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SCMP Reporter

Beauty queen Oceane Zhu Xuan saw the world before settling into a career as an actor.
Born in Beijing in 1987, Zhu left to study acting at Ecole Florent in Paris. Standing 1.74cm tall, her stunning physique combined with her acting background helped her win the Miss China Europe 2008 beauty pageant in Paris. Zhu (right) then headed to Hong Kong to represent Paris in TVB's Miss China International beauty pageant and won again.
Just when everyone thought she would follow the path of other former beauty pageant winners and pursue a television career, she won the lead in Yonfan's latest drama, Prince of Tears, depicting the 'White Terror' anti-Communist campaign in Taiwan during the 1950s. The film has taken the aspiring actress to the Venice Film Festival, where it currently is in competition.
Yonfan praised Zhu recently, saying she reminded him of another beauty queen-turned-actress, Maggie Cheung Man-yuk, who he directed in Lost Romance (1985), but will Zhu's career go as far as Cheung's has?
What do you and Cheung have in common?
It was a great compliment by the director. We have both competed in beauty pageants and  lived abroad. Perhaps that's why he saw that we had something in common. And of course I wouldn't mind a successful career like Maggie's.
Why did you choose to study acting in Paris?
I have been interested in the performing arts since I was a kid. I love going to theatres; seeing someone perform live excites me. And I had longed  to study in Paris because to me it is such an artistic place, so it was a very natural choice.
How did you get into beauty pageants?  
I was a part-time model when I was studying in Paris. A reporter told me about the Miss China Europe 2008 pageant, and asked if I was interested. I thought I had nothing to lose and it would give me something to remember regardless of the result. I won and later represented Paris in the Miss China International 2008 pageant in Hong Kong. I never imagined I would win. 
Why did you choose to return to Paris after winning the pageant?  
When I came to Hong Kong for the pageant, I was in the second year of a three-year acting course. People here asked me to begin my career right away, but I thought it would be a waste not to complete the course, so I went back. It was a great escape from the illusions of being a celebrity because after I won the pageant, I would be asked to attend functions representing Miss China International every day. Going back to Paris gave me time to think about what I wanted for my future, and who I really am. The conclusion was that I enjoyed being in the limelight and acting, so I chose to come back.
Your family is quite strict. What was their reaction when you told them you were entering a beauty contest?
Both of my parents were in the army and so was my grandfather. But they were pretty open to it, so long as I was happy. I was my own main obstacle. I was spoiled before coming to Paris; my parents would take me everywhere. When I turned 17, my parents told me I could either join the army or study abroad, so of course I chose the latter. It really broadened my horizons and made me learn to be more independent. I'm glad my parents are so open-minded and gave me the freedom to pursue what I want.
So how did you become involved in Prince of Tears? 
After graduating from my course last September, I returned here, joined TVB and shortly thereafter was approached with the project. I originally wasn't intended to play the lead, but rather the general's wife, which is a supporting role, but after I tested, the director thought I suited the role of the lead character, Ping. I was pretty lucky. I was told that there was a curse that came with the role - that anyone attached to the lead who tried out the evening gown worn by the character would drop out of the film for various reasons shortly after doing so. Fortunately for me, when I was offered the role, the dress had already been sent to Taiwan where filming took place, and I didn't try it on until we started filming. 
Tell me about your character in Prince of Tears?
Ping is a thirtysomething mother of two young daughters who  is arrested with her husband on suspicion of being Communist spies. On her release, she remarries knowing her new husband might be the one who turned them in. Some see Ping as incredibly evil for marrying such a person, but I think she is a brave mother, one who is willing to be married to someone who disgusts her for the sake of her children.  Her eldest daughter is 11 years old. Imagine what would happen to  her two children if she were  to die? It takes guts to make those sacrifices and also to bear other people's criticisms.
How do you prepare for such a role? 
The director gave me DVDs and books to study. I also asked my mother and grandmother about their experiences, and how people talked then. I thought my greatest challenge would be playing a mother since I was so young, but I bonded with the child actors in the film and felt sad when filming was completed and we separated.
Prince of Tears opens Oct 22



Q&A: Oceane Zhu Xuan