[Exclusive]Choi Yu-ri, the conviction given by her first leading role "Zombie Daughter": "Acting is my true calling" [Hanbok Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Last year's top-grossing Korean film was "Zombie Daughter," which drew 5.64 million viewers. At the center of it all was Choi Yu-ri, born in 2009. Without a single line of dialogue, she conveyed Su-a's emotions as a zombie solely through her gaze, expressions, and breathing, making audiences laugh and cry. One year after "Zombie Daughter," Choi Yu-ri has grown significantly as an actor through her first leading role and, most importantly, gained firm conviction about her path. For her, who evolved from a young actor simply enjoying the set to one who contemplates and takes responsibility for her roles, "Zombie Daughter" remains more than just her first leading work.

In a Chuseok Hanbok interview conducted with StarNews, Choi Yu-ri reflected, "Since 'Zombie Daughter' was my first leading role, I approached filming with great expectations, excitement, and a sense of responsibility." She added, "During promotional activities, many audience members expressed their love for the film. Through Instagram, they frequently said things like 'I had fun watching it' or 'I support your acting.' Seeing such reactions also helped me gain confidence."

As she took on the title role for the first time, there was much to learn on set. Choi Yu-ri stated, "This was my first time playing a title role, and I received tremendous help from senior actors and the director during filming. I believe I have grown significantly as an actor." She also noted, "Meeting fans directly during stage greetings and promotional schedules was often a new experience for me. Due to my limited experience, there were moments when I didn't know how to handle things, but in those instances, I relied heavily on fellow actors and the director."

Having worked as a child actor since age five, Choi Yu-ri naturally found herself in front of the camera from an early age.

She explained, "I have always enjoyed being noticed and receiving attention since childhood, and I also liked appearing in front of others. People around me suggested I try my hand at the entertainment industry, and my mother was the one who first proposed it to me, so I began." While she found the set itself enjoyable during her younger years, her perspective on the profession of acting has changed as she has grown older.

Choi Yu-ri said, "When I was young, I simply enjoyed being on set. However, as I've gotten older, I have developed a sense of responsibility and pride as an actor." She continued, "In the past, my main focus was on performing my assigned role well, but now I strive to become the character itself."

Although she has been acting for a long time, she has not been without doubts. Rather than questioning whether acting suited her, it was a period of constantly asking herself if she was doing well. Choi Yu-ri admitted, "It was also a time when I had many concerns. Until a few years ago, I even wondered, 'Is being an actor truly my true calling?'"

The work that gave Choi Yu-ri this conviction was none other than "Zombie Daughter." She remarked, "'Zombie Daughter' was a role I had never taken on before, and it was a project where I could learn a great deal while acting on set." She added, "While portraying Su-a, at one point I felt, 'Acting is truly fun.'" She emphasized, "Through 'Zombie Daughter,' I came to realize that 'acting is my true calling.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.