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SCMP Reporter

Many actors dream of being cast as a superhero or a grand master, but veteran actor Yuen Wah is happy with any part that lands in his lap.
'It doesn't matter what sort of role I play. If  I make my role memorable to the audience then  I have succeeded,' Yuen said.
His versatile acting ability has caught the eye of major filmmakers. Most recently he played Chinese migrant worker Sing Song in Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia, sharing a scene with Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman and star Hugh Jackman.
Winning the role caught Yuen (above) by surprise because he does not speak much English.
'I knew there were a few  actors who went for the casting - maybe I was the odd one out,'  he said, jokingly.
'The director told me  he wasn't looking for a native English-speaking Chinese.
'My role is that of a Chinese who dreams of making a fortune by digging gold mines in Australia during the second world war,'  he said.
'Later he realises his dream is never going to  come true and he  gets  stranded in a  foreign place working as a chef for an English family. So, I didn't need to know much English [for the role] as the character wouldn't have spoken  the language very well anyway.'
Yuen  even shaved off his trademark moustache, which he had kept for the past 20 years.
'It was the director's idea. He said he had enough men with  moustaches in the film. He wanted me to be the squeaky-clean,  pale-looking  Chinese who works in the kitchen all the time without going out  much in the sun, so I had a  very pale look. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't recognise myself.'
The film was shot across Australia, including in Kununurra, Bowen, Darwin, Sydney and the Outback.  It was Yuen's first trip to Australia and he spent 5?  months there.
His poor English skills prevented him from building strong relationships with many of his  co-stars, but he had fun with  Hugh Jackman.
'Hugh is a funny guy. He always brought us lottery tickets when he came on set. I won, in total, A$2 (about HK$11). The experience of working in a Hollywood production is a bit like winning the third prize in Mark Six.'
Early in his career, Yuen was often cast as a bad guy and, although he relishes those types of roles, he admitted he wouldn't mind being cast as a hero like his 'Seven Little Fortunes' brothers - Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao.
'There were already too many heros in the 'Seven Little Fortunes',' he said. 'Me, a hero? I'm  satisfied to play just a small role. I know I am not the hero type.
'But if you asked me whether I'd ever dreamed of being a hero - then yes, of course.  Sometimes, as actors, we don't have much choice,   unless we're willing to  make a film out of our own pocket.  Then you can be any superhero you wish,' he said.
Yuen's talent for comedy was discovered when he played the father of Stephen Chow Sing-chi in Danny Lee Sau-yin's Legend of the Dragon (1990).
'I didn't think my character was funny at all; in fact, I played a strict father. Perhaps because I was with  Chow we were able to create some sort of chemistry. The result was that people realised I could be funny too,' he said.
The film was a turning point in his career and he has since been offered many comic roles, most notably   Kung Fu Hustle (2004) and Wong Jing's Kung Fu Mahjong series. Despite his success in these roles, he doesn't consider himself a natural comedian.  'I don't even know how to  tell a good joke,'  he said.
Australia is screening now



It's a funny old world for Yuen