Chinese actress Fan Bingbing reported to begin new film project in Malaysia

By Linh Le September 30, 2024 | 11:57 pm PT

Actress Fan Bingbing has been seen in Alor Setar, Malaysia, purportedly involved in a new film directed by Malaysia’s Chong Keat Aun.

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. Photo from Fan's Instagram

Citing China Press, The Star reported that speculation about the actress’ presence surged following her Instagram post on Saturday, which depicted the rigors of her early morning routine.

"Waking up early is pure pain ... just look at my face," the 43-year-old actress quipped, sharing her early morning ordeal with her followers along with a photo showing her tired expression at 5:30 a.m.

Later the same day, Fan posted four images of a sunrise over a paddy field on Weibo. The distinctive scenery led her followers to quickly recognize her location and flood her post with welcoming comments and expressions of admiration.

"That’s my hometown," one fan commented.

"Welcome to Malaysia," another added. "You’re the best. So humble, hardworking, and beautiful."

Malaysia is increasingly recognized as a popular location for international film productions. For instance, the first teaser trailer for Marvel’s "Thunderbolts*" was released last week and included a scene filmed at Kuala Lumpur’s Medan Pasar, showcasing another significant project filmed in the nation.

Furthermore, Hong Kong cinema legends Eric Tsang, Bobby Au Yeung, and Edmond So have also been filming in Malaysia recently, with their project "Money Games" expected to release next year.

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse expressed at a Kuala Lumpur press conference in July, during the promotion of his film "Customs Frontline," his wish to film at Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers.

Fan, who entered the entertainment industry at age 17, has gained international recognition as an actress, model, television producer, and singer. She was listed as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017.

Following a US$128 million fine for tax evasion in 2018, she has kept a relatively low profile.

Appointed as a tourism ambassador for Melaka earlier this year, the actress is poised to use her fame to enhance local tourism, according to The Straits Times.