The magic of a maiden role

THERE ARE ONLY six lines to mainland actress Qin Hailu's professional resume. And up until now, it seems her biggest claim to fame was the fact that she was a classmate of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sensation Zhang Ziyi at the Central Drama Academy in Beijing.

But all that looks set to change as Qin takes the female lead in director Fruit Chan Kuo's latest film, Durian Durian, which opens today. Early reviews suggest Qin's performance could bring her a nomination for best newcomer at the next Hong Kong Film Awards. Regardless, the 22-year-old actress is keeping her feet firmly planted on the ground: to her, nothing is 'real' until it happens.

That was the same attitude she adopted when she was first asked to join Chan for lunch after he had watched her in a school performance. The director, who has built a reputation for using non-professional actors and unknowns in his films, had been at the academy searching for his next star. 'He told me about the story - he didn't have a script - and asked me if I thought I could do it,' says Qin, in town last week to promote Durian Durian.

'I told him, yes, if he thought I could, I could. But I didn't think any more of it because at the academy, even if a director wants to cast you, he has to ask permission from the school and I didn't think the school would let me do it.'

The subject matter of the film might have prompted doubts from the school, although it eventually gave its permission. Qin plays the role of Yan, a pak gu (northern maiden) - Hong Kong's derogatory term for girls from the north who come to Hong Kong on a two-way pass and work as prostitutes for the three-month duration of their visas.

A young, married woman, Yan decides to come south to earn quick money so she can realise her dream of starting a business in her hometown. With her mind focused on her goals, Yan stoically goes about her trade servicing as many as 38 clients on a good day.