Shu Qi Turns Down Zhang Ziyi

In my opinion, Chinese actress Shu Qi (aka Hsu Chi, Shu Kei, Li Hui Lin, best known to Western audiences for her role in the film The Transporter, is one the most beautiful women in the world. Shu Qi got her start doing nude modeling, then progressed into acting in more mainstream Chinese films and has become one of Asia's top stars.

Despite her apparent comfort with nudity in her early career (see photos below), Shu Qi (舒淇)  recently turned down an offer offer to star in a movie production of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (雪花与秘扇), based on a novel by Chinese-American author Lisa See. 

The film is to be produced by a group including Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi (章子怡 ), the wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the wife of MGM's chairman and will be directed by Chinese-American Wayne Wang (Joy Luck Club). Shooting is to begin in early 2010 in China.

Somewhat surprisingly, Shu Qi's reported reason for turning down the role was that it includes a nude scene. Shu Qi was to play the character of Snow Flower who forms a lifelong friendship Zhang Ziyi's character, Lily, and the story contains a scene showing both characters nude, writing on each other's chests in a secret script (Nu Shu) developed by a group of Chinese women.

Here's a couple views of Shu Qi when she was less reluctant to show off her very lovely body.

While its certainly commendable that Shu Qi has gone from nude modeling to eak out a living in her late teens to becoming a talented and popular actress, its a shame that Shu turned down what could have been a great role in what will be a very well-produced and heavily promoted international film. Her decision may also have to do with the facxt that she doesn't speak English very well which might have been difficult since the role may require considerable dialog.

Ironically, Shu Qi's and Zhang Ziyi's careers have crossed paths before when Shu Qi (or her manager) turned down a role in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon so she could film a commercial in Japan. Meanwhile, the critically acclaimed and commercial successful Crouching Tiger made Zhang an international star.

Zhang is reportedly disappointed with Shu Qi's decision and is looking for someone else to play her co-nude role. Internet speculation has suggested replacements including other Chinese superstar actreeses Fan Bingbing (范冰冰), Zhou Xun (周迅), Gong Li (巩俐), Maggie Cheung(张曼玉) and Li Bingbing (李冰冰) as well as lesser knowns Ruby Lin (林心如) and Tang Wei湯唯), famous for her nude scenes in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution). Any one of these beautiful ladies certainly wouldn't be bad, but its hard to match the sexual appeal of a Zhang Ziyi/Shu Qi dynamic bare-chested calligraphy duo.

What Could Have Been

Zhang Ziyi: Exotic & Casual

Speaking of Zhangs (see previous entry about Chinese Miss World Zhang Zilin), here's a few photos of the best known Zhang - Zhang Ziyi. The beautiful Ms. Zhang is highly made up and looking very exotic for this Bazaar photo shoot.

And here's one of Zhang in a  more casual look, throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game in South Korea with a little glimpse of her midriff and shows that Ziyi is wearing a skimpy T-back underneath her jeans.

Zhang Ziyi Topless

Well, there are so many choices to start this blog with, but you can't really go wrong with Zhang Ziyi (章子怡). Probably China's most well known actress nowadays, Zhang got her start at age 19 inThe Road Home, directed by Zhang Yimou (no relation). Zhang Yimou has a knack for picking hot, young Chinese babes to act in his films, having previously brought Gong Li to fame and banging her while she was married to some other guy. Rumor has it old Yimou was getting a bit more than just acting services from Ziyi also (she does seem to have a thing for older rich guys such as her current boyfriend so who knows).

Zhang Ziyi has also starred in blockbuster Chinese films that have been popular in the West as well as Asia, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Daggers,Forever Enthralled and 2046 (directed by Wong Kar-wai & also starring some other sexy Chinese stars - Faye Wong & Maggie Cheung).

Although her English isn't great, she has improved and Zhang has been in some Hollywood films such as Rush Hour 2 and Memoirs of a Geisha (playing a Japanese geisha). Although she's not Japanese, let's not quibble about details - she could be my geisha any day. She's also in a new movie, The Horsemen (2009) with Dennis Quaid.

Although none of her film roles have been too revealing, Zhang showed off a bit more in an outing with her Israeli multi-millionaire boyfriend Vivi Nevo. Some photographer happened to catch Ziyi showing off her slim, sexy bod including her nice little boobies & tight butt to her man, who couldn't resist copping a feel (can't blame him).

Zhang Ziyi's website is http://www.helloziyi.com/ although you probably won't be seeing any boobie or booty pics of her there. So here's one more flexible booty shot to end with.