Zhang Ziyi stars in the upcoming film Forever Young. [Photo provided to China Daily]

After her initial success, Zhang turned to making Chinese-language movies like The Grandmaster in 2013 and Wasted Times in 2016. But in recent years she has returned to Hollywood again.

After her daughter, nicknamed Xingxing, was born at the end of 2015, she acted in the American sci-fi horror movie God Particle, which is set for release in February.

Besides, she worked on the creature feature Godzilla: King of the Monsters by Legendary and Warner Bros, which will be released in March, 2019.

Asked if these Western movies meant that she had returned to Hollywood, Zhang says: "It's not about a return. I've never thought I belonged to Hollywood.

"To be honest, it's easy for me to perform in a Hollywood commercial film. Except that I miss home and delicious Chinese food, such as hotpot.

"I was still breastfeeding my daughter when shooting God Particle. And as the workload was not heavy, I thought it might be a good idea to take the job."

Speaking about current pop idols, most of who are frequently criticized for poor performance skills in films, Zhang says: "I don't know their world. But I believe everyone should know clearly what he or she wants. If you choose to be a star, it's OK to seek fans. But if you want to be a good actor or an artist, it is better to focus on acting."

Zhang also says she successfully plays a role by having faith in the character, and she immerses herself in the world of the character after reading the first page of the script.