HONG
KONG (Reuters) - Dashing Chinese movie star Chow Yun-fat,
hero of the kung-fu epic ``Crouching Tiger,'' says the key
to staying young is stupidity.
``You
see I am very stupid. I don't understand or talk well. I take
it easy every day. I am like an idiot. Be like this every
day, and then you'll look young,'' Chow, who looks younger
than his 45 years, bantered in Mandarin at a news conference.
``Don't
try to push yourself too hard,'' said the star.
Chow,
sometimes described as Hong Kong's Harrison Ford, is perhaps
best known internationally for his role in ``Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon,'' which some tip will grab an Oscar nomination
for best movie, and as lead actor in ``Anna and the King''
with Jodie Foster.
Well
loved in Asia for his good humor, affability and total absence
of any airs, Chow was speaking at a news conference to launch
a set of stamps and first-day covers issued by the South American
nation of Guyana and featuring him.
The set
includes six colorful stamps depicting Chow in his various
movie roles. But in a spirited session full of wisecracks,
the actor admitted he could not identify all six films.
``Every
one was so specially drawn, so much so that even I can't remember
which movie it is,'' he said.
``It
seems that they were picked by the PR company and my wife.
I don't know. I only come out to see people,'' he said playfully.
``My
agent and my wife. They're pushing me very hard every day,''
Chow said, referring many questions to his Singaporean wife,
Jasmin.
Chow
has been one of Asia's most celebrated film stars since 1985
and has appeared in more than 70 movies. He has achieved worldwide
acclaim since his break into Hollywood in 1998.
Chow
said he hoped ``Crouching Tiger'' would win the Oscar for
the best film and that Ang Lee would be named best director.
The Academy Awards will be presented on March 25.
Asked
about his next film role, Chow said: ``This we should wait
for Ang Lee, who is talking on several films.''
``If
at the Oscars he wins best movie and best director, then studios
must give him a lot of money and then he'll start a new film
right away. If he doesn't, he may wait for two to three years.''
``You're
still young. You can wait,'' he said, teasing a young woman
reporter who asked when he would appear in another film.
