10 minutes with Vivian Hsu

SINGAPORE — Sorry boys and girls, it’s game over for you all. Because Vivian Hsu asked me out today.

Yes, THE Vivian Hsu asked for my number, and then asked me to take her out for chilli crab.

Plus, she already has a nickname for me — Xiao Bu Dian (Mandarin for “Little One”).

Are we BFFs or what?

Of course, this might have something to do with the fact that we just had an interview with the Taiwanese actress in Taipei last week, after the press conference for her new movie, Rhythm Of The Rain, which you can read here: http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/unexpurgated-interview-vivian-hsu

But we had so much fun chatting with the 38-year-old, that when her people told us she would be coming to Singapore to promote her movie, we jumped at the opportunity to meet her again at Amara Singapore Hotel. This time with our video camera.

Sure, we didn’t actually exchange numbers. But I’m certain I’ll be the first person she gets in touch with when she comes back to Singapore. No?

***

Reporter: Hi Vivian-jiejie!

Vivian Hsu: Oh, Xiao Bu Dian!

R: You remember me from Taipei!

V: Yes, you said you were 23 years old? (In our previous interview, Vivian had said that she has been in the entertainment industry for 24 years now — one less than this reporter has been alive)

R: I am 25, but yes that’s me. Here, let me show you the story we wrote about you last week. (Fishes out a copy of TODAY)

V: (Very loud) Wow! When did I take this photo? Show me! When did I wear this dress?

Vivian’s Manager: This was taken at the Golden Horse Awards. The dress was from Ferragamo.

V: Can I have this? (Holds TODAY)

R: Sure! I brought it for you.

V: (Turns the page). Wow! (Looks at the photo of herself) Shanghai International Film Festival. (Points at byline photo) That’s you!

R: Yes, it is me.

V: Wow, thank you. It’s three pages long. Thank you, wow.

R: You’re welcome. But I thought, since we already had an interview last week, maybe we can be a little more casual today. What do you think?

V: Sure.

R: So after I spoke to you last week, some of my male friends asked why I didn’t ask for your number on their behalf.

V: (Laughs loudly) 09186 … that’s my manager’s number!

R: So you won’t accept it when strangers approach you and ask for your number?

V: Of course not! Because I don’t know who the other person is. What if he’s a bad person? Since it’s become possible to befriend people online, many girls ... as you can see in the news, bad things happen everyday, when these girls go out and meet people they get to know online. So I think girls should be more careful.

R: So you prefer to meet people through your friends?

V: That’s definitely true. Because I think I’m good at observing people. It’s easier to get to know someone if you’ve met in person and had a chat.

R: You’ve accepted so many interviews. Do you have any questions you’d like to ask reporters? Maybe some questions about Singapore?

V: Questions I’d like to ask reporters? Where do you live? (laughs) What’s your telephone number?

R: Sure, I can give you my number later!

V: Okay, when I come to Singapore, I’ll look for you, and you can take me to eat chilli crabs.

R: Sure!

V: And the most delicious laksa here.

(At this point, our nervous videographer taps the reporter on her shoulder and asks her to tell Vivian to hold her microphone a little lower.)

V: (To videographer) Actually, you can tell me that directly. We all speak Mandarin, you don’t have to talk to me through the translator! (laughs)

R: He’s really nervous! Tell me, what is the most interesting thing you’ve done recently?

V: The most interesting thing? (pauses and looks at manager) Is there anything? (long pause) I bought another Iron Man figurine. Whenever I see Iron Man, I can’t stop myself. I already have a big, life-sized Iron Man statue at home. And I recently got this Iron Man figurine that comes in the shape of a bear. Wait a minute, I’ll show it to you.

(Vivian gets up and reaches for her phone)

V: It can sit down and its arms can move.

R: Do you like action figures, or do you like Iron Man?

V: Oh, I like Iron Man.

(Vivian shows us photos on her phone of an Iron Man figurine in the shape of a bear.)

R: Oh this is so cute!

V: I think the bear’s expression, the way it looks like it thinks it is Iron Man, is so cute. It’s this big (larger than her upper torso). I shared the photo on my Facebook page.

R: Do you have many action figures at home?

V: Yes. (laughs sheepishly) Yes.

R: It’s one of your interests?

V: I just really like them, I am not sure why. Hmmm, what other interesting things have I done? I’ll tell you later when I remember. My memory is really bad. I’m sure I have some examples!

(Our nervous videographer taps our reporter again.)

V: (To videographer) You’re speaking through the translator again!

R: Okay let’s talk about looks. You’re obviously gorgeous. But would you ever let yourself gain weight or look messy?

V: I look messy all the time. Every time I am photographed by the paparazzi, I look really unkempt. And when I make the effort to doll up, no one sees me. It’s so weird! (laughs) I like looking and feeling casual. Maybe because our hours are so long and we have to dress up for work. So after work I like to dress in a really relaxed and casual manner. But sometimes because I look too relaxed, my manager asks me to dress up a little when I go out!

R: But I have seen photos of you taken by paparazzi, and you always look great even when you don’t have make-up on.

V: Thanks.

R: When you meet a stranger for the first time, what is the first thing you notice about him or her?

V: Their eyes. Because I think people speak with their eyes. Their eyes reveal their secrets and their feelings.

R: Okay, next we have a variation of the Proust questionnaire. Have you heard of this?

V: Are they like rapid fire questions?

R: Yes exactly. You don’t have to explain your answers, just base them on your intuition.

V: Are we going to play now? Oh dear!

R: Yes, can we?

V: Sure! I hope my memory will be better this time.

R: Okay, let’s go. Which living person do you respect the most?

V: My mother.

R: What do you think is your greatest achievement?

V: (Pause) Taking care of my family.

R: What do you hate most about yourself?

V: Hmm, what do I hate most about myself? (She looks pained, and her manager whispers “allergies!”) My allergies!

R: What do you like most about yourself?

V: My courage!

R: What do you hate most about other people?

V: What do I hate most about other people? Deceit.

R: What do you splurge on?

V: Skincare products! (laughs) Bio-Essence!

R: You’re taking the opportunity to endorse your products again! (Both laugh) What do you hate most about your looks?

R: My legs... my height!

V: What! Then how should I feel?

V: (Laughs loudly) No, you’re a good size. I’m neither tall nor short. It’s a pain.

R: What’s one word or phrase you say the most?

V: (Pause) What time tomorrow?

R: Oh dear, that is sad.

V: It’s work-related.

R: What do you like most in men?

V: Men who make the effort.

R: What do you like most in women?

V: Women who make the effort.

R: How would you like to die?

V: I’d like to die smiling, while I’m sleeping and in the midst of a good dream.

R: Mmm, me too. What’s your favourite word?

V: Love.

R: The word you hate the most?

V: Hate.

R: Apart from your current job, what occupation would you like to try the most?

V: Designer.

R: And the last one — which occupation would you not want to try?

V: Chef.

R: But you can be a designer any time.

V: Yes. I don’t want to be a chef because you have to keep killing animals. I don’t want to be that person.

R: But do you cook for yourself?

V: Yes, but I can’t kill (animals) myself. I’m okay if other people do it and hand them to me.

R: Okay. So here’s the final task. After our last interview, I told my editor how beautiful your eyes were, and he asked if you could demonstrate how you make eyes at the camera!

V: (Laughs) Do you want me to do it the normal way, or the really cheesy, old-fashioned way?

R: It’s up to you!

V: Actually I think girls’ eyes sparkle when they are happy. Your happiness is infectious. So when you’re happy, and you look at other people, your eyes spread that joy. Like this, for example. (Demonstrates and laughs) I think other people feel it, your charm. Because no one likes to look at sorrowful eyes. So in your heart you feel really happy. (Laughs) Like this. But you don’t say it out loud.

Vivian Hsu stars in Rhythm Of The Rain, which premieres in Singapore on Oct 10.