Hong Kong, July 21 (AP): Zhang Ziyi and Leon Lai have made unusual preparations for their roles in a new movie about the late Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang, including walking in platform shoes and applying lots of hand cream.

Zhang, who starred in ``Memoirs of a Geisha,'' said at a press conference Thursday in Beijing she has spent a lot of time walking in platform shoes _ as is common in Peking Opera _ to get ready for her role in ``Mei Lanfang,'' a profile of the opera singer by famed Chinese director Chen Kaige.

Zhang plays opera performer Meng Xiaodong. She is currently learning the intricacies of Peking Opera from two teachers, and found walking in platform shoes was her greatest challenge.

``I don't know anything about Peking Opera, so I have to start from scratch,'' she said. ``The hardest thing is walking, wearing these really tall boots ... I practiced that for a very long time.''

Lai, who plays Mei Lanfang, is one of Chinese pop music's ``Four Heavenly Kings.'' He said he was required to pay special attention to his hands.

``My hands can't be exposed to too much sun. I've used hand cream ... I wear it every night when I go to bed,'' he said.

``Mei Lanfang'' marks Chen's return to the genre of Peking Opera, and is his first movie after the mythological epic ``The Promise.''

Chen's ``Farewell My Concubine,'' about the homosexual relationship between two Peking Opera stars, won the Golden Palm award at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and two Oscar nominations in 1994.

Mei Lanfang was a revered figure in China, best known for his performance of female characters. Born in 1894, he was a pioneer in promoting Peking Opera abroad, touring Japan, the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He died in 1961.

Chen said he picked Lai to portray Mei because the Hong Kong actor carried the same aura as the late performer.

``I've seen Mr. Leon Lai's movies. I think he's quite a quiet person, and quite shy. Based on our understanding of Mr. Mei, we seem to be able to find traces of Mei's politeness and humility in Mr. Leon Lai,'' Chen said.

Like most Hong Kong stars, Lai juggles acting and singing careers. He won best actor at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards _ the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars _ in 2002 for his performance in the horror film ``3 Extremes II.''

Footage from Thursday's press conference was posted on the Chinese news Web site Sina.com on Friday.