Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who was appointed as the Malacca Tourism Ambassador earlier this year, has returned to Malaysia once again—this time to film her upcoming movie, Mother Bhumi.
Recently, she spent time in Kedah, where she took on the challenge of planting rice seedlings in a paddy field, immersing herself in the local culture and literally getting knee-deep in mud.
The scene, filmed in June, was only shared on her social media on 21 October. In the video, Fan jokingly attributed the great condition of her skin to the experience. She quipped, “My skin is fair and smooth, all thanks to the beautifying effects of the mud. Everyone should come to Kedah, Malaysia, and try planting rice seedlings—it’ll give you gorgeous skin!”
The video ended with the caption, “Everything is worth it for my character,” highlighting her dedication to the role.
Filming for Mother Bhumi has now wrapped, and Fan took some time to explore Kedah alongside the film's director, Chong Keat Aun. She shared a series of photos from her visit, including one of her wearing a hijab at the Zahir Mosque. You can view the images from her leisure trip around Kedah here.
“After working on the film for so long, we finally had the chance to take a stroll. We enjoyed some delicious local food and visited Kedah’s iconic landmarks,” Fan shared.
When asked about her impressions of Kedah, Fan had nothing but praise for the state. During a recent press conference, she spoke highly of the local cuisine and the warmth of the people, calling them "friendly" and expressing her love for the food, particularly Kedah’s famous Char Kuey Teow.
Fan also revealed that the director of Mother Bhumi, Chong Keat Aun, was born in Kedah and took the opportunity to show her around. Reflecting on her role, Fan mentioned the importance of authenticity. “To play a peasant woman, I couldn’t have flawless white skin and big eyelashes, so I had to embrace getting muddy and dirty.”
Fan Bingbing’s time in Kedah has certainly left a lasting impression, both on her and her fans, showcasing not only her commitment to her craft but also her admiration for Malaysia’s rich culture and hospitality.
