HONG KONG: Taiwanese actress Shu
Qi has turned down a role in Chinese star Zhang Ziyi's English movie
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan".

Based on a novel by Lisa See,
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is jointly produced by Zhang, Wendy
Deng, wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Florence Sloan, wife of
MGM chairman Harry Sloan, and also stars the Chinese actress.

The
movie tells a story about a community of women with bound feet living
in a remote Hunan province seeking companionship from one another. As
they developed close friendships, the women developed a secretive Nu
Shu language as a form of communication and to keep their secrets from
the men.

In the film, Snow Flower, who was supposed to be played
by Shu Qi, develops a lifelong friendship with Lily (Zhang) and there
is a nude scene which shows them writing on each other's chest in the
Nu Shu.

Though baring all is nothing new to Shu Qi, a former
soft-porn actress, she reportedly turned down the role because of the
scene.

The Taiwanese star, who started her career in soft porn
films, proved herself to be a credible actress after winning the Best
Actress Golden Horse Award in 2005 and has no intentions of stripping
unless she is really attracted to the script.

Hopefully, Shu Qi will not regret her decision.

Shu
Qi famously rejected a role in Lee Ang's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon", which later went to Zhang and catapulted her to international
fame.

Zhang is said to be disappointed with Shu Qi's decision and is now looking for an actress to replace her.

The
film will be helmed by "Joy Luck Club" director Wayne Wang and shooting
is expected to begin early next year in China. - CNA/fa