Michelle Yeoh

It's all choreographed; it's a routine. So I told everyone I really wanted to try fighting in action films. I had no stunt experience, but I had the dance background, and I was very agile and coordinated. And the best thing about being a newcomer to acting is you can afford to try new things.

Action shouldn't just be seeing all those crashes. You can blow up a cathedral; next time you blow up the Great Wall of China, and then what? But when you're in love with your characters, the smallest action becomes an important action.

The first one I did was an action film with Sammo Hung and George Lam, but I had the usual female role for that time: you know, damsel in distress, rescued by the hero.

I don't plan to go out and do action or not do action.

Martial arts is something you can learn or pick up and think you could do really well.

I have been presented with roles with demand not just a physical ability but mental disciplines as well. 'Memoirs of a Geisha' was not so much about physical exertion... it was much more graceful and contained than that.

Sometimes when I'm on the phone, someone will say, 'Yes, Mr. Yeoh.' And I'm thinking, 'I'm not Mr. Yeoh, man.'

When a movie becomes very successful, it's automatic that people will start thinking a sequel, a prequel, a quel-quel.

It can only be true love when you enable your other half to be better, to be the person they're destined to be.

If you read a lot of Chinese literature, there has always been very strong women figures - warriors, swordswomen - who defended honor and loyalty with the men. So, it's not new to our culture - it's always been very much a part of it. It's good that now the Western audience would have a different image of the Chinese women.

For me, the director is the most important thing. He is steering the boat. If you don't trust him, you won't be able to give him your all.

Unfortunately, many parents reject helmets for their kids out of a mistaken perception that helmets are unsafe for children.