silent film star

Playing a mute in Bangkok Dangerous has put Charlie Young back in the big time

By Rusty Lee Translation by Beatrice Li

She neither possesses audrey Hepburn’s classic beauty or the luscious, butt-kicking kind of angelina Jolie, but there’s no denying Charlie Young is attractive. Maybe it’s the million-dollar smile of hers or the earnest sincerity, but you can’t help but fall in love with the Hong Kong-based actress.

Born in 1974 in Taiwan to a shanghainese father and a Taiwanese mother, Young grew up in Hong Kong before going to study in the Us aged 15. Upon returning after graduation, she made her name thanks to a jewellery commercial with Hong Kong pop icon aaron Kwok. at the tender age of 18, Young embarked on her singing career and released her debut album. The same year also saw her winning TVB Jade solid Gold’s Best New Female singer award. Two years later, Young was cast in Wong Kar-wai’s Ashes of Time alongside a batch of A-listers including Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Carina Lau, Brigitte Lin, Jacky Cheung, Maggie Cheung and the late Leslie Cheung.

Young remained a regular on the silver screen, following up with box-office smashes Fallen Angels (1995) and The Intimates (1997). And, just when everyone thought there was no stopping Young’s rise to superstardom, she walked away to open an image consultancy with her then-boyfriend in 1997.

After the failure of her relationship and her business, Young made her comeback in 2004 in New Police Story and followed it up by appearing in the Hark Tsui- directed Seven Swords (2005). Her role in the recently released Bangkok Dangerous opposite Hollywood star Nicolas Cage, however, has succeeded in catapulting her onto the world stage.

NAME :
Charlie Young Choi nei

BORN:
Taiwan

HEIGHT:
165cm

FILMS:
Bangkok Dangerous - 2008
After This Our exile - 2006
All About Love - 2005
Seven Swords - 2005
New Police Story - 2004
Fallen Angels - 1998
Downtown Torpedoes - 1997

“I have to say I was a little intimidated before making the film,” says Young. “After all, it’s Nicolas Cage. And he’s so tall and so cool. I particularly liked him in Face/Off, where he seamlessly transformed from the baddy to the good guy. I’m honoured to have appeared alongside him. I found him a very affable person.”

Young also discovered Cage’s love of Asian culture. “That goes without saying, as his wife is a Korean,” says Young. “He also likes the way Hong Kong people make films; he thinks it’s efficient.” Clearly a nod towards the Pang brothers, who directed Bangkok Dangerous.

Reflecting on her role as a mute in the film, Young called it a fun challenge. “I could only rely on my eyes and body language to get my message across,” says Young. “I felt a strangely comforting sense of peace that i wasn’t able to as a hearing person.”

When asked to recall her most memorable filming experience, Young harks back to her time on Ashes of Time. “It was filmed in a desert area in China and there wasn’t a single restaurant in sight,” says Young. “Thankfully, the film crew managed to whip up some simple dishes. I can’t remember any filming experience tougher than that. But even so, it wasn’t that harsh. Maybe I was just thrilled to be playing alongside so many dazzling stars.”

If there’s anything that Young isn’t too happy about, it’s her lack of time for travel. “I came to Macau for an opening ceremony for a brand a while ago,” says Young. “The moment I got off the plane, I was whisked off in a car, first to a hotel and then a restaurant. There simply wasn’t any time for a relaxing stroll around the city. The last time I was in Macau was about five years ago and it was another whistle-stop trip. I would love to spend a whole day travelling around Macau, check out its gorgeous hotels and scrumptious local delicacies. I don’t think I’m asking for too much.”