Chinese actress Gong Li is seen in this photo attending the opening of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Saturday, March 3, 2007. The internationally acclaimed actress was elected as a CPPCC member in 1998. This year she has submitted a proposal on environmental protection. Famous director Zhang Yimou is seen in the background. [Photo: Xinhua]

She's known the world over for her stunning looks and acting prowess. But she revealed another, and a much more serious, side of her character on Sunday. No, she was not talking about her latest flick, Hannibal Rising, but the plight of our planet.

"Things will become really terrible if we don't take environmental protection more seriously," said Gong Li, who made news for all the wrong reasons for her dresses in the "Curse of the Golden Flower."

Talking to China Daily during a break in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) group discussion, Gong said she had submitted a proposal on environmental protection to the country's top political advisory body.

This is not the first proposal that Gong has submitted, for she has been doing so every year since being elected a member in 1998.

In this year's proposal, she has reminded people of the importance and urgency to process garbage, sewage and excess gas. Though detailed measures are still being considered, she believed it was important to first make people aware of the issue.

Garbage processing drew Gong's attention several years ago when she learned from the media that the country was facing a large number of garbage pile-ups. She said the "garbage hills" are "terrible and dangerous."

"If I had the time, I would like to take pictures of those garbage heaps to make people aware of the dangers they pose," she said.

Gong talked about a recent trip to her hometown in eastern China's Shandong province, where she found sewage and excess gas were not been properly treated in many small cities, posing a great threat to the environment.

As an international star, Gong travels abroad a lot. Some countries, France in particular, she said in a lighter vein, are "more favored by God" because they seem to have a relatively better natural environment.

Even though nature seems to have bestowed China with several adverse elements, she believes the country can do a good job if its people realize the importance of the environment and start doing something from today.

The interview was interrupted by other journalists and CPPCC members requesting her autograph. Gong conceded that celebrities could influence people, but she didn't think fame alone could drive a person to a good deed.

But the actress emphasized that if any institution wanted to promote environmental protection, she would love to join in.

"Maybe we don't call it the face messenger," she said with a smile. "I just feel very happy contributing to public welfare service."