"I thought Irma Vep was going to be a tiny little art film that showed in one cinema in France." In fact, it has travelled remarkably well, picking up accolades at film festivals in Venice and London. "I didn't stop to think what this film would bringme," she smiles. "I just liked the writing." One particular scene specifically parallels Cheung's experiences: when the director breaks down, his replacement's first move is to fire her, scoffing, "Why would you get a Chinese girl to play Irma Vep?"
Mention the Catherine Deneuve comparison and Cheung is horrified.
"I don't want to be dubbed the new anyone. I finally have these new
options open to me. What if I go back to doing martial arts films?"
"It's true. The two parts I would have died to play were Catwoman in Batman Returns and Kelly Lynch's role in Drugstore Cowboy. Can you imagine that they would have considered me for even one second?" No, but watching Irma Vep, you can help but wonder how brilliant those films would have been if they had.
