In fact, when the reporter called her for that interview three years earlier for
a phone interview, they had caught her smack in the middle of a photography
session in Hong Kong for the same project. Then, she rambled on like a runaway
train. Thankfully, she doesn't talk like that all the time although she has
been known to speak her mind.
Tell Hong Kong-based Maggie Q that she is a Model-Turned-Actress and the
beautiful one laughs out loud. "Yes, I'm a cliché. But I don't care," she
exclaims in a girlish voice, unembarrassed.
"I don't blame these stereotypes," she rattles in an American drawl. "Look at
Cindy Crawford and Elle MacPherson. Just because one can doesn't mean one
should," she says, referring to the lackluster acting efforts by the
supermodels.
While the sylph-like Eurasian would not comment on her own craft, critics have
been kind towards her few roles to date. Her most famous role was playing an
FBI agent in Gen Y Cops (2000), which also starred Nicholas Tse.
Last year, her stage debut in Hong Kong even earned her rave reviews. South
China Morning Post journalist Tom Hilditch wrote that Maggie's was 'a star
performance'.
Then, there is Love Asia, the hour-long Sports Illustrated-styled production,
lensed by Singaporean photographer Leslie Kee. Maggie is one of 10 models
featured in the title, which finally made its debut on the decidedly non-prime
time Star World on Friday, at 11:30 pm Hong Kong local time.
Why this production sat on the shelf for better part of three years collecting
dust and not seeing the light of broadcast may give one pause, as to the
interest in the production. Furthermore, that Star World picks it up only to
run its premier during an off-hours time slot on a late night Friday make it
seem less than a commercial success.
The production documents the ten models' three days romp through Malaysia for
their shoots at different locations throughout the tropical Southeast Asian
nation
Maggie Q (a/k/a: Maggie Quigley) gets the video going as any headliner should.
The Vietnamese-American beauty, (5'9", 33-24-32) born in Hawaii to her American
dad and Vietnamese mom, gives a laid back interview about herself saying "My
dream is to do good films, films that mean something, films that that affect
people." The interview is interspersed with video coverage of her swimsuit
photo shoot.
This sets the tone for the flow of the production and each girl is introduced -
by her first name only - in turn in the same style.
There is Chinese Chi-Ling, (5'9", 34-23-33), born and raised in Taiwan.
Mainland Chinese honey Queenie, (5'10", 34-32-33), raised in Shenzen and whose
parents found the ad in a local paper for her first modeling job.
Japanese Mayuko, (5'10", 32-23-34), a lusty Tokyo born girl who was raised in
Yokohama from the age of 3, claims she didn't know how to pose when she first
started in the business "I do modeling jobs, but I am not a model." As a proper
Japanese girl she says that she is traditional, and admits that she might 'fall
a few steps behind her man', when out with him. Though this doesn't seem to
jive with her frisky side when she admits - and wins kudos from the other women
- for winning 'best sex location' for having sex in airplane's bathroom. Maggie
is notably impressed.
Chinese born and Hong Kong raised, Almen, (5'8", 34-25-34), says she was a
tomboy growing up and that he family welcomed her transition to a more feminine
role.
Grace, (5'10" 33-23-33), is 'pure Filipina' as she puts it and a simple gal who
was recruited for modeling while shopping with friends at the mall. "At first I
hesitated but my friends said, 'go for it'" she recounts.
A lovely mix of Korean and Japanese is found in Kae, (5'11", 32-23-33) who
-sadly - had to concede defeat to Mayuko, for only being able to muster sex on
the beach, to Mayuko's airplane antics.
Singapore born and raised Jacqueline has a Dutch father and Indonesian mother
and proves to be a well-rounded, grounded and beautiful woman.
Then there is Thai-Chinese Yo, (5'9", 34-23-34), raised in Thailand she is
another girl next door who - to her surprise - was recruited for modeling and
hopes simply to make the most of it while it lasts.
An outstanding beauty is Aysha, (5'10" 33-34-33), who is a testament to
international relations through her lineage as an Indian-Pakistani-Chinese
woman.
Maggie - who got a producer credit along with Fortune Asia for the piece - also
isn't shy about offering romance tips to her fellow models in Love Asia telling
them, "Never ever, ever marry someone that you love more than he loves you."
Probe her about her romances, and Maggie, who was last romantically linked with
Nakata Hidetoshi, the midfielder of Italian football club Parma, becomes all
pensive.
"I like Asian men. I cannot fathom dating Caucasians. They don't have to be
pretty boys or beautiful. I can accept flaws in a man," she says cautiously.
Asked if any of her former boyfriends come close to fitting that mould? She
smiles. "One of them was my ideal type, but I'm not naming names," she teases.
And although she is a picture of composure and confidence, she admits to
feeling insecure sometimes. "I lack faith sometimes. I feel that I don't live
up to other people's expectations of me," she says.
But she looks confident, you point out.
Then comes her riposte, delivered with an exaggerated voice and impish
expression.
"Why, that's because I'm a good actress!"
Actress or model Love Asia, while it may not have been a stunning
success for those who appreciate Asian beauty, it might just be a reason to
spend a Friday night at home to enjoy all that is stunning about this
production.
Selected video captures:
Copyright 2006, Asian Sex Gazette. William Sparrow and Agencies contributed to
this report.
