He is an extremely courageous actor. He has nothing to hide, he doesn't care at
all for what people think,
his
self-confidence is indestructible. And, above all, he's got an
amazing charisma.
RONNY YU, director (HK - Orient Extrême Cinéma)
He said to
me: "You want to
tell a gay love story and I'll see how far you dare go." From this point of view, I think he helped Tony a lot and
he always said to him it was only a movie! Leslie may give the impression he is
more fragile, but as a matter of fact he is a very
determined person. His pop star status and his career as an actor are
both important to him, and he considers them as one and only activity.
WONG KAR WAI, director (Positif)
We feel that we are very close to each other.
This kind of
feeling is very important. It's hard to work with a stranger. That's one of the
reasons I work with Leslie. The other reason is I think it's clear that he's a
genius. What I like about him most is that he just puts himself into character. It's hard to find out,
is this the character's feeling or is this Leslie's feeling?
CHEN KAIGE, director (Daily
Trojan)
I've told you how much I loved
Leslie Cheung the first time I met him in Hong Kong.
CHEN KAIGE, director (Positif)
He's been a close friend of mine
for 20 years, so I can't look at him and think of him as a legend. He's so
professional, so laid back and, like Faye, he doesn't overdo it. During filming
there were moments when I panicked a little or was frustrated... Leslie was
always beside me saying "don't worry about it", and that was so
comforting. He often pointed out things I overlooked, as well. He's very
creative.
GORDON CHAN, director (Time)
Leslie Cheung is a good actor. To
judge a good actor you need to say how sensitive he is, and Leslie Cheung was very
sensitive to his role, to the character he played. He was careful and
professional, down-to-earth. It was a good learning experience to work with him.
MEI TING, actress (Sino)
I love
Leslie Cheung. I met him once in Beijing at an MTV dinner. We went out for
dinner once but we didn't talk much about moviemaking. I'd love to make a film
with him though. (...) I first heard him on an album which I think is called Rich
In Love, or something like that. He sings with not just his voice, but with
passion and from his heart. I had to ask my classmates whose voice it was and
they told me it was Leslie Cheung. Then I started trying to see his movies.
ZHANG ZIYI, actress (Time)
He is a supportive friend.
His mind is very open. He also respects our creativity. That is the kind of friend I like to
make.
WING SHYA, photographer/designer (Varsity)
Cheung has a reputation for being
bitchy - when John Lone beat him out for the role of a Japanese transvestite in
the movie M.Butterfly, he reportedly said of his rival: "He
looked pretty, but he cannot be compared to me" - and, in my conversation
with him, he wasted no time on diplomacy.
FREDRIC DANNEN, film reviewer (FREDRIC DANNEN - BARRY LONG, Hong Kong Babylon)
Cheung is 44, and if he has changed at
all during his half-life in the public eye, it is to become more wily in the
lavishing and husbanding of his allure. He simultaneously seduces and
withdraws, flirts and forbids. He is the most cunning, provocative tease in
Asian showbiz.
RICHARD CORLISS, film reviewer (Time)
Cheung has an almost naked love
for being loved.
RICHARD CORLISS, film reviewer (Time)
His strong character and his
delicate sensibility look contradictory, but there seem to be many
contradictions mixed in him. Manly character and soft, beautiful face. Straight,
impulsive expression and too careful tenderness. Strong instinct for
self-defence, which makes him distant from others sometimes, and free,
unrestrained acts showing his everything if necessary.
CHITOSE SHIMA (All About Leslie,
edited by CHITOSE SHIMA)
"HK - Orient Extrême Cinéma" and "Positif" translated from French by Leslietango.