Dear Jet,

First, let me say thank you for all the wonderful movies you have made. Please keep up the good work.

I am particularly looking forward to Hero, since it will be the first period-piece you'll be doing in quite a while. Since you have played many heroic characters, I would like to ask the following: What is YOUR definition of a hero? And what is the most "heroic" thing you've ever done in real life?

Thank you for reading, and best wishes to you and your family.

Warmest regards
Angeline
Singapore

Jet's Response:

In my personal dictionary there is no global definition as "hero". Each age group, culture, and point of view has their own definition of what a hero is. One group might hail a person as a hero, but the other side might view them as being evil. There is no absolute true hero, because different people will view the contributions or actions of that person in a different light.

I suppose that for my personal perceptions, one person that I would consider for myself to be a hero would be the Chinese doctor Li Shi Jen. For many years he tested herbs and medicine on himself to research their medicinal uses. He would test thousands of potentially dangerous chemicals on his own body just to learn of their effects. He compiled this research into a book and this book became the foundation for all traditional Chinese herbal medicine. His research has gone on to help treat and save the lives of millions of people.

When he was doing the research he wasn't afraid, he didn't think of himself. It was his quest for knowledge and understanding that prompted him to do this great deed for the rest of humanity. He did this because of his passion to search for knowledge that would serve the greater good. Most of the people who's lives his research has saved has probably never heard of him, but his selfless efforts can be felt throughout the world, even today.

The most heroic thing I've ever done? Nothing. I'm not a hero.

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