8 hours make-up process before filming Empress of China



HONG KONG: Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who plays Empress Wu Zetian in a popular TV series Empress of China, says that she endures eight hours of make-up for the filming of the popular TV show, reported to be the most expensive series that China has ever produced (RM181 million).To get more news about last empress of china, you can visit shine news official website.

"It is not easy to become an empress. To make me look old, the make up process alone takes about eight hours, with another two hours to remove it. It was even harder during summer time when the actors would be sweating under their make ups on top of their elaborate multi-layered costumes," says the actress at a press conference here.

Bingbing, who is known for her role in the fantasy film White Haired Witch, also serves as the show's producer.

Set during the Tang Dynasty, Empress Of China is about Wu Zetian, the only woman emperor to have ruled China. Filming for the series began in December 2013 and wrapped up in August last year.It also stars Aarif Rahman Lee, known for his role in the movie Bruce Lee, My Brother. In the series, Lee plays Prince Li Zhi who later became Emperor Gaozong, the third emperor of the Tang dynasty. Veteran actress, Kathy Chow plays Consort Yang in the series.

"Empress Wu is an extraordinary person who lived under extraordinary circumstances," she said.

The series was shot in various locations in Wuxi, Nanjing, Shaoxing and Hengdian Film Studios. It was reported that 260 sets of costumes were made for Fan alone, with her character's elaborate dragon robe costing approximately RM290,000.

It's film adaptation started as early as 1939 with the late director Fang Peilin's version, starring Gu Lanjun. The 1963 film version from director Li Han-hsiang and starring Li-Li Hua premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Empress Of China airs from Monday to Sunday at 9.30pm on Astro On Demand (ch 361) and Astro On Demand HD (ch 350).