In ripped denim shorts and a casual white high-necked blouse, her hair a long blunt bob, Fiona Xie does not bear much resemblance to Kitty Pong when we meet at a photo studio in Bukit Merah where her cover shoot is taking place.
But in her rapid yet thoughtful response to my question about the money-grabbing sexpot character she takes on its last year’s breakout film Crazy Rich Asians, Fiona shows just how much she consideration she took before accepting the role.
“I’m not like Kitty at all. I’ve said before that I think I’m always the life of the party like Kitty but without her loose morals. They couldn’t offer us pieces from our wardrobe to keep after the movie wrapped up because it had to go into archive but I wouldn’t want any of Kitty’s clothes anyway. Yuck,” the actress says in between squeals of laughter.
“I ran away from this role initially because I didn’t want any controversy surrounding my career but I’m glad I took it up in the end. I’ve read the books so I sort of knew that she would blossom into something more than what you seen on screen in the first movie.”
It’s no wonder then that the 36-year-old put so much though into her portrayal but Fiona has her work cut out for her if she reprises the role in the film’s sequel, China Rich Girlfriend, which sees Kitty take on a major plotline.
