FAN BINGBING
From the girl-next-door to an internationally recognised star and fashion icon, FAN BINGBING is likely to be a name you’re familiar with. Whether you know her for playing Wu Zeitan in the hit Chinese drama, The Empress of China, or for her role as Blink in X-Men: Days of Future Past, or for being a recurring appearance on the red carpets of the Venice and Cannes film festivals, her impact is unmatched. Fan strays from the glitter award shows and ethereal gowns during this interview as she focuses on the importance of expression, with a shift towards becoming experimental with makeup.
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INTERVIEWER WEI LIU
PHOTOGRAPHER JUMBO TSUI
Speaking to The WOW, FAN BINGBING contemplates her beauty journey and how much her career has been molded by the concept. Her erudition and geniunity shine through in each conscious and deliberate answer. Following a period of absence, the actress will be returning to the silver screen in 2022 as Lin Mi Sheng, in the much-anticipated film, The 355, alongside actresses Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger and Penélope Cruz.
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“The beauty revealed through self-confidence and health are becoming more representative of beauty nowadays and are therefore becoming increasingly appreciated.”
What is your definition of beauty? In terms of beauty, are there any aesthetic differences between East and West, especially to Asian women?
Confidence and health are the definitions of beauty in my opinion. I think the difference in aesthetics is getting smaller and smaller now. Everyone is starting to pay more attention to the pursuit and importance of inner beauty, this could be health or discovering and facing oneself, regardless of race or what you identify as.
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When it comes to beauty, what do you think you’re best at?
Skincare and beauty treatments (like hair and body preservation) should be what I’m best at. Over the years, I have continued to build and enrich my knowledge in this field through various trials and I often share it with everyone on my personal platforms (mainly online). I am also very grateful for everyone supporting my beauty brand and continuing to work hard to realise my vision.
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In recent years, in the West, we have seen an increase in female representation of different body and skin types in fashion. Some brands and parts of the media have now declared that the words “whitening” and “anti-ageing” are prohibited. But in Asia, “white skin” and “skinniness” still remain as mainstream aesthetics; do you think Asia will be affected by this movement in the West?
Perhaps the mainstream definition of beauty is gradually breaking out from its limited focus on appearances. The beauty revealed through self-confidence and health are becoming more representative of beauty nowadays and are therefore becoming increasingly appreciated.
Even with the idea of “white and skinny”, everyone has different standards and interpretations of it. In the case of being an actor, sometimes “skinny” may be part of the role description, or as a way to seem more photogenic. But now individuals are better at discovering themselves, finding and honing in on what is most suitable for them – discovering their own advantages. No longer blindly pursuing.
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Can you tell us a story or experience from your upcoming movie “The 355” that has not yet been released publicly?
It has been a great honour to be able to film, The 355, and it is a really rare experience to work with four other excellent and talented actresses (Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger and Penélope Cruz). I enjoyed the whole process very much. During this period, many unforgettable things happened, such as the first meeting with the production team, the shooting scenes, etc. For more details, you can go to the theatre and watch The 355. Haha, remember to support my new movie!
blazer MAISON SANS TITRE
Many people have suffered due to the pandemic. Can you offer advice about your own personal slumps and how you overcame them?
am a person who likes to work and very much enjoys the process and the state of putting myself into work. During the pandemic, the pace of work has not been as quick, and schedules have not been as tight as they were previously. But in life, things will always fluctuate, what is most important is that you are able to adjust yourself.
You need to take the time to seriously review the past and let go of it. Think about what you really want and decide how you want to live a more meaningful life in the future.
Read the full version of this cover story and interview on our print issue The WOW N° 4
TALENT: FAN BINGBING
STYLIST: EVAN FENG
HAIR STYLIST: ISSAC YU
MAKEUP ARTIST: DAI GANG