The Naked Truth of Bai Ling

The "Dim Sum Funeral" star wants a wedding proposal from one of our readers.

Deedee and her partner want kids. Do you ever want to settle down and have children?

I really, really want to. It’s funny, when people say, “I want [to get] married, I want a family,” they never really mean it. Therefore, it never happens. I was saying it before, for many years, but I don’t think I was ready. Now, I really want to find somebody, be in love, be loved and get married this year. I dream of this, and talking to you, I’m proposing to your readers to propose to me. I want to get married this year, and somebody please do [it]. Ask me out. Propose to me.

Before, I was against marriage because I didn’t think it was [important], but then I realized, it’s a fully daring, bold, honest, naked commitment. You have to give up everything to only find freedom with your partner. You can’t live life like I do, dating other people, going out all the time and only considering yourself. That’s something beautiful, to commit yourself, to be totally in love. I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully, I will make my dreams come true this year.

If you marry one of my readers, I’m sure I’ll find out through your blog. Why did you start that site, and why is it called Naked Seduction?

If you read the intro, that’s the most honest, beautiful [quality] nobody could be, or dare to be: totally naked. Showing themselves. I’m not really talking about physical nakedness — of course, that’s part of it. I [mean the] more emotional, mental and psychological aspects of being naked. To give, to love, and to share that sensibility of how I feel. I’m very romantic, and I think the media… a lot of them have misunderstood me. If they read my blog, they can see the sensitive soul that I have, and the honesty and generosity.

I want to share the beauty of understanding life and wisdom with others. Therefore, my blog and its full personality, including my eight little spirits — sometimes mischievous, sometimes wise, sometimes lost, sometimes sad — is perfect because I’m a woman. Naturally, like a bandit from nature, I have this sensuality and sexiness about me as a female. I’m proud of it. I [want to] celebrate that sensuality as a woman, and seduce my audience. That’s why I have this blog. Sometimes it’s just how I feel. I write something there without even thinking about it.

Why do you think the media has misunderstood you?

I think it’s because people are slaves to the rules of society. That’s why a lot of people are not happy. I’m probably the most free-spirited being in the world, and I came all the way here from the most primitive country to invent myself on the stage, giving my brilliant talent to what I do. I’m a genius. I really hope all the directors can see me, and give me a chance because I can make magic. I’m free [in how] I dress, what I do, what I say. I have a great life because people fly me all over the place, and pay me to do what I love to do – to give the talent and love, to smile, to display empathy, and to celebrate who I am as Bai Ling. That’s why people don’t understand.

I was a jury member at the Berlin Film Festival. I won an Asian Oscar, and a breakthrough performance [award] from the National Board of Review [for "Red Corner"], which is very prestigious. I’m basically like Meryl Streep, who’s never been invited as a cover of Playboy. She won all these awards, a brilliant actor, but I was also on the cover of Playboy for the 50th anniversary.

You have to celebrate both women equally together, not just [that] intellectual, smart woman have to wear glasses and [be] ugly, or a sexy woman has to be stupid. I’m doing things nobody really thought about. Nobody tends to think that way and [is] brave enough to show that nakedness. I’m here doing this, openly. People will eventually understand, gradually, through my work.

Speaking more about your free-spirited nature, do you have any beliefs that some might consider unconventional?

Yes, a lot. I’m living an instinctive nature of how I react to things. In my previous life, I was this wild cheetah, and she’s free, she’s in nature showing her beauty to the world, and enjoying that moment of life comfortably. She’s the fastest animal in the world, and I feel like part of me… by my body, everybody says I look toned. I really don’t exercise at all. In “Crank 2,” that was two days of sit-ups. I already had muscles in my stomach. I just [have] this wild animal in my body.

I was in a mental hospital, I was lost for quite a few years in my youth, I was scared, and once I wanted to commit suicide. Then I came to another side of life, and become so bright and open and simple. I realized I was a wild animal adopting a human form, a body, and I don’t know how to function in society because I wasn’t born that way. I [found] another way to be free within the system, a beautiful way to somehow see myself and be me. That’s why I came to the United States, [which] gave me this freedom.

“Dim Sum Funeral” opens in Los Angeles on June 12th.

[Additional photos: "Dim Sum Funeral," HBO, 2008; "Crank: High Voltage," Lionsgate, 2009]

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