| nmskalmn |
25th July 2007 11:36 AM |
[article] Ayumi on way to big screen debut
Quote:
SHE can sing, but can she act?
After announcing her split from her long-time boyfriend, J-pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki is now eyeing a movie career.
As if emulating her idol Madonna's music-to-film crossover, the 29-year-old has reportedly accepted a movie offer.
Ayumi's big screen debut will come more than a decade after a short and forgettable acting stint on TV, before she found fame as a pop singer.
No details have been released yet, but the movie is apparently part of a plan to celebrate her 10th anniversary on the music scene next year, reported Ming Pao Daily.
But again: Can Ayumi act?
Mr James Kang, marketing director of Warner Music Singapore, which distributes Ayumi's albums, believe she will do well. 'She has expressive eyes and probably the strongest screen presence among the Japanese stars,' he told The New Paper.
He also cited her new music video for her CD single Glitter/Fated.
The story is that she arrives in Hong Kong for promotions and falls in love with a local bodyguard (Shawn Yue). But tragedy strikes when he dies in a motorbike accident, leaving her weeping in a wedding dress.
NATURAL ON SCREEN
Mr Kang said: 'She looks like she has genuine chemistry with Shawn and she is natural.'
But J-pop fan Atiqa Boon Yadi thinks that Ayumi's breakdown scene is 'not so natural'.
'You can see she's acting... I'm sure she can do better than that,' said the 17-year-old student.
Still, she looks forward to seeing Ayumi play a role that is different from her image in music videos. 'If she plays a policewoman in an action film... that would be interesting.'
Mr Kang, however, suggested 'power woman' roles for Ayumi, since she is 'such a strong female model'.
A fashionista like Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City would also suit the J-pop trendsetter, he added.
Incidentally, Ayumi's actor-rocker ex-boyfriend Tomoya Nagase, also 29, will reportedly star in a new period drama in which he falls for a proud and competitive singer - traits that aptly describe Ayumi.
Ayumi announced their breakup on her website on 13 Jul.
Talk had it that when she surprised Tomoya by moving out of the apartment they shared, he stayed on for another week hoping she would change her mind.
According to Shukan Shincho magazine, Ayumi ended the seven-year relationship because she failed to force Tomoya into marrying her a few months ago. It claimed she was pregnant and had to get an abortion.
It said she was frequently spotted at a famous hospital and once burst into tears. The hospital spokesman declined comment.
But, it seems the couple are still friends - as Ayumi wrote on her website. They were spotted having a meal together in Tokyo on 14 Jul - just a day after Ayumi made their split public - albeit with another celebrity, Yoshihiko Inohara of boy band V6.
Although Tomoya is yet to comment, Ayumi went online again, after tabloid magazines went to town with speculations about their break-up.
Quoting the self-penned lyrics of her old song Winding Road, she wrote that she had chosen the path herself and she did not regret her actions.
'No matter what others say, I hope to fulfil the promise I had made with all of you, I'm only telling you the truth.'
Instead of tainting her image, the break-up has apparently boosted her popularity.
Glitter/Fated, her 41st single, entered the Oricon chart at No1 last week and sold 50,000 copies in just four days. It is out in stores here.
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Shukan Shincho is a tabloid.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/st...136852,00.html |
