bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Clarence Tsui

Meeting Maggie Cheung Man-yuk  in  a conference room at HSBC's Hong Kong headquarters in Central seems fitting in a  way. Just like the  multinational financial behemoth, the 42-year-old actor has outgrown her Hong Kong roots to become an international institution.

It's also  apt that she's agreed to talk  in a place  completely unrelated to cinema. Cheung  seems to have drifted away from filmmaking. Her last screen appearance was  in Clean  in 2004, and she has  worked on  only 10 movies during the past decade -  two  fewer than the number of films she did in 1993 alone.

But she says she doesn't miss the limelight.  She  revels in doing 'short things that don't last more than a week', spending  most of the time 'floating around offices, modelling, doing photo shoots'.  (Cheung is at HSBC because  she's  promoting   its new financial services.)

'Making a film, you have to put so much into it,' she says. 'It takes up so much time. Sometimes you're in it for nearly a year just for one film, from the moment you talk to the director about the project, all  the way through the preparations, the shooting, the dubbing, the post-production and the publicity tours. It goes on for a long time.  In the  past, you could finish your part,  say goodbye to one and hello to  the next.  And I don't want to do  it for something I don't feel for, something I don't really want to do.'

Cheung won't say if she regrets any of the low-budget comedies she started out in - Wong Jing's  crass Boys are Easy comes to mind - before becoming an international star.  Those days of making cheap comedies are far behind her now.  It's  22 years since she made her debut as Jackie Chan's  love interest in the action drama Police Story, two years after she was runner-up  in the Miss Hong Kong pageant and  had a brief career as a TVB actor.

Compare it with five years ago, when Cheung turned down an  offer to star in X2: X-Men United, a sure-fire crossover to the English-language mainstream.  'I appreciate the existence of these films because, well, there are people who appreciate them,' she says. 'I'm not among them, though - I've never been a fan of these films. Making them would be ... boring. I can't see how it could be a challenge for me.'

Unlike some of her  fellow thespians who have dabbled in directing or producing, Cheung  isn't  keen to  try other roles in the industry. 'I don't love films that much. I like cinema but not to the point that I want to build a life around it. If [opportunities] come, it's great; if they don't, I'll move on.  I don't really want to just be in one profession  until I grow old. I began acting when I was 18, and it's not something I'd want to do when I'm 68. I'm in my 40s, and I'm beginning to switch careers. I can come back for a [film] project or two, but I've already begun building myself up  for other things. I'll be comfortable knowing I'm capable of other things besides acting. Even if there are  10 more awards in the cupboard it's the same as now, really.'

But Cheung hasn't completely turned her back on films.  She  has recently met directors Tsai Ming-liang  and Jia Zhangke,   although she won't say if she's working with them on anything specific.

Offers from Chinese filmmakers have come her way, but   most require her to play characters weighed down by history and tragedy. 'A lot of the films touch  on issues like the Rape of Nanking, the suffering after the [Cultural] Revolution or the [second] world war, or how Europeans invaded China - and our history is quite sad and heavy,' she says of the scripts.  'There'll be one script where the female protagonist is tortured to death. And then another [saying]: 'She  hanged herself because she couldn't face the reality'.'

Cheung says the characters she won plaudits for - from her portrayal of the late singer Ruan Lingyu  in Centre Stage, which won her a best actress  award at the Berlin Film Festival in 1992, to her performance as a troubled single mother in  Clean, which won her an  award at Cannes three years ago - has led to typecasting in ill-fated or tragic roles.  That's partly why she hasn't made any films  in the past few years, she says. 'Maybe it was something that fitted my mentality five years ago, but something I don't want to do now. Maybe some people have these preconceptions of me.  'Oh she's good at that - let's get her to do the same thing'. For me, it's like, I've done it, let's do something else.'

Her experience on Clean - directed by ex-husband Olivier Assayas, whom she divorced in 2001 - was particularly arduous.  The off-screen complications - Cheung and Assayas  signed  divorce papers on the set -  heightened the turbulent emotions Cheung had to produce playing a drug-addled character who loses her husband, her freedom and custody of her son.  'That's one of the heaviest films I've ever been involved in, emotionally.  It was an intensive shoot. We were shooting every day - you really had to invest a lot of feeling in it. And it was a very small production, so you were involved in a very big way. I remember helping to lug around equipment when we changed locations. In that intimate environment things got even heavier,' she says.

'I fell into a kind of  depression after the film.  When I finally got  out of that, I didn't want to fall  into that black hole again.'  Then, after a pause, she adds: 'Unless  it's the film of a lifetime. I still  have a weakness for good films,  and I'd want to be there if it's a  film that's really worth doing.  Some films aren't really necessarily bad - they can make you money.' But for now Cheung has a new role - she'll spend a  fortnight  watching movies as a jury member for  this year's Cannes Film Festival, which opens on Wednesday with My Blueberry Nights, the first English-language  film from Wong Kar-wai.

Wong helped Cheung's career  by casting her in As Tears Go By (1988), Days of Being Wild (1991) and In the Mood for Love  (2000).   A shot of her from  that last film was used as poster art for last year's festival.

'[Cannes Film Festival president] Gilles Jacob asked me out to lunch last August because he said he wanted to give a copy of the poster to me in person,' says Cheung,  who  served on the panel of jurors  in Berlin (1997) and Venice (1999).  'I was thrilled. And he said  if he ever asked me  about becoming a member of the jury for the next festival, would I be fine with it.'

Cheung's cosmopolitan outlook has made her  unique among local  actors, but it's hardly a surprise,  considering her background. Born in Hong Kong, she spent most of  her childhood and teenage years in England, until she returned  at the age of 18.  She left Hong Kong again after marrying  Assayas in 1998.

She's hesitant   about calling  any one place home,  although  she  considers herself Chinese at heart. 'This is a very interesting moment  in my life. Because this way I have  a lot of different possibilities, and I always love to have a lot of choices - it makes life more interesting.'



The long goodbye