By David Yeow

Q: It was your first acting experience. What was it like?

A: I felt both happy and nervous when I got the role. I was initially scared, partly because it was my first acting role and I was afraid I would mess things up.

I stopped all my professional commitments for more than six months to study acting under three teachers in Beijing before the film's production.

However, with help and encouragement from the cast and crew, I learnt to enjoy the filmmaking process and yes, I've fallen in love with acting.

Q: Some of your critics say that you are just playing the role of a "vase" (eye candy) in Red Cliff.

A: What I can say is that this is my first time acting and if the director wants me to be a "vase", then I will try my hardest to be the best "vase".

But seriously speaking, this movie is focused on the male leads, the heroes and the villains. The women are depicted accurately as they were viewed in those times, mainly as objects of beauty. So I don't blame people for saying I played a "vase".

However, my character Xiao Qiao is very important to the story, so I am definitely not merely eye candy.

Q: You had a few intimate scenes with Tony Leung who plays your husband Zhou Yu. Were you nervous?

A: Of course, I was. He is such a heartthrob! I was shy, nervous and excited. I tried my best to hide it because in the movie we were supposed to be this tender loving married couple.

Q: What was the biggest challenge working in this movie?

A: I think it was to prove myself as an actress. I am an introvert by nature, but as an actress I have to change that.

I was constantly asked by the director to be more expressive not just in words but in my body language as well.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, (a historical novel), my character Xiao Qiao was touted as the most beautiful woman of her time. She was so beautiful that Cao Cao (the main villain) was said to have started the battle of Red Cliff to win her hand. So, I feared that the audience would object to my casting and say I am not beautiful enough for the role.

Q: Can you sum up the movie in one sentence?

A: Red Cliff is a must-watch! Really! Because the movie is a beautiful part of Chinese history and its themes of war, friendship, peace and honour are universal.