Remember Xu Jiao? Stephen Chow’s CJ7 co-star is all grown up and making her way in the Chinese film business
- Fame was a double-edged sword for the then child actress, who left to attend high school in the United States and escape the media gaze
- She talks about her part in romance Miss Forever, which opens soon, her zest for challenging roles, and why playing a boy in CJ7 is still the toughest she’s had
In 2008, Xu Jiao became a household name at the age of nine when she was selected by Hong Kong comedy superstar Stephen Chow Sing-chi to feature in his Chinese science-fiction comedy CJ7 . Her long tresses shaved to play Chow’s son, and starring opposite an alien dog in the film, Xu impressed audiences with her acting skills.
The film, which took US$54 million at the global box office, catapulted Xu to overnight stardom. She won the best new performer award at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance.
Reflecting on that episode of her life, Xu, now 22, tells the Post in an interview that early fame is a double-edged sword for a child star.
“[Famous Chinese novelist] Eileen Chang said fame should come early [for those who seek it]. But fame at a tender age comes with pressure … you lose your own private space. Your every move in public is followed and becomes a topic of [public] discussion. People use a magnifier to see your flaws,” she says.
Xu felt stressed by all the attention while she was growing up. “That’s one of the reasons why I left for America to study. [By going overseas] I could strike a balance between fame and maintaining my own space, and between work and study,” she says.