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If you ever get to meet Tsai Chin, remember to speak clearly and project.
(The movie premiered at this years Tribeca Film Festival as a product of itsUntold Storiesinitiative.)
Actors love to tell stories.
You have been acting for 62 years with many veteran directors.
And shes not totally unlike me.
Shes a prettydifficult person, and Im putting it rather politely.
How is she difficult?She fights me, which is good.
I mean, I respect her.
But there are times when I said no.
Sometimes she admits that Im right.
I have more experience than her and I am more than twice her age.
Both of us wanted to kill each other.
I asked her later, When did you want to kill me most?
Shes like, You know in that scene?
Thats when I really wanted to kill you.
I said, Yeah, well the other one is when I wanted to kill you.
Thats why you come to acting class.
I say, If you aim at a tall tree, you may hit a bush.
If you aim at a bush, youll hit that floor.
I find that some actors just dont try enough.
They may not like it when I say that [She mimics a face of disapproval].
Does it matter to you whether people like you?No.
As I get older, I care less and less.
What are they going to do to me?
Are they going to kill me?
Im going to die soon anyway!
My whole thing is always about freedom and independence.
Most people a lot of people care about that.
Well, not Americans because Americas not perfect.
How much do you know about The Blonde Fatso?
The more freedom you have, the more responsibility you have.
My life has always been about freedom and independence.
And in some ways, acting has too.
What is so great about acting is that after 62 years, suddenly the technique is in you already.
You dont have to think about it anymore.
She was so brave.
Ive learned everything from her.
They call me Mrs. Chin.
Dont call me Mrs.!
So I decided to never marry again.
What a shock they had [when they met me].
Its quite powerful for women to use the word no.
You didnt see its significance?Well, okay, its very popular and thats it.
But [She feigns being sleep].
The director [Lewis Gilbert] is a very good friend of mine who just died a year ago.
The funny thing aboutMemoirs of a Geishais, I was offered another bigger role and turned it down.
I was 68 years old, so that was already quite a phenomenon.
And by that time, I was too scared to not be able to speak Japanese.
Chinese is difficult enough.
Its like your race [African-American].
So they think Chinese people are all like that.
Can you imagine me being that way?
[Laughs] Not in the slightest.They dont know me anyway.
My mother definitely wasnt like that.
She was bilingual, which helps.
Thats why I advocate for them so much.
Im a stage actor.
I was brought up in London.
My young adult life began there.
It is the mecca of theater.
These are very strong [characters].
I never played her as a victim.
But … [Lucky Grandmaproducer Krista Parris laughs across the restaurant] Is that Krista?
I am being interviewed and I can hear you laughing two miles away!
I can recognize your laugh in a railway station!
I can always find you!
[Laughs] You were talking about the stage and what you love about it.you might control the audience.
you’re able to make the audience so happy one minute, and so sad the next minute.
In film, its up to the directors to cut it well.
Sometimes an actor may not give a very good performance, but the editor does a good job.
Thats a big responsibility, but I definitely have seen the sky.
I mean, Im never going to get there but at least I know where to aim.
Is that what inspires you to still act today?Actors dont retire.
One day nobodys going to offer me roles.
Well, there is Betty White.
I discovered that two other women years ago had 80-year-old careers.
They say men are stronger than women.
I say, Oh yeah?
Then how come we dont die?
When do we die before?
And then is heard no more.
You are only famous for ten years, unless youre a superstar.
Because another generation comes through and youre forgotten.
