Talk Asia
CNN's Talk Asia programme features celebrity interviews, topical discussion and personal insight focusing on Asia's leading business, political and entertainment personalities.
Recent Guests on Talk Asia include:
Zhou Xun
She's the darling of Chinese Cinema, revered across asia for her method acting and quirky choice of roles. This week on Talk Asia we follow Zhou Xun from the recording studio to the red carpet of Asia's most anticipated film this year--Confucius.
Lee Byung-hun
Dubbed the “James Dean of Asia”, Lee Byung-hun is one of South Korea’s favourite leading actors, starring in over twenty soap operas and more than a dozen films. He broke into mainstream Hollywood with his role as Storm Shadow in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”, and the Korean superstar soon won fans with his good looks and versatile acting skills. On this week’s TALK ASIA, CNN’s Anna Coren
spends the day with Lee and joins him on the red carpet of the 14th
Pusan International Film Festival’s opening night.
AI
In J-pop obsessed Japan, R&B singer Ai is an unlikely star. The LA export of Japanese descent has performed alongside Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson and she is now the star of Japan's Number One debut album. Talk Asia catches up with Ai on the sidelines of her recent performance at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Baz Luhrmann
Raised in rural Australia, where he worked as a young boy at his family's gas station, Baz Luhrmann has emerged as one of the most recognized Australian filmmakers today - from "Romeo & Juliet" to "Moulin Rouge" and the epic "Australia". On this edition's Talk Asia, we pay a visit to Luhrmann in Sydney. He discusses his long road to success, as well as his friendships with some of Hollywood's elite actors. Luhrmann also talks about the criticism he's faced along the way, and he gives Anna Coren a behind the scenes tour of his family home.
Karl Lagerfeld
He is perhaps the most recognizable man in fashion, almost never seen without his dark glasses, a silver ponytail and fingerless gloves. And while the German-born fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has been the creative force behind fashion house Chanel for more than a quarter of a century, he's still thriving on new ideas, designs and what the future may hold. CNN gets rare access behind the scenes of his recent Shanghai fashion show. We hear his thoughts on staying relevant, as well as how the cut-throat industry has evolved over the years.
The Irwin Family
When it comes to animals, they're Australia's first family. We
pay a visit to wildlife crusaders, the Irwin family, on Australia's
Sunshine Coast. CNN's Anna Coren speaks with Terri Irwin, as well as
daughter Bindi and son Bob, about the conservation and protection of
animals. We also get their thoughts on carrying on the legacy of
their husband and father, Steve Irwin, three years after his death.
We also get a unique tour of the Australia Zoo, which the Irwins
have transformed from a four acre reptile park to a sprawling 60
acre kingdom, featuring koalas, tigers, elephants and, of course,
crocodiles.
Kevin Rudd
Talk Asia features an exclusive interview with Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd. From his residence in Canberra he tells Anna
Coren his views on issues including Australia's close ties with the
United States and China, climate change and working with Presidents
Obama and Bush.
Zinedine Zidane
In a wide-ranging interview, French football legend and World Cup
winner Zinedine Zidane joins 'Talk Asia' during his recent visit to
Hong Kong. He explains what life holds now he has finally hung up
his boots, discusses memorable moments from his illustrious career
and reveals who he tips for the 2010 World Cup. The talismanic
midfielder also tells CNN's Andrew Stevens how he rates the current
crop of football greats and which was the best team he ever played
for.
Seiji Ozawa
He's one of Asia's most reknowned conductors. Talk Asia visits
Maestro Seiji Ozawa. The 74-year discusses how his life of
conducting has taken him around the world - from San Francisco, to
Toronto, Boston and currently Vienna. He also discusses the early
criticism he faced in his native Japan. And we get rare access with
Ozawa behind the scenes of the SAITO KINEN FESTIVAL in Matsumoto,
Japan.
Rain
South Korean pop singer/actor Rain speaks to CNN's Anna Coren about his latest Hollywood film, his younger years and family as well as his thoughts on the secrets of his international success.
As he prepares his Asia Tour he discusses his innovative stage performances and playing in front of thousands of fans.
Rain also talks about his youth, including the hardships he endured, his relationship with her mother and how he coped with her passing. He explains that he was a shy child until he found dance. He went through 12 auditions until he met singer, entertainer and producer Park Jin-young, an encounter which was to change his life.
Previously Rain had told CNN that his dream was to break into Hollywood and he now discusses where this dream has led him, including his experiences shooting "Speed Racer" as well as the soon-to-be-released "Ninja Assassin".
Park Ji-sung
Talk Asia travels to Manchester United's training ground and sits down with South Korean sporting icon and United midfielder, Park Ji-Sung.
The South Korean team captain discusses his team's chances at the 2010 World Cup, extending his contract with United until 2010 and his father's rather public urge for him to get married soon!
Lawrence Ho
Macau has outstripped Las Vegas to become the biggest gaming market in the world. This week on Talk Asia we hit the former Portuguese colony's gaming floors with Lawrence Ho. The 32-year-old is the eldest son of the undisputed king of Macau, Stanley Ho, but he's ventured out to create a casino empire of his own.
Chinese astronauts Yang Liwei and Zhai Zhigang
John Vause gains rare access to the inner-working of China's space program. He sits down with Chinese astronauts Yang Liwei and Zhai Zhigang ahead of the country's National Day celebrations. He also takes a tour of the various training facilities.
Yu Darvish
He's one of the most promising young pitchers in the world of baseball today. CNN's Talk Asia sits down with the Nippon Ham Fighters' ace Yu Darvish. The 23-year old talks with CNN's Morgan Neill about the pressure he faces on and off the pitching mound in the baseball crazed country. Darvish offers advice to young ballplayers, and shows Neill how he throws some of his signature pitches. The half-Iranian, half-Japanese Darvish also discusses his mixed ethnic background. Neill also asks Darvish about his future plans, questioning him about a possible move to play baseball in the United States.
Lady Gaga
There are no downsides to fame, said Lady Gaga, the singer and currently one of the hottest things in pop. For someone whose debut album called "The Fame" has reached No. 4 in the Billboard charts and has two of the year's biggest selling singles, it's not a surprising statement.
But talking in Macau before her final concert of her Asian tour, it seemed that if not fame itself, its handmaidens -- media scrutiny and touring -- might be taking their toll on the 23-year-old.
Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) arrived for the interview backstage at the Venetian Hotel's concert arena suitably attired; wrapped in a Vivienne Westwood outfit and propped up in enormous Galliano heels. With gargantuan shades covering half her face, the avant-garde fashionista image was intact.
"I'm sort of a musical pop music misfit," she said in her slow New York drawl, and "a relentless bitch" in response to how she had got to the top of the music industry.
Kengo Kuma
Kengo Kuma has said it's his mission to "recover the tradition of Japanese buildings." The prolific architect explains that statement, as he talks with CNN's Talk Asia for this year's Japan Now series. Kuma, who says he takes just several days off each year, talks about how the 1964 Tokyo Olympics put him on a path to architecture. He also discusses where he gets his inspiration, talks about the challenges of each project and even explains how sushi is a good metaphor for his architecture. Kuma also gives CNN an early look at the Nezu Museum before its re-opening this Fall.
Tony Blair
Charismatic and controversial, Tony Blair remains a powerful figure on the world stage, leading peace efforts in the Middle East and a campaign to combat climate change. Talk Asia catches up with the former British Prime Minister in China, where he is spearheading a new project with movie star Jet Li.
Y.E. Yang
Yang Yong-eun is the Tiger-slayer. The Korean golfer stunned the world by beating Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship earlier this month, on the way becoming the first Asian-born winner of a major golfing event.
Ranked outside of the top 100 before the competition, the 37-year-old Yang has propelled golf in Korea into the international spotlight. Unlike so many pro-golfers, Yang didn't pick up the game until he was 19-years-old and first taught himself how to play by watching Jack Nicklaus videos.
Now a national hero, he tells CNN how he intends to follow up his amazing win.
Brillante Mendoza
He was panned by critics and booed at by audiences, but Filipino film director Brillante Mendoza edged over the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Ang Lee to win the best director prize at Cannes this year. On this edition's Talk Asia, we navigate through the city and stories that inspired his controversial films.
Greg Norman
CNN’s TALK ASIA travels to Southern China and hits the links with Australian golfing legend Greg Norman. The former top ranked golfer Greg Norman talks about the highlights of his extraordinary career and reveals how he transitioned to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Norman shares with CNN's Anna Coren where he sees the game of golf growing in the coming years. He also gives his outlook for the game in the United States. TALK ASIA also gets rare access and hears from Norman's wife - retired American tennis player, Chris Evert.
Deepika Padukone
CNN’s Talk Asia follows Padukone on film sets and modelling assignments as she navigates her career as a rising star. She shares her unconventional career path from playing badminton at a national level to modeling in ad campaigns and music videos, to achieving overnight stardom as the leading lady in Om Shanti Om, one of the biggest box office hits of 2007.
Amitabh Bachchan
CNN’s Anjali Rao sat down with Mr. Bachchan in Macau, where the industry gathered for one of Bollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremonies. In a revealing and candid interview, Bachchan shares insights into his long film career, the highs and lows of his early days in Bollywood, and becoming the global superstar and screen idol of Indian cinema.
Buzz Aldrin
On July 20th 1969, an estimated 500 million people watched the live broadcast of the first moon landing, marking one giant leap for mankind. Forty years on, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin looks back to that extraordinary achievement with host Kristie Lu Stout on CNN’s TALK ASIA. He walks audiences through the experience as it happened, as archive footage illustrates his journey. He also shares his views on the future of space travel, the race to Mars and how he struggled to adjust to life back on earth upon his return.
Annie Lennox
Named one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine, Annie Lennox shot to fame in the 1980’s with the synthpop duo Eurythmics. Today, she continues to perform worldwide and is also an activist for a number of charity causes. While in Hong Kong to promote HIV and AIDS awareness in Africa, the Scottish singer sits down with CNN’s TALK ASIA, she gives her take on the state of the music business, her humanitarian work and her very personal views on relationships.
Rem Koolhaas
He revolutionizes city landscapes with distinctive and cutting-edge buildings such as the angular loop-shaped CCTV headquarters in Beijing and the iconic Seattle Central Library. Named as one of “The World’s Most Influential People” by Time magazine, award winning architect Rem Koolhaas is with TALK ASIA this week to show host Anjali Rao his latest creation - “The Prada Transformer” in Seoul.
Gregory David Roberts
His extraordinary life has encompassed being an internationally-sought fugitive living in a Mumbai slum to a celebrated author with Hollywood calling. On this week’s TALK ASIA, Gregory David Roberts, author of “Shantaram” shares with host Anjali Rao his life in exile, touring one of India’s poorest communities and the places which inspired the critically-acclaimed novel.
In his 57 years, the Australian author has robbed banks, escaped from prison, been a doctor in a Mumbai slum, joined the Mafia, fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan and married a princess. The experiences form the basis of “Shantaram”, a novel loosely based on his life. Edison Chen
He has been at the center of Asia's biggest sex scandal, but now actor Edison Chen has broken his silence on the public episode that has ended careers and caused him to face at least one reported death threat.
Talking exclusively to CNN on his return to Hong Kong, where he had been forging a career in the movies, Chen reveals his side of the scandal that broke in early last year when hundreds of sexually explicit photos of Chen with other celebrities turned up on the Internet.
A.R.Rahman
He’s sold hundreds of millions of albums and was recently named as one of the world’s most influential people by Time Magazine: A R Rahman has risen to global prominence with his work on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, which saw him become the first Indian to win two Academy Awards. The soundtrack also spawned the worldwide hit “Jai Ho”, which was covered by The Pussycat Dolls.
This week, TALK ASIA travels to Rahman’s home in Chennai, where the media-shy composer sits down for an expansive interview with CNN’s Anjali Rao. He also opens the doors to his recording studio, revealing the composing process which has lead to a glittering music career. Finally, Rahman takes TALK ASIA on a tour of his new conservatory, where he hopes to create India’s first philharmonic orchestra.
John Woo
Film director John Woo is arguably one of the most influential directors today and his two-part historical epic ‘Red Cliff’ marks a return to China for Woo. Widely recognized for his stylized Hong Kong action films such as ‘A Better Tomorrow’ and ‘The Killer’, Woo moved to Hollywood with successes such as ‘Face Off’ and ‘Mission Impossible 2’. CNN's Talk Asia visits the set of his latest film ‘Red Cliff’ and then attends the premier of ‘Red Cliff 2’ in Hong Kong with Woo. The director also sits down with Anjali Rao to tell her about working with such stars as Tom Cruise and Nicholas Cage. Woo also tells some of his own stories of growing up in the slums of Hong Kong.
Kazuki Nakajima
He's the only Asian driver in Formula One, racing for former Champions Williams. Talk Asia follows Kazuki Nakajima as he prepares for the Malaysian Grand Prix, trains in the Dubai heat and returns home to meet fans in Japan. He discusses his hopes for the season, thoughts on the dominance of Brawn GP and the pressure he feels following his father into Formula One racing.
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao has established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in the sport of boxing today. He's often referred to as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world; a position cemented with his stunning defeat of the legendary Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao is now in the final stages of training for an upcoming bout with Britain's Ricky Hatton. The Las Vegas showdown is being billed as "The Match of the Year."
Anjali Rao asks the fighter about his love of his native Philippines. The show also takes viewers to the small town of General Santos, where Pacquiao is revered for his boxing skills and community activism.
Oliver Stone
Critically acclaimed and often controversial director Oliver Stone returns with the eagerly awaited film 'W', a biopic on former U.S President George W. Bush. Stone visits Hong Kong and tells ‘Talk Asia’ host Anjali Rao what he thinks of the former President Bush, the new President Barack Obama, the war on terror and the current economic crisis.
Lang Lang
Lang Lang, already a huge star in his native China, was catapulted onto the international stage when he performed at last year's Olympic games. Today he can hardly walk a few feet in Beijing without being mobbed by adoring fans. CNN is with the unique star from New York's Carnegie Hall to China's National Theater.
Aamir Khan
Bollywood A-lister and Padmashree, Aamir Khan, joined CNN's special edition of ‘Talk Asia' filmed in front of a live studio audience in Mumbai, where he shared with host Anjali Rao his opinion on leading Bollywood actors, his sentiments on the Mumbai terror attacks and more.
Zhang Xin
Zhang Xin is one of Asia's most successful businesswomen. She co-founded SOHO China with her husband, Pan Shiyi, in 1995. Today the company is one of the largest property development firms in the country. CNN’s Anjali Rao speaks with the dynamic businesswoman and gets her insights on China’s rapid urbanization. Zhang also addresses how SOHO China is grappling with the turbulent economic times. She is also remarkably candid when it comes to the sensitive issue of corruption in China.
Beijing's Rocking Music Scene
Beijing is a city rich in history and culture, but beneath the surface is a growing underground music scene that is capturing a new generation of fans. On this week's TALK ASIA Anjali Rao takes a tour of the city's emerging and diverse music landscape with veteran indie rockers Buyi.
Jimmy Lai
He's now a billionaire businessman and also the founder of one of the world's biggest and most controversial Chinese language media groups. Jimmy Lai's road to riches story has not been an easy one. This episode on TALK ASIA, Lai tells CNN's Anjali Rao how he went from a young boy in mainland China selling cheap goods during hard times to being a successful media tycoon and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government.
Wang Lee-Hom
Taiwanese singer, actor and all around hearthrob, Wang Lee-Hom has revolutionized Chinese language music, mixing sounds from east and west. He joins talkasia as he prepares for his classical stage debut.
Vivienne Westwood
Fashion's eternal Bad Girl, Vivienne Westwood pioneered Punk and has since spent 30 years at the top of the industry. She speaks to Anjali Rao about her life and looks back on her career while touring a retrospective exhibition of her designs.
Bill Clinton
Eight years after Bill Clinton left the White House, the 42nd President of the United States of America still looms large on the world stage, often attracting the kind of attention usually only reserved for incumbent presidents. On this week's Talk Asia, the former U.S. president speaks for the first time about his wife's new position with Barack Obama, the concessions he will have to make, and thoughts on the global economy.
Donatella Versace
As recognizable as the brand itself, Donatella Versace is adamant about one thing in fashion: "Fashion is not frivolous," she told CNN.
It may not be frivolous, but in many respects it is a form of fantasy, something that Versace has developed as head of the Italian fashion house since taking over the reigns after the tragic death of her brother Gianni.
"We sell a lifestyle, so to own one piece of Versace is like to own a whole outfit of expensive things. That's why we do many different things," she told CNN.
Zhou Xun
She's the darling of Chinese Cinema, revered across asia for her method acting and quirky choice of roles. We follow Zhou Xun from the recording studio to the red carpet of Asia's most anticipated film this year--Confucius.
Zinedine Zidane
French football legend and World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane joins 'Talk Asia' during his recent visit to Hong Kong. He explains what life holds now he has finally hung up his boots, discusses memorable moments from his illustrious career and reveals who he tips for the 2010 World Cup. The talismanic midfielder also tells CNN's Andrew Stevens how he rates the current crop of football greats and which was the best team he ever played for. |
