"Why am I an actor?" Ha Ji-won, the reason she long held 'Bi-gwang' [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Ha Ji-won met Nam-mi in 'Bi-gwang' and took a fresh look at her acting career.

On the 25th, we met with Ha Ji-won of the film 'Bi-gwang' (directed by Lee Ji-won) at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss various topics.

'Bi-gwang' is a heartfelt family chronicle by director Lee Ji-won, known for 'Miss Back,' in which the top-star couple Jung-goo (played by Ryu Seung-ryong) and Nam-mi (played by Ha Ji-won), whose lives were shattered after their daughter Dong-joo (played by Kim Si-a) suddenly appeared, spend eight years later trying to save Dong-joo from a shocking incident, risking everything they have left to uncover the truth.

Although Ha Ji-won was a top star, she took on the role of Nam-mi, who fell in an instant due to the sudden appearance of Dong-joo and now lives as a celebrity struggling to make a living.

She said that because Nam-mi is a character who works as an actor, she went beyond simple character analysis and reflected on her own life.

Ha Ji-won shared, "Usually, I can fill in characters one by one through analysis, but since Nam-mi is also someone who lives as an actor like me, it became more than just looking at the character; it turned into a time to reflect on myself."

She continued, "At that time, I was going through a period of deep contemplation with questions like 'What am I?' and 'Who am I?' When I started asking myself, 'Who are you, and why are you an actor?', I met Nam-mi. It made me think not only about my own existence but also about the world I live in and the world Nam-mi lives in."

'Bi-gwang' had its filming delayed by about a year due to the impact of COVID-19, which naturally gave her more time to ponder the character for a long period. Ha Ji-won said, "Instead of letting go of the character Nam-mi because filming was postponed, I actually gained time to hold onto her and think deeply about her. So, I feel that the character of Nam-mi doesn't feel light to me."

She added, "I had many conversations with the director about life stories, shared my own story, and listened to the director's story. We discussed in great detail how a person like Nam-mi survives and lives within the society we are placed in, which helped shape the character."

She then remarked, "Preparing for such a long time with such dedication during the pre-production stage was the first time I've ever done this at Navy Headquarters," and added, "Because I entered the set in a fully matured state, I think I was able to feel excited and play freely."

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*This content was translated by AI.