KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing is currently commanding attention with Mother Bhumi, her Malaysian cinema debut now screening nationwide.
Directed by Chong Keat Aun, the film casts Fan as Hong Im — a farmer by day and ritual healer who tends to her community by night.
Set in 1998, the movie was filmed in Kedah and explores multi-ethnic village life while grappling with supernatural elements.
The portrayal has led to several achievements, including Best Leading Actress at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards and the Golden Mulberry Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy.
The role and success, however, did not come easy.
Speaking with Malay Mail, Fan shared that the biggest challenge was the language, as the film involved different local languages and dialects that were new to her.
“I spent a lot of time practicing pronunciation and understanding the emotions behind the lines.
“But I also enjoyed the process because it helped me connect more deeply with the character and Malaysian culture,” she shared.
The script and the director’s unique storytelling style were what drew the My Fair Princess actress to the project.
“The film is deeply rooted in Malaysian culture, history, and folk spirituality, but at the same time, its emotions and themes are very universal- about humanity, suffering, resilience, and the strength of women.”
She added that she was deeply moved by director Chong’s sincerity and artistic vision, praising him as having a very distinctive voice.
“I felt this project had a soul.
“As an actress, I’m always looking for roles that challenge me emotionally and artistically, not just commercially.
“Another reason is that I’ve always believed cinema can connect different cultures.
“Malaysia is a multicultural country with very rich stories that deserve to be seen internationally,” she added.
Fan Bingbing as Hong Im in ‘Mother Bhumi’. — Screengrab via Youtube
Taking risks and seeking new challenges
With a career spanning three decades, Fan has taken on acclaimed projects including Cell Phone (2003), Lost in Beijing (2007), Buddha Mountain (2010), and I Am Not Madame Bovary (2016).
Embodying the fan-favourite comic book character Blink in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past for her Hollywood debut, she told Malay Mail that at this stage, she hopes to surprise herself, take creative risks, and continue discovering roles that allow her to see the world from different perspectives.
“I think an actor should never stop growing.”
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring actors, she said that the love of acting has to be there.
“This industry can be challenging and competitive.
“If you have passion, discipline, and perseverance, you will continue growing no matter how long the journey takes.
“Protect your passion, stay grounded, and never stop learning.”
Nationwide warm welcome
The Mother Bhumi promotional tour kicked off on May 10, bringing together the cast and crew — including Fan, director Chong, Bai Run-yin, Natalie Hsu, and Pearlly Chua — as they travelled across Malaysia for a series of meet-and-greet events with audiences.
Fan Bingbing shares a moment with Malaysian fans at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the first stop of the ‘Mother Bhumi’ promotional campaign. — Picture courtesy of Click Entertainment
The first stop at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur was met with loud cheers, with many gathering to catch a glimpse of Fan and show their support for the actress.
Touching on those moments, Fan was surprised by the warmth and passion she received.
“Seeing so many people waiting there, including fans who flew from different countries and followed the Mother Bhumi tour across Malaysia, made me feel incredibly grateful.”
The tour continued to Johor, Melaka, Penang, and Kedah — the heartland where Mother Bhumi is set — and was met with just as much warmth.
A special bond with Malaysia
Fan’s popularity in Malaysia has continued to grow since she was honoured as Melaka’s tourism ambassador in 2024.
Her recent meeting with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has further strengthened her presence in the country.
Across Malaysia, audiences continue to show love and support for the actress, a sentiment Fan reciprocates.
“Malaysian fans have always been very warm, respectful, and supportive toward me.
“I could really feel their sincerity and kindness throughout this trip, and I will always remember the love they gave me here in Malaysia,” she concluded.
