Fan Bingbing held a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 18, 2024. Photo: LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Chinese movie star Fan Bingbing recently wrapped up filming for her upcoming movie Mother Bhumi, helmed by local director Chong Keat Aun, in Alor Setar, Kedah.
During a recent press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Fan expressed joy at her stay in the state, adding that she enjoyed various local cuisine – her favourite being the Kedah char kuey teow.
“I love Kedah. The people here are very friendly, and the food is really good.
“Since the director was born in Kedah, he took me to the state’s city centre, where I got to experience a lot of local culture,” the 43-year-old said in Mandarin.
Among the places Fan visited during her time in Kedah include the Royal Museum, the Alor Setar Tower, Masjid Zahir and Pekan Cina.
The actress added that there is lots to see in Malaysia and no one place is the same here.
Fan stopped by Melaka earlier in June to fulfil her duties as the state’s tourism ambassador and was in Johor last December to meet His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, King of Malaysia.
“During my time here, I got to see the many wonderful things Malaysia has to offer.
“This country is very precious, with each state carrying its own unique charm,” said the X-Men: Days Of Future Past star.
Fan, who’s starring in a Malaysian production for the first time, also praised the local film crew for their professionalism throughout the shoot.
The actress said she was greatly moved by the dedication everyone showed on set, which pushed her to give her best effort.
“I never expected to film or meet such dedicated people when I first came to Malaysia.
“The teamwork and trust everyone has for one another is off the roof. It really motivated me to give it my all and ensure that their hard work was well worth it,” she said.
Slated for a 2025 release, Mother Bhumi sees Fan playing Hong Im, a farmer grappling with the loss of her husband while raising their two children.
She later uses magic to help the villagers with their daily problems, only to encounter a ghost that unveils a shocking secret about her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
The movie also stars Hong Kong actress Natalie Hsu, Taiwanese actor Bai Run Yin and local actress Pearlly Chua.
