On March 22, Shu Qi attended the annual dinner and awards ceremony of the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild as a director. This year, she took home the Best New Director award for her film Girl.

When asked why she didn’t thank her husband Stephen Fung during her acceptance speech, she laughed and said she would save it for the end of the year. “There’s no need to say thank you every time I think he’d get tired of hearing it,” she joked. When reporters asked whether her husband needed to make space at home for the trophy, she replied humorously, “My house is quite big, and the trophy isn’t that large.”

Shu Qi also posed for photos with director Andrew Lau. During his speech, Lau jokingly referred to her as a “big star” with a “diva” attitude, prompting her to quickly respond, “I’m not arrogant everyone in the industry knows that.”

On stage, Shu Qi expressed gratitude for the recognition she has received throughout her career. “I’ve been in the film industry for over 31 years, and I consider myself very lucky. I may be a little playful at times, but I’m grateful to director Andrew Lau for waiting for me. I also thank director Derek Yee for casting me in Viva Erotica, which earned me Best Supporting Actress and Best New Artist. And thanks to director Alfred Cheung for choosing me despite many challenges,” she shared.

Speaking about her recent award, Shu Qi was candid: “Honestly, I hope more new directors receive this recognition. As someone who is no longer young, I believe many emerging filmmakers in Hong Kong and elsewhere deserve more opportunities. While I’m happy, I still hope others can be honored as well.”

Born Lin Li-hui in 1976 in Taiwan, Shu Qi had a challenging upbringing and left school early. She began her career at 16 as a model before moving to Hong Kong in 1995, where she rose to fame through Category III films. Over time, she successfully transitioned into mainstream cinema, earning critical acclaim for works such as Young and Dangerous, City of Glass, Millennium Mambo, Three Times, and The Assassin. She has also served as a jury member at prestigious events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival.

Sources: Ngoisao