Working in Hollywood, it's clear the more money you have, the more technology you can get. So you can build a whole Japanese set. Only in Hollywood!

In China, we don't consider someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a long time, and we know what's underneath the skin.

I suspect people always thought I had a boyfriend, so nobody came after me.

There's nothing in Chinese culture that is an equivalent of the geisha. It's so different, so special to Japan.

From beginning to end I worried that Ang Lee wouldn't be satisfied with my work. So I worked as hard as I could to earn his trust, because you only get a chance like this once.

The atmosphere at my school was very competitive. Young girls were competing with each other every day for status, for leadership, for the affection of the teachers. I hated it.

I was really interested in geishas' work, and wanted to meet real geishas.