Movie newcomer Jay Chou Jie-lun hopes his latest acting role and recent accolades for his singing will discourage gossip magazines from sniping at him.
Chou (right) has told of the rewarding experience he had working alongside respected international actors Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's latest epic, Curse of the Golden Flower.
'I learned a lot. They didn't give me any special lecture, but I learned from observing their acting,' says the 27-year-old Chou, who was voted best newcomer at last year's Golden Horse Film Awards
for his role as a street racer in Intial D.
'When I was not in the scene, I would stay on the set and watch them. Both are superstars and are just incredible,' he said.
Chou plays Prince Jie who stays loyal to his mother Empress Phoenix (Gong) when the emperor turns tyrant. The film opens in Hong Kong on December 21.