Small talk with a big star

Thanks to the publicity department at Tartan USA, I was able to interview Karena Lam , the knockout Chinese-Canadian movie star/singer, by e-mail. I was just able to see Lam in the Asia Extreme film “Koma,” in which she exhibits everything you need to become a big star.

One thing: Understand that when you send in questions by e-mail, the person being interviewed gets to pick and choose what to answer. So forgive me for the softball-size queries. Anyway, here is the result, such as it is:

1. As a native Canadian, what was your first break toward
becoming the Asian star that you now are?

A: Eleven years ago, going to Asia was real fascinating and not speaking Chinese or reading any Chinese didn’t seem like a problem for me. Until I started working. … Everyone was fond of my accent and thought of me as “the Canadian-Chinese girl with the funny accent.” Then I hated myself for not having the perfect Chinese accent. … I felt quite ashamed because many would assume I’d know how to read and write, but I couldn’t do any of that at all. Now, I can read, speak fluent Cantonese, Mandarin, and a little Japanese. And I am still working at my Chinese. … It’s a never ending learning process and I love it!

2. What do you prefer, making movies or singing ?

A: Movies are to find many discoveries about me, people, human nature. Singing is more personal for me. The voice is a beautiful thing and, sometimes, you feel like you’re naked when you’re singing because it is all YOU!

3. What kinds of movies scare you the most?

A: Ooh, I don’t watch any horror films, but I make them.

4. Do you still maintain ties with Canada?

A: Yes, my family lives in Vancouver, Canada. They haven’t left since my parents immigrated there over 30 years ago.