Popular mainland Chinese actress Xin Zhilei, known for her role as “Li Li” in the drama series “Blooming Flowers,” revealed during a promotional event that filming “Blooming Flowers” involved wearing full makeup every day and constantly shooting scenes, especially walking and turning around, which caused her back to cramp up. She described the experience as “really challenging.”
Xin Zhilei previously portrayed the heroine Ding Baiying in the film “Dragon Blade 2: Shura Battlefield,” where she decisively severed Shen Lian’s (portrayed by Zhang Zhen) weapon with a single slash. According to reports from Chinese media, it was Xin Zhilei’s performance in this film that led director Wong Kar-wai to decide to discuss the role with her. Initially, Xin Zhilei believed she would not be cast in a similar role in “Blooming Flowers,” so during her initial meeting with Wong Kar-wai, she introduced herself for about half an hour before indicating she needed to leave, which surprised the director.
At first, Xin Zhilei felt confused about playing the character “Li Li” in “Blooming Flowers” because she did not understand what the director wanted, leading her to experiment with different portrayals. It was only later that she realized the director wanted her to be herself. Wong Kar-wai chose her to portray the boss of Zhiyuan Garden, “Li Li,” because she knew how to be “ruthless” with her eyes.
During the three years of filming “Blooming Flowers,” Xin Zhilei also performed in a solo stage play. When the director heard that she had to sustain the stage for two hours alone, he remarked that she was “too ruthless.” Returning to film “Blooming Flowers” after the play, Wong Kar-wai commented that she had truly become “Li Li” as her voice when delivering lines had changed, having been described as too high-pitched by the director before.
Xin Zhilei revealed that despite wearing elaborate attire and high heels in “Blooming Flowers,” there was not a single comfortable day on set. As she had to appear in full makeup each day, constantly filming walking and turning scenes, she mentioned that she even experienced muscle cramps in her back from constantly turning around, having to relearn how to walk naturally. She emphasized that shooting in such unnatural conditions posed a significant challenge.
Following the broadcast of “Blooming Flowers,” Xin Zhilei, along with Tang Yan, Hu Ge, and Ma Yili, experienced revived popularity, with heightened discussions surrounding their characters. When asked how she managed to deliver such a convincing performance, Xin Zhilei humbly replied, “I didn’t give up.” She disclosed that what was initially planned as a six-month shoot for “Blooming Flowers” extended to a year and finally lasted three years.
Regarding “Blooming Flowers,” a project that Wong Kar-wai spent three years preparing and filming, many people were puzzled by the concept of “slow and meticulous work.” However, it was through the three years of collaboration that the cast and crew developed a more synchronized working relationship. Interestingly, some of the main actors even joked about the possibility of filming for five years, but ultimately felt grateful for having persisted. Xin Zhilei also shared that she only got to know Tang Yan well after they wrapped up filming and found their instant connection after engaging in conversation.