As an A-list star, Maggie Q uses newfound influence to help her furry friends

It's amazing what a little Hollywood clout can achieve. Now that she's a bona fide A-list actress, thanks to starring roles in Mission Impossible 3 and the upcoming Die Hard 4, Maggie Q (Quigley) can be a little more vocal about her political causes and beliefs.

For her new Chinese film, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, a US$25-million war epic by Daniel Lee Yan-kong, Quigley had her animal activism written into her contract.

According to details from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), not only did Quigley specify she would not wear real fur in the film, she managed to convince the entire production, including co-star Andy Lau Tak-wah, to forgo animal skins.

'It was about five years ago when I was mature enough to open my heart to all the information out there. Peta was a vital player in keeping me informed and I will always be thankful for that. We are all compassionate beings. It's how much compassion we choose to give that defines us,' she said.

As a result, all the costumes for the film were created from fake pelts. This is surely good news for animals but bad news for guys who enjoy looking at Quigley in real leather.