Jet Li wins a rare acting prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HONG KONG - Jet Li has won a rare acting prize.

Better known for his kung fu prowess, the 44-year-old Chinese action star was named best actor at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday for his performance in the Chinese epic "The Warlords."

Li played a 19th century mercenary who's emotionally torn about betraying one of his blood brothers and falling in love with his wife.

"The Warlords" was also a big winner, clinching eight out of 18 possible awards, including best film and best director for Hong Kong's Peter Chan. It also won awards for best cinematography, best art direction and best costume and makeup design.

Chan said he set out to make a gritty Chinese epic that focused on the cruelty of war rather than focussing on the usual glittering gold costumes and gravity-defying kung fu fights.

"The Warlords" also marks a change in genre for Chan, who is known for his romantic movies.

He made "Comrades, Almost a Love Story" (1996) about the relationship between two mainland Chinese immigrants living in Hong Kong, and the 1999 Hollywood film "The Love Letter," about a woman's quest to find the author of a mysterious love letter.

China's Siqin Gaowa, who played a retired government worker romantically involved with a suspected swindler in "Postmodern Life of My Aunt," won best actress.

Ang Lee's spy thriller "Lust, Caution" was named best Asian movie.

Veteran Hong Kong actor-singer Andy Lau won best supporting actor for playing a drug lord in "Protege" and Susan Shaw won best supporting actress for "The Pye Dog."

© The Canadian Press, 2008