Airtimes:  
Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Taipei
Wednesday, January 27 at 2130
Thursday, January 28 at 1230
Saturday, January 30 at 2000
Sunday, January 31 at 0430 & 1730
Monday, February 1 at 0730 
Bangkok and Jakarta

Wednesday, January 27 at 2030
Thursday, January 28 at 1130
Saturday, January 30 at 1900
Sunday, January 31 at 0330 & 1630
Monday, February 1 at 0630

She is one of China's leading actresses known for her versatile acting skills and quirky choice of roles.  Listed as one of Forbes' most powerful Chinese celebrities, Zhou comments how these are times of opportunity for actresses in China: "Especially now that Chinese movies are becoming more diverse with more viewers overseas...stepping onto the global stage."  CNN's TALK ASIA joins the 35-year-old actress in Shanghai and for the premiere night of her new movie "Confucius" in Hong Kong.
 
The CineAsia "Star of the Year" is starring in two much-awaited movies releasing this year - a biopic on philosopher "Confucius" and Yuen Woo-Ping's action film "True Legend" to be release in February. Zhou's ability to pull off varied roles makes her a favourite of Chinese directors. Yet Zhou has never received formal acting training: "I was born in a very small town outside of Hangzhou and even though there was a cinema in our town, movies still seemed very far away to me. I didn't know the production process at all, so I never expected to become an actress."  The young Zhou was always interested in singing and dancing and was once admitted into a dance academy.

The actress accidentally landed on the big screen when a director spotted her at the dance academy and handpicked her for a role in a movie. "Even when I was acting, I never thought too much about what I'd want to become. I only realized after a few years of acting that this job is, in fact, very interesting. So then I dedicated myself to becoming a good actress," says Zhou.

When asked for her take on the Chinese government's infamous censorship in the film industry, the veteran of 18 years shrugs off the sensitive subject by saying: "Being an actress in China is actually no different from being an actress elsewhere. It all comes down to being a good person, and acting responsibly." She also comments on fellow actress Tang Wei being banned from working on the Mainland for three years for her onscreen nudity in "Lust, Caution". "I think you don't really worry about all those things before shooting...But to me, I don't think I can ever be completely unclothed in front of the camera."

Zhou was brought into the spotlight with her roles in ‘Suzhou River', ‘Perhaps Love' and ‘The Banquet' and was appointed by the United Nations as its first national goodwill ambassador with a special focus on the environment. "I think the Chinese government is very determined to change the environmental conditions in China. This is a not a movie. This is a real threat, so it's more important to increase awareness regardless of where you are," says Zhou.

The actress also discusses with Rao her constant efforts to keep her private life private: "This is what I'm trying hard to adjust to because I don't like being followed and noticed when I'm not working. But I can't do anything about it. So I try not to let it bother me too much. But this adjustment process takes quite a long time and this type of paparazzi culture in China is getting more severe as well."

Zhou Xun's interview with TALK ASIA will be available online at www.cnn.com/talkasia after the first airing.

For more information, please visit www.CNNPressroomAsia.com.

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