“Because of the Chinese culture of obedience, you don’t ask questions… You follow and obey.”

Like, you can find your dream, if you firmly believe. You have to have the innocence, and you have to have the daringness to trust.

The partner that you have is supposed to make you a better person, and when you’re happy, you’re a better person.

I think I’m open to adventures and surprises. As a performer, I’m really just naturally talented. And those roles may not look as good on paper, but I know how to create them on screen. I like to have fun and interpret my roles in my own way.

You have to be proud of who you are.

Wong Kar-wai and Ang Lee are two Asian directors I’m really fond of.

I’m a person that doesn’t have that many goals or plans. I feel like I’m the wind and I blow through life; it’s whatever comes to me. I very much respect nature. Whatever happens to me, I’m happy and I embrace it.

Sex is the best high. It’s better than any drug. I want to die making love because it feels so good.

I think we all have our own mission, duty, fate in life so for me somehow I think I am always walking on the edge of life and take risks.

Boundaries, and countries, if we don’t have that we are all brothers and sisters, we can all have love and joy and compassion for each other: the world would be much more beautiful.

I had heard about how people struggle and how hard it is to get into acting. But I did not care because it’s something I love.

I’m a romantic, and I like guys to bring flowers and buy some gifts – not expensive things, just romantic things.

When you don’t get what you want, it just makes you accept real life.

I went to South Africa on safari and came eye to eye with a beautiful leopard. We were so close; I was staring at him for a long time and I felt a recognition with my own nature.

Well I think always, when you remake films, I always think the first one is most original, authentic.

I was in Asia and people asked me about being considered sex symbol. I don’t know if that’s good or not, because where I come from, sex isn’t something you’re allowed to talk about.

Yeah, well my name is Bai Ling. That means white spirit, and I really feel like sometimes I’m not existing.

If I were to limit myself to the opportunities that were presented playing only Chinese-American parts, I would be virtually without a career.

I’m doing quite a few things now. In one day, I will go to Kassel, Germany, for a documentary project I’ve been preparing for half a year.

Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.

Chinese government is very clearly losing power in every aspect, but trying to fix up all the problems or potential problems.

I think I’m just a traveler. When you walk across a river and there’s no bridge, you build one. I’m used to having to deal with Chinese Communist ideology.

The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War.

To call yourself a Chinese artist or woman artist or African artist reflects a certain kind of condition. To me, that is not necessary.

Everyone thinks the Chinese government selected me. Never ever. I was selected by Herzog and de Meuron.