On December 19, mainland Chinese actress Xie Na revealed the behind-the-scenes story of her role in the movie “Jiangyuan Alley” during an interview. She disclosed that the character she portrayed was originally intended for Hong Kong actress Anita Yuen, but due to unexpected circumstances, the director approached her to step in.
Previous reports of Xie Na’s participation in “Jiangyuan Alley” immediately sparked a heated discussion among netizens: “Isn’t Xie Na a host? How come she’s acting now?” “Is it really suitable for Xie Na to be cast in this film?” In response to this, Xie Na, during an interview with Tencent Entertainment on December 19, explained, “This role was originally intended for Anita Yuen, but due to some unexpected circumstances, she couldn’t make it, so they approached me to fill in.”
Xie Na mentioned that when the production team initially approached her about the role, she hesitated because she hadn’t acted in a long time and the time frame was tight. However, upon learning that Anita Yuen suddenly fell ill and couldn’t participate in the filming, coupled with director Chen Kaige’s strong desire for her to join the cast, she accepted the offer.
The comedic Xie Na stated, “I was quite happy at that time. Anita Yuen is a senior whom I greatly admire. The fact that she couldn’t make it and they thought of me instead, does that mean I’m pretty good?”
A graduate of a university performing arts program, Xie Na confessed that while her subsequent work mainly focused on hosting, she has always been passionate about acting. Regarding her mindset when taking on this role, she revealed, “Actually, I was a bit nervous at the time, working with such professional director, actors, and crew, I was worried about not doing well.”
However, Xie Na mentioned that her worries turned into reassurance as she delved into the role after discussions with the director, walking through the scenes, and getting into character. She found working with the professional team to be an enjoyable experience. With a humorous touch, she didn’t hold back in praising herself, “The director was very satisfied with every shot I took.”
According to reports, Xie Na’s co-stars in “Jiangyuan Alley” include actors Lei Jiayin and Yi Yangqianxi. Xie Na expressed her delight in collaborating with these two excellent actors, saying, “If there’s any regret, it’s that the role was too short since it was a guest appearance. But I heard the first cut was too long, so I’m not sure if this scene will make it to the final version,” she even joked, “Let’s use our thoughts to keep this scene in the film!”
Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Chen Kaige, “Jiangyuan Alley” took nearly 10 years from initial preparation to completion, wrapping up filming in March this year after a period of hiatus. Besides Zhang Ziyi leading as the female protagonist, the star-studded cast includes Lei Jiayin, Wang Chuanjun, Yi Yangqianxi, Zhao Liying, Yang Mi, Peng Yuchang, Da Peng, Li Xian, and Fan Wei, among others, making it one of the most luxurious lineups in Mainland Chinese cinema in recent years.
Xie Na, who once hosted the variety show “Happy Camp” for over 20 years, is the first celebrity to surpass 100 million followers on Weibo. Her lively and witty hosting style has sparked controversies but also brought joy to the audience. In 2021, amid the Chinese Communist Party’s large-scale “clean-up operation” in the entertainment industry, “Happy Camp” was suspended by television stations under the pretext of “upgrading and renewal,” and has now bid a permanent farewell. The former “Happy Family” members have all gone their separate ways, with some switching careers and others leaving the industry.