The badass women issue

84 InSTYLE FEBRUARY 2019

I really like

action scenes. They

help me achieve those

heroic dreams we

can’t realize in the

real world.”

BEAUTY

TO THIS CHINESE ACTION STAR, swimming with sharks and

doing kung fu with Jackie Chan aren’t bucket-list items—they’re part

of her job description. Sure, the shark she faced in last summer’s

The Meg was composited, but training for the film’s deep-sea

diving sequences proved scary enough. “I’m not even that good at

swimming,” Li says. “But not only did I have to master all the English

dialogue in two weeks, I also had to get used to the underwater

movements and high-pressure environment.” Although she’s game

to take risks for her movie roles, she won’t gamble when it comes

to her skin. “I bring sun-protection products with me all year

round.” While shooting The Meg, Li says, “everyone was lying on

the grassland in New Zealand, memorizing their lines, and I was

the only one who insisted on blocking my face from the sun.” She

shares more moves that keep her mind and body in top shape.

Li

Bingbing

SO WHAT DO YOU DO ...

PUSH THE LIMITS

“I like to say that every time I

shoot a film, I’m able to gain a

new sporting talent,” says Li.

“While filming The Forbidden

Kingdom [with Jackie Chan], I

had to do a lot of stunt work on

wires, which requires great core

strength.” Li also mastered an

intricate set of Eagle Claw kung

fu for a fight scene with Chan.

STOP AND SIP

Li’s love for tea

extends to its prepara-

tion: The act of making

and enjoying a cup

helps her slow down

and feels almost

meditative.

DIY

TREATMENT

In colder temperatures

Li often creates her

own moisturizing face

masks by blending

naturally hydrating

ingredients like

watermelon and aloe.

STRIKE A POSE

“Yoga is my go-to [exercise] because it can be

done anywhere at any time.” To keep up the

practice, Li scrapes together every minute she

can, abiding by this Chinese proverb: “Time is

like water in a sponge. You can always

find it if you squeeze hard

enough,” she says.

GET OUT OF TOWN

Sanya, a city on the Chinese island

of Hainan, is one of Li’s favorite

places to reset and relax. “I love

the broadness and quietness.”

On location

for The

Meg with

Jason

Statham

MIX

Li^ doing^ y

oga^

with^ her^ n

ephew