Chae Seo-an, on working part-time at a factory after filming "Bbokssak": "I pondered the possibility of quitting acting" [Interview ④]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Interview with actress Chae Seo-an, who played Mo Tae-hee in SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "Beautiful World"

Actress Chae Seo-an confessed her sincere dedication to acting.

Recently, StarNews conducted an interview with actress Chae Seo-an at its Seoul Jongno-gu office building, following the conclusion of SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "Beautiful World" (directed by Han Tae-seop and Kim Hyun-woo, written by Kang Hyun-ju) on the 20th.

Since making her debut in the 2021 drama "Police University," Chae Seo-an has expanded her acting range by participating in major works including the dramas "Hell," "When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom, I Think of the Moon," "Bad Girlfriend," "Paper Moon," "High Class," "Bokssak, I Was Fooled," "21st Century Grand Duchess," and the films "Double Patty," "The Witch Part 2," "Carter," and "Mun-gyeong."

During this time, Chae Seo-an openly and humbly revealed on the official YouTube channel of fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar in April last year that she had worked part-time jobs at an electronics factory, a research facility of a large conglomerate subsidiary, a card terminal manufacturing plant, a door lock manufacturing plant, and an assembly line for PCV and electronic outlets. She added, "I recently quit my job at the CCTV quality team about a month ago." Her confession that she even considered paths other than acting surprised many.

What was the point of contemplation for Chae Seo-an, who had steadily built her career since her debut? When asked, she replied, "I needed time to explore the path I should move forward on. After my debut, I participated in projects without a break, and while doing various things, I felt I had hit a barrier in my acting."

She continued, "At that time, I was blocked by the barrier of questioning whether I was an actress with potential, so I stopped acting and worked part-time to find other things I enjoyed. However, during that period, another project came along, allowing me to continue my acting activities."

Chae Seo-an said, "Right now, I am deeply contemplating how to become a better actress. Looking back, I think I acted like a blank sheet of paper in the early days. Now, I am in the process of filling it up, so I think, 'I need to fill it more. This blank sheet is insufficient.' Sometimes, I even miss the days when I was just a blank sheet." She confessed her inner thoughts on acting.

She also said, "I think I acted most purely in the early days of my debut. I once told my colleagues, 'I just want to act with a simple smile. I don't want to analyze too much, dig too deep, or act purely.' I sometimes wish I could be that person. But I know very well that I can never be that kind of person. I endlessly contemplate the projects and characters. In my daily life, I expose myself to comedy, thriller, news, and current affairs to fill my inner self."

Chae Seo-an, who repeatedly contemplates her thoughts, what kind of person is she outside of her work? Chae Seo-an answered, "I only think about myself and explore who I am. I believe that the profession of an actor requires one to stand firmly on one's own, so that no matter what project one encounters, one can quickly absorb and express it. I strictly follow my usual routine. Even if the routine is mundane, those habits shape who I am."

Finally, Chae Seo-an expressed her wish, "I want to become an actor who doesn't seem like a person of this era. Doesn't a project transcend its time? It is possible that I will film an SF genre project next year. In that sense, I want to become an actor who doesn't seem like a person of this era." She smiled brightly while sharing her aspiration.

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*This content was translated by AI.