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Zhang Ziyi double cross

A Chinese actress who played movie star Zhang Ziyi's naked body double in "The Banquet" (Ye Yan) wants her name in the film’s credits.

"The Banquet," a Feng Xiaogang-directed movie, set for an autumn release in China, stars "Memoirs of a Geisha" actress Zhang Ziyi, and features several body doubles, who play out her nude and fight scenes.

The principal nude double, Shao Xiaoshan, said she was paid 20,000 yuan (,500) for shooting several naked scenes.

“The Banquet” is a loose adaptation of "Hamlet". It is a tale of fate and revenge set in 10th century China. A new Emperor has usurped the throne through murder. Zhang Ziyi plays the widowed Empress, who marries the new Emperor (Ge You) not only to protect herself, but also to kill him with the help of the Crown Prince (Daniel Wu) and the Chief Minister (Ma Jingwu). But the Prince and the Chief Minister each have their own plans for the throne. So too the Emperor. These intrigues are brought to a climax when the Emperor calls for a lavish banquet, where the diabolic plans are set in motion.

(Posted on this website on July 11 2006)