"How can I get along with my picky mother-in-law?"

"I love buying flowers, but my husband's mother thinks it is a waste of money. How can I change her mind?"

Such questions are normally directed to family experts, but 32-year-old actress Hai Qing has been asked these types of questions a number of times by fans, thanks to her successful portrayal of a daughter-in-law in a popular TV series.

"It creates an illusion that I'm an expert," said Hai whose Good Times of Daughters-in-law series has been highly rated in recent months.

The series tackles marital issues and the relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law.

"But I'm no expert in this," said Hai, who is married.

Hai graduated from Beijing Film Academy 10 years ago and has starred in other TV series with a family theme, such as Dwelling Narrowness, Double-sided Sticky Tape and Wang Gui and An Na, which won her the award of "Biggest Breakthrough Actress" last year.

These roles have led to a huge jump in the offer of acting jobs.

"I used to receive 20 scripts at the most in a year, but will now get almost the same number in one month," she said.

"I'm grateful for the opportunities, but I know I am not the kind of actress who can master every role."

She's even been offered a role, playing a teenager, with the TV producer hoping her popularity would bring in high ratings.

"I turned down the role because I'm far from that age," she said. "It would be like wearing a mask both in appearance and mind.

"And I don't think the program will become popular just because of me. I know I'm not that famous."

Hai, whose rise to stardom has been gradual, realizes that it is impossible to "always live in the spotlight".

"I know someone will replace me one day. If the audience likes my roles, I will continue. If they don't, I can leave quietly."

She said celebrities have to obey natural rules in the same way flowers flourish and then wither.

"My favorite magazine is Science World. I don't prefer to fight against natural rules," she said.

Hai also believes in aging naturally, preferring not to rely on plastic surgery to get rid of wrinkles and fat.

She said she upset Teng Huatao, who directed Dwelling Narrowness, who wanted her to undergo surgery to remove bags under her eyes.

"Teng complained he had to alter the lighting when shooting close-up shots of my face, which would slow down the filming process," Hai said.

"He even booked a surgeon for me. But I was scared to do the operation."

Nevertheless, the popular series gave Hai her biggest break.

Hai would now like to try to play different characters because she doesn't want to be typecast as just a daughter-in-law.

In April, Hai grabbed the spotlight by appearing in a sexy backless evening dress at the Jeanswest entertainment grand ceremony sponsored by China's largest private media and entertainment group Enlight Media.

It was her first time she was wearing something "so hot" on the red carpet, she said.

Hai has also been ranked in "China's top 50 beauties" list in a poll by domestic media.

"I can't be always playing a daughter-in-law," she said.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/27/2010)