2/17/04 More pics

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     1/21/04 Article from thestar

Q-rious about Maggie

Maggie Q has played a variety of characters in her past movies and in Magic Kitchen, she takes on yet another challenging role as a promiscuous and emotionally distant public relations executive. THAM AI MEI catches up with the beautiful actress. FRAZZLED nerves were everywhere as members of the media waited restlessly for the stars of new Hong Kong movie Magic Kitchen to arrive for their press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

"Where is Jerry Yan and Maggie Q?" everyone wondered. After a two-hour wait, the two stars breezed into the room. As if to placate the impatient press members, Yan looked suitably apologetic while Maggie appeared tired but obliging.

One of the stressed out organisers disclosed: 'The plane was delayed and they were stalled at the airport immigration.' Maggie Q, whose full name is Margaret Denise Quigley, looked exhausted but immediately perked up when asked about her latest movie.

'My character is really interesting. It's the sort of character that will evoke a lot of emotions in audiences. Some will like her while some others will just absolutely hate her. It's easy to play the heroine whom everyone adores but I wanted to do something more challenging,' explained 25-year-old Maggie with enthusiasm.

In the movie, she plays an ultra sophisticated public relations officer who is the best friend of Sammi Cheng's character.

"She is so sophisticated and independent that she doesn't need anyone. I think it's her sophistication that led to her eventual loneliness," mused Maggie. Is the real Maggie anything like that?

After a moment's pondering, she replied: "I am very independent in real life and I don't like to rely on others. But when I am with people I care about, I am very open with them and I show my affections.

"I think it can get quite lonely being overly independent. For me personally, I need people in my life and I like getting close to people. However, with people that I don't know, I tend to be a bit shy."

Magic Kitchen also stars the ever youthful Andy Lau and Michael Wong, as well as Yan and Cheng as the main characters. Maggie expressed that she has fond memories of the movie set.

"This is the second time I am working with Michael. I am constantly in stitches because he is so hilarious," she recalled with a laugh. "Andy is crazy is about bowling and that's all he talks about. He is really professional. Jerry was quite shy at the beginning, probably because he's a Taiwanese boy in Hong Kong so he might have felt a bit out of place at first. But I do see great potential there.

"As for Sammi, I am so impressed with the subtle sophistication that she possesses. When I work with great people like her, I am glad that they are famous because they really are amazing characters," Maggie said graciously of her co-stars.

Being a movie about an unfortunate chef (played by Cheng) and her disastrous love life, the topic of cooking naturally surfaced.

"I love cooking," Maggie admitted with a smile. "I think cooking is therapeutic and it really calms me down after a hard day's work. But I am not into the washing up bit at all!" she added with a laugh. Looking at the very svelte young lady, it is good to know that this is one beauty who still knows how to enjoy her food.

Somehow it was hard to disbelieve her when she confessed: "There is no one particular type of cuisine that I do not like. My favourite is Vietnamese food because that is the type of food I grew up with. My mum is Vietnamese."

While many would recognise Maggie as the beautiful Eurasian actress (her father is Irish American) and cover girl for countless magazines, little is known about her life as a stage actress. She had appeared in British playwright David Pinner's All Hallow's Eve in 2002 and had won rave reviews for her portrayal of a 16-year-old. What is the difference between stage acting and filming a movie?

"Huge difference," quipped Maggie. "First of all there is no take two for stage acting. The best part is where we get intensive training and brushing up during the rehearsal stages which are really useful for the actors. I really wish that we could have more of this sort of training for film sets but due to time and money constraints, we never get to do that on films. It's such a pity as there are many talented actors in Hong Kong and the (movie) quality would be better if we had the time to really rehearse our scenes," she lamented. Maggie is so enamoured with stage acting that she plans to return to the stage this year.

This classy beauty had just completed a Hong Kong movie entitled Hainan Chicken Rice. Filming was wrapped up in Singapore last month. Unlike actors who eventually venture into singing, Maggie declared: "I will never go into singing. Everyone in the film industry seems to be doing it and that is why I just refuse to follow in their footsteps. I am definitely an actress all the way and not a pop star," she said with one of her easy laughs.

Maggie feels that all the hype about her looks has its pros and cons. "It's easy for people to stereotype you," she said resignedly. "If you look a certain way then people will say 'oh she's that type of person'. I just feel that we need to do things that will even surprise ourselves and not be so guarded all the time."

"I don't like to look at life negatively. I might have missed out on certain roles because of my looks but I also get to do certain roles that elude others. Furthermore, I love challenges. "

1/19/04 More pics from Magic Kitchen Promotion

1/19/04 Maggie Q at a private shoot for Channel 8 (promote Magic Kitchen)

1/19/04 Maggie Q in Malaysia (KL) (promote Magic Kitchen)

Hong Kong model-cum-actress Maggie Q and singer Jerry Yan of Taiwanese boy band F4 made an appearance here to promote the movie Magic Kitchen, which has just been released in conjunction with Chinese New Year.

The two arrived on Thursday for the opening of the movie, directed by Lee Chi Ngai, in cinemas nationwide. The movie also stars Hong Kong artistes Sammi Cheng and Andy Lau.

The story revolves around the disastrous love life of a chef played by Cheng.

When met at the Sheraton Imperial here, Maggie Q said the promiscuous character she played in the movie could generate different feelings among the audience.

"It was great working with superb actors like Andy and Sammi," she added.

Yan, who was a novice chef in the movie, said acting alongside big names like Cheng and Lau was a good experience.