The Oscar-winning epic The Last Emperor shot Joan Chen to international fame way back in 1987. Though the actress has been keeping a lower profile these days, the release of the digitally-remastered version of the movie has thrust the 59-year-old back into the spotlight again.

Upon rewatching the movie, her fans were fascinated to see that Joan still looks pretty much the same as she did when she played Empress Wanrong 33 years ago and her age-defying beauty soon became a topic of discussion online.

What came up too was how Joan is able to gain and lose weight quickly when a role requires it. There was once she had to gain weight for a role and by the time filming ended, the 1.63m-tall star had tipped scales at 78kg. But because she had to film a variety show just two months later, she went on a diet and eventually lost 15kg.

Her secret? The “one liquid, two solids” method.

The “one liquid” refers to a cup of black tea that Joan drinks first thing in the morning. Black tea is said to boost the body’s metabolism, and reportedly helps replenish water loss during sleep as well as suppress one's appetite.

The “two solids” refers to steamed pumpkin and stir-fried winter melon, both of which are the main source of carbs during the diet. Not only are pumpkins relatively low in calories, they also fill you up so you don't feel hungry and help with constipation, while winter melons are known to contain the least calories when it comes to vegetables.

But of course, watching what you put in your mouth isn’t enough. According to Joan, exercise is essential in order to lose weight healthily. Joan’s choice of workout is aerobics, which she says burns calories and helps with weight loss.

Photos: Word Journal/Oscars