beneficial, things that can help people get out of difficult situations. So when Director Hou asked me to make this movie, I thought about how childhood experiences affect a family.”

As for love?

“Um… it doesn’t really have much to do with my life now. I still want to write about women’s issues. Love… I’ll leave that to the younger people. I don’t think I can act in romance shows anymore.”

Why not?

She bursts into laughter.

“’Cos I’m old already.”