Chinese star defends Geisha cast

Liu was detained by Chinese authorities for tax evasion

Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing has played down the decision to cast Chinese stars in Japanese roles in the Hollywood film Memoirs of a Geisha.

"It's nothing to be concerned about," said Xiaoqing, 54."It's only acting."

China banned the film last week, amid speculation that the sight of Chinese stars Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li playing Geisha girls would prompt public anger.

Critics say it is insensitive because of Japan's atrocities during their occupation of China in the 1930s.

The film, directed by Chicago's Rob Marshall and based on the best-selling US novel, picked up six Oscar nominations last week.

Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang plays the novice geisha Sayuri

Liu spoke to reporters in Singapore, where she is due to perform in the musical, The Last Night of Taipan Jin, at the weekend.

It marks a return to performing for the actress who was detained by Chinese authorities for more than a year in 2002 for tax evasion.

The popular Chinese star reportedly paid more than 16 million yuan (£1.15m) to secure her release.

Liu, an award-winning performer, starred in many Chinese films throughout the 1980s, but gave up acting in the 1990s to become a businesswoman.

She twice won the Baihua best actress award and appeared as Hibiscus Town, Little Flowers, Cixi's Eunuch, Li Lianying and Ruling From Behind the Screen - all considered Chinese classics.