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 she 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). I'd also suggest Chinese actress Monica Mok (莫小奇), who I think is absolutely stunning and who doesn't seem to be opposed to doing nude scenes if her role in the 2008 film Ocean Flame is any indication. 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