[Exclusive]Hye-ri: "I became an aunt due to my younger sister's childbirth... but the baby in the photo is not my niece/nephew" [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

• 'AAA 2025' Best Actor (Female) Award Winner Hye-ri Interview

Girl's Day member and actress Hye-ri (Lee Hye-ri, 32) smiled while sharing behind-the-scenes details about her niece/nephew.

Debuting in 2010 as a member of the girl group Girl's Day, Hye-ri has been walking her own path as both a singer and an actress, making any descriptor her own. From Deok-sun in 'Reply 1988', which won the love of the entire nation, to Jay in 'The Competition of Kindness', another challenge. Hye-ri vividly portrayed characters she excelled at and did not fear new challenges. In doing so, she has become an actress people can trust.

Hye-ri's talent extends beyond acting. She possesses an energy that makes those around her feel good. With her unique laugh, pleasant jokes, and actions full of affection, she gives strength to those she is with. On December 6 last year, at the '10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025' (10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025, hereinafter 'AAA 2025') held at the Kaohsiung National Stadium, Hye-ri also created unique memories. At the awards ceremony that day, she enjoyed the joy of winning the 'AAA Best Actor (Female)' award for her role in 'The Competition of Kindness'. Along with this, Hye-ri created new fun by participating in the 'Overdrive' Antal Challenge with the idol group TWS. It has been over ten years since she caused a phenomenon with 'Eeeng~' on MBC's 'Real Men' in 2014, and now she has created a new Hye-ri phenomenon. We met Hye-ri, who possesses a unique charm that no one else can imitate, and recalled the 'Antal' of that day.

-Recently, you finished filming ENA's 'Dream for You' and are waiting for its release. What kind of image would you like to show?

▶Actually, I usually feel a bit nervous before a work is released. I am the type who gets more nervous waiting to show something than when filming it. For this work, I would feel good if people say I seem more mature. As you will see when watching the drama, I wanted to show a more delicate side, so I put a lot of effort into that part while acting.

-Regarding acting, the public expects Hye-ri to show a side like Deok-sun, and you likely have a desire to show new sides yourself. I am curious how you choose works amidst such concerns.

▶I tend to choose the best I can do in that situation. Trying too hard can sometimes be unwise. Also, being overly concerned with others' perceptions can become a burden. So, I try to choose what is best for me at that moment. However, if I see a work that I really like, I make sure to try my best to do it. Actually, it is not easy for a work to please me perfectly all at once. So, I ask my company a lot and also consult with those around me. Recently, I tend to look at the characters of the works a lot. I think I am wondering, 'How charmingly can I act this character?'

-The affection for the work and the friendship with the actors shown in the movie 'Victory' were impressive.

▶There are not many movies like 'Victory'. It is not common for female actors to gather and tell a bustling story, so I really wanted to do it, but I kept worrying, 'Can I really do this?' I felt that if actress Park Se-wan and the other actors were not there, I really could not have done it. So, I always say thank you a lot and treat them more sincerely.

-Looking back, 'Eeeng~' from 'Real Men' in 2014, 'Reply 1988' in 2015, and 'The Competition of Kindness' in 2025 seem to have been turning points in Hye-ri's life.

▶First, 'Real Men' seems to have really imprinted the fact that there is an entertainer named Hye-ri on the public. At that time, I really didn't do variety shows, knew nothing, and was in a very pure and hardworking period where I didn't even know if I should go on such a show. I am very grateful that they recognized that. 'Reply 1988' is the work that made me who I am today. It is the work that allowed me to continue acting and revealed the possibility that 'Hye-ri can act too.' Actually, for me, 'Reply 1988' feels like another name of mine for life. 'The Competition of Kindness' is the work that expanded the possibilities of the person Hye-ri even more. I really wanted to do this work unconditionally after reading it. It was so fun when I read it that I didn't hesitate and thought a lot, 'It will be fun.' Through this work, I was able to trust myself a little more. And I was really happy that I received an award for 'The Competition of Kindness' at the AAA awards ceremony.

-Recently, it became a hot topic that your younger sister gave birth and Hye-ri now has a niece/nephew.

▶I posted a baby photo on SNS, and many articles came out calling it my niece/nephew, but actually that baby is not my niece/nephew. It is my friend's baby, and suddenly that baby became my niece/nephew. I didn't write any explanation, so articles came out like that, but it was my friend's baby. It was a baby who had just passed 100 days. My niece/nephew was only 5 days old at the time, so she was not yet in that kind of state. My friend gave birth to a child, and three of us friends decided to go see the baby, so we went. Suddenly, my friend's child became my niece/nephew, and in the friends' group chat, they were laughing, 'Strawberry Hye-ri's niece/nephew has arrived.' I felt a bit awkward to suddenly say, 'That baby is not my niece/nephew,' so I just let it go, but anyway, it was not a photo of my niece/nephew. Haha. My younger sister also contacted me that day, saying, 'What is this? It's not Pp-yak, why are you calling it my niece/nephew?' I told her I didn't know either and suggested we just let it go. It seems my younger sister is more popular than me these days. People show a lot of interest. (Laughs)

-This continues to Interview ③.

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*This content was translated by AI.