Just a `crazy dog lady'

I just drove through there. It was expanding when I was young -- it's like tripled, quadrupled. I don't recognize it anymore. When that town started getting bigger, my family went back to a smaller community. We moved back to the beach. There's a big battle going on in Hawaii. People go on vacation there, and then they leave and go home. They don't know about the struggles of the local people. The local people are against and upset about the development on Oahu. They want to keep the country \o7country\f7. I hope it doesn't expand to where we can't even support how many people will be living on the island anymore.

You've worked with Tom Cruise, who's sort of the Andy Lau of the West. So what's Andy like?

You know what's interesting about Asian stars -- I guess maybe because my experience is largely with Asian stars -- I feel like people who are as big as Andy is in Asia, they don't lend themselves to letting you know who they are. It's work. You don't have intimate conversations like you do on all American sets. There, they're a mystery. I've worked with him a few times, and I can't say I know him well. He's very kind, I'll say that. And he looks friggin' great for his age (45). Just like Tom (44)!

When Googling you, the word "exotic" comes up a few times. Is there a special place in hell for those who refer to you thusly?

For sure! It sounds like I belong in a lizard community on the edge of a remote cliff. It's funny when people want to compartmentalize what they feel from you. When you know yourself, you don't find yourself exotic -- or hugely interesting. Sexy, exotic -- it's always really weird for me.

These days L.A. seems like a city cowering under three huge giants named Lindsay, Britney and Paris. It sounds so scary!

It's so not, though! These three or four people that are always written about and have nothing to do with L.A. life. In the morning I take the dogs hiking, and go and have my breakfast. I don't see that other side of L.A. You have to chose that L.A. lifestyle. I don't have any problems with those things because I don't go out. How to avoid drugs and alcohol? Hmm! Go to a club? The lucky thing for me is I entered the entertainment industry in Asia, and I was there for 10 years: Weirdness and ups and downs and articles and partying -- and I'm done. It's wonderful. I'm an adult. I wake up in the morning with my animals and enjoy life.