Diaz opens new Shrek movie in Taiwan

Cameron Diaz gives voice to a modern version of the classical fairy-tale princess in the latest Shrek movie, the actress said in Taiwan today.

Diaz said her animated ogre princess character was empowered and understands that “if you want something, you have to go out and do it yourself”.

During her first-ever trip to Taiwan, where Shrek The Third was premiering today, Diaz said the message was for everyone, though the characters were not new.

“These are the princesses we grew up on,” Diaz said. “We get to keep our princesses, and we get to modernise them.”

Diaz said the performance of her former boyfriend and co-star, Justin Timberlake, was “hilarious”.

Timberlake provides the voice of the future King Arthur, an awkward teen that Shrek grooms to rule the land.

“I think he’s great in the film,” she said. “He’s so gifted.”

The movie reunites Mike Myers, who provides the voice of the lovably gruff ogre, and co-stars Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas, as well as Diaz.

Diaz and Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of Shrek-creator DreamWorks Animation, were promoting the movie in more than 10 cities in Asia and Europe.