Koo tests mother's love

Actor-singer Louis Koo Tin-lok is shedding his clean-cut image to be transformed into someone even his mother wouldn't recognise in director Derek Yee Tung-shing's crime epic Protege.

Koo, who plays a drug addict, will co-star with Andy Lau Tak-wah and Anita Yuen Wing-yee. The movie, due out early next year, is described as the Chinese answer to the academy award-winning Traffic.

The actor said that while filming Protege he went home without taking off his makeup and gave his mother quite a shock. 'I asked her to make me something to eat,' Koo (right) said. 'She was shocked and asked if I'd had a fight. I told her I was filming a new movie and she thought it was fun.'

Koo recently discovered a love for foot massage. 'The part I'm filming involves lots of running and my legs get quite tired,' he said.

'It's great if I can get a foot massage after a day of shooting.'