A Hardworking Performer

Chinese-British actress, KUNJUE LI chatted with ACT Magazine about life in Tibet, her acting dreams as a child, and her roles on the hit TV drama “Razors: The Return of Jack the Ripper” and “Ancient Assassins” on the Discovery Channel.

Born in a mountainous area of Tibet, actress Kunjue Li has become a leading Chinese actress in Hollywood. Her martial arts and combat training, as well as her tomboy childhood, has put Kunjue in the forefront of some new and exciting movies and TV shows.

“The Tibet mountains is such a stunning area,” explains Kunjue. “There were a few of us children, all around a similar age, growing up. We would play, ride horses, sing, set up a camp fire, play hide and seek in the mountains. We spent most of our time outdoors. We would catch small animals, birds, and swim in the hot springs. I grew up a tomboy rather than a cute little girl. I loved getting my knees dirty. My father often had to remind me that I was a little girl, so for my 10th birthday, he made me a bow, just to let me know I was a girl.”

Being in Tibet with dreams of acting certainly had its challenges for Kunjue. Acting, or the performing arts in general, was not considered a real job. As a culture, most children would be encouraged to follow a more traditional career and learn to play a musical instrument.

“It was always my childhood dream to be an actor. My parents, though, were not very keen on me pursuing it when I was younger. All I wanted to do was learn drama and dancing, but my parents forced me to learn math and literature so I could have a more traditional career. I went to college in London and studied marketing. When I completed my degree in LSE, I had a very good marketing job. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t what I wanted to be forever. It was a means to an end. I worked for a year and half until I had enough money to pay for drama school. I quit my job and went to drama school. Nothing was going to stop me from following my dream to be an actor. At first my parents were shocked, but after explaining my passion for performing they came around. Now they ask me how every audition went!”