Since her marriage to the 59-year-old Singaporean tobacco tycoon in 1996, talks of Gong Li's marriage being on the rocks have been rife.
The couple is rarely seen together in public and rumors of her hooking up co-star John Cusack while filming on the set of Shanghai added fuel to the fire.
In Singapore recently to promote her movie, Shanghai, the actress confessed that although her in-laws have a place in Singapore, she usually stays in hotels when she visits the country. The star declined to offer a reason for that.
In 2008, Gong Li obtained Singapore citizenship; the move caused uproar among Chinese netizens, with some even branding her a 'traitor'. During the interview, the actress explained the reason for her naturalization.
"I took up citizenship simply because of my family. I think this is something very natural and since we're all Chinese, I don't see a problem with that."
When asked if the term 'family' referred to her husband and in-laws, Gong Li nodded in reply.
Hong Kong reporters recently checked Singapore's Registry of Marriage records and confirmed that Gong Li and Ooi are still married. However, speculations that the couple are in the midst of divorce proceedings remain.
Taiwanese tabloids alleged that close associates of the couple revealed their decision to split more than a year ago as the lovebirds felt that they have drifted apart.
"The both of them spend more time apart than together; now they're more friends than lovers. The agreement to split was an amicable decision and the two of them still remain friends."
When quizzed on the status of the couple's relationship, Gong Li's manager Christopher Tseng avoided the question.
"I am not familiar with
their private matters. I don't know how her marriage is doing."
Source: http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4175253
