Like a virgin
By Genevieve Loh, TODAY | Posted: 10 November 2009 0803 hrs

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SEOUL : When Rain first walked onto the stage on Monday for the "Ninja Assassin" press conference at Lotte Hotel, Seoul, confusion ensued. Why was the Korean pop superstar-turned-aspiring-Hollywood-actor wearing so many clothes?

Unbelievably chiselled, his dapper grown-up suit was barely containing that lean mean fighting machine of a body proudly displayed throughout the latest Joel Silver/Wachowski Brothers Hollywood actioner. So, why hold back those rock-hard abs he trained tirelessly for? Seemed like a waste, really.

"Over 90 per cent of the action stunts were performed by me. I also had to keep my body really light and reduce my body fat to almost zero. I trained very, very hard," shared the 27-year-old in Korean about the slick martial arts sequences.

"Actually, I did get hurt a lot but I can tell you it's been eight months of a rewarding experience. Thankfully I didn't break any bones, but I have cuts all over my body. But I can say they are 'cuts of honour'."

Getting his already buff-body into even better shape to play one of the deadliest assassins in the world doesn't seem to be the only thing Rain has been training hard for. His media savvy also seems to be in high gear - very timely seeing as his international star is about to get much brighter after the release of the movie stateside.

"Yes, 'Speed Racer' was not as much of a blockbuster hit as we wanted it be," he replied when asked about the dismal box-office showing of his Hollywood debut.

"But that was my first exposure to Hollywood, and it was a chance for them to notice me. It opened a lot of doors and I am very satisfied with (my experience with the film)."

And when this reporter quizzed him about the craziest thing a male fan has done, he cleverly sidestepped the naughty question with a smile.

"All my fans are important to me. But the craziest fan that I can remember was in Thailand. I have to say that was a very, very unique experience. It was a beautiful lady wearing a beautiful dress. Then, I found out he was a man, dressed as a woman!

"I also remember my first female fan. I cannot say she was the craziest, but for everyone, the first time is always important. She was a young girl, in elementary school, and she gave me a fan letter - it was the first fan letter that I had ever received. And she made a doll and gave it to me and I still have that at home. I will never forget that."

Ninja Assassin opens in cinemas on November 26.

- TODAY/il