By Gan Ling Kai

She had to undergo a gruelling three-month martial arts training programme in Los Angeles and China, giving her the occasional bruise and muscle aches.

Hung on wires in mid-air, she accidentally hit her head against a moving camera crane.

She had to prance around on rooftops of shophouses - while chasing 'vampires' in the pelting rain.

And, she had to wrap her thighs around a rough tree trunk - hanging upside down.

But for that and more, Gianna Jun certainly made her mark in her debut Hollywood action flick, Blood: The Last Vampire.

And she couldn't have done it without the guidance of veteran Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen, whose acclaimed works include Fong Sai Yuk I and II (1993) and Red Cliff (2008).

Cory, 58, told The New Paper over the phone from Hong Kong that he took note of the 28-year-old Korean actress after her 'excellent delivery' in her breakout movie, My Sassy Girl.

And five months of training and filming with her in Blood: The Last Vampire, he is convinced of her 'strong talent' for action movies.

He said: 'If she follows this path, she will excel. Of course, whether she wants to take on more of such roles, that's another question.'

And that's something for Gianna to ponder. For despite her gung-ho spirit, fear did strike during filming.

Corey revealed: 'It is inevitable for a girl to be slightly afraid when it comes to fighting, especially when a flashing sword is wielded right before her eyes.'

Ironically, a samurai sword was exactly the weapon the lithe beauty had to use to behead countless vampires in the film.

Corey said: 'It is inevitable that risk is involved in making action movies. If you plan the action sequences in advance, and prepare the actors well, the danger can be minimised.'

Gianna had to learn different types of spinning kicks, how to wield a sword and get used to gliding across mid-air on wire harnesses - under the watchful eyes of Corey and his team of martial arts experts.

For that, she was extremely thankful. She was quoted as saying in the movie's production notes: 'I couldn't have made this film without the training.

'Corey's really sweet. He's an excellent action director who knows how to protect the actors and actresses.'

The most risky sequence for Gianna was filmed along the streets of Japan, said Corey.

'In that scene, the vampires had snatched away her best friend (played by Allison Miller), and she had to give chase, leaping from roof to roof.'

So is Gianna ready to leap into the action genre for good?

She told The New Paper in a separate interview: 'I don't mind acting in another action movie if a good offer comes along.'

This article was first published in The New Paper.