Despite the cross-cultural divide, actress Summer Qing believes without a doubt that both Chinese and Hollywood cinema have one thing in common.

"Great movies are definitely international," she declares. "People love them wherever they are."

She would know. A well-respected actress in her native country of China, Summer Qing (or Qing Xu) has starred in a number of critically acclaimed films including The Founding of a Republic (for which she was awarded the prestigious Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress), Flash Point, and the Palme d'Or winning Farewell My Concubine. Nevertheless, despite such a successful career, she has remained relatively unknown in Hollywood circles. Finally, however, Summer has begun to move into the Hollywood spotlight with her portrayal of Bruce Willis' wife in Rian Johnson's Looper, an opportunity for which she is truly grateful.

"It was absolutely my pleasure to go to Hollywood for this film. I was really lucky to have such an amazing, creative cast for my first time," she exclaims. "Hollywood and China are not better than one another. Good teams and bad teams make the difference and Looper had an amazing crew. Everyone was of quality and had a great experience."

Furthermore, there's no question that she also "absolutely" enjoyed working with her co-star, Bruce Willis as well.

"Everyone thinks he's such a tough guy but he's really a very tender, loving guy. He gave me strength and love. When I arrived on the set for my first scene with him, he approached me and held me there for a minute. He didn't say a word. He did it to show his support and love for me, helping me get into my character. That said more than enough. It was really an unforgettable moment."

In Looper's dystopian vision of the future, time travel will have been invented but considered illegal and only available in the criminal underground. As a result, when the mob wants someone killed without a trace, they send their victim back 30 years into the past where a "looper"—a contract killer—is ready to finish the job. One such "looper" is Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is living the good life until he discovers that his next victim is his own future-self (Bruce Willis). Caught off guard by the vision of his older self, Joe accidentally allows his prey to escape, setting off a chain of events that threaten to alter both the future and the past.

Since its premiere as the opening night film at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, Looper has opened to critical acclaim thanks in part to Summer's memorable performance as Old Joe's future wife. When asked what drew her to this particular film for her first Hollywood feature, her answer was clear.

"Rian Johnston is an amazing storyteller. This film deals with [ideas such as] human philosophy and light travelling in a circle. Other films have approached me [from Hollywood] but [the characters they have offered] have been awkwardly placed. Here, she is central to the story."

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