Jing Tian had to gain 9kg for key role in ‘Great Wall’
The producers said I looked too petite to be a fierce commander of an army troop, so I had to gain some bulk to appear more convincing.
BEIJING: Actress Jing Tian, 28, who is from Xi’an, had to gain nine kg for her leading role in the movie The Great Wall.
The movie is currently ranked third in the box office in China.
On why she had to shed the weight, Jing said: “The producers said I looked too petite to be a fierce commander of an army troop, so I had to gain some bulk to appear more convincing. The nice thing was that I could eat whatever I wanted. But after the training was over, it was really difficult for me to diet and lose the weight.”
The Great Wall was directed by award-winning Zhng Yimou. It also stars Matt Damon and Andy Lau. Jing Tian is going places. In March, she will appear in Kong: Skull Island, a reboot of the classic King Kong franchise which also stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Her meteoric rise has surprised even herself.
Admitted Jing: “I never mapped out any kind of career path for myself. All I am looking for are different projects and different roles and it happens that several of my upcoming films are Hollywood movies. I am very grateful for the exposure.
“But for The Great Wall, the main reason for doing the film was just so I could work with Zhang Yimou.
In the movie, Jing portrays Lin Mei, the powerful commander of the Crane Troop, and she is fluent in both English and Mandarin in the dual-language film.
As for the future, Jing said: “I had so much fun doing the stunts for The Great Wall, but sometimes, you just want to take a break from all of that. Directors, please offer me more dramatic roles in the future.”
Jing Tian, lead actress in ‘The Great Wall’