'First Man' Oh Hyun-kyung: "Playing a villain in 140 episodes was the hardest drama of my life... I dropped to 48kg" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Oh Hyun-kyung revealed that 'First Man' was the most difficult work in her acting career.

Oh recently sat down for an interview with StarNews regarding MBC's daily drama 'First Man' (directed by Kang Tae-heum, written by Seo Hyun-joo and Ahn Jin-young).

'First Man' is a drama depicting the fatal confrontation between a woman who lives another person's life to seek revenge and a woman who steals another's life for desire. It is part of writer Seo Hyun-joo's "Number Series," following 'Second Husband' and 'Third Marriage,' and brings together PD Kang Tae-heum, known for 'Kindly Mr. Sunju,' 'Third Marriage,' and 'The Witch's Game.'

In the drama, Oh plays Chae Hwa-young, a former top star who is now the daughter-in-law of Dream Group chairman and president of Dream Hotel. However, she harbors ambitions to push aside Ma (Chairman) (played by Lee Hyo-jung) and take over Dream Group. She is the ultimate embodiment of evil at the center of all conflicts and serves as the main villain.

Chae Hwa-young once abandoned her biological son, Kang Jun-ho (played by Park Geon-il), whom she had with the heir to Dream Group, leaving him in an orphanage so she could marry into the family. She then stole one of the twin daughters born to Jung Suk-hee (played by Jeong So-young), the true lover of Ma Dong-seok (played by Kim Young-pil), who was Ma (Chairman)'s son, and passed her off as her own daughter, Ma Seo-rin (played by Ham Eun-jung). Years later, Chae Hwa-young's evil deeds were exposed by Ma Seo-rin's twin sister, Oh Jang-mi (also played by Ham Eun-jung). After learning that Kang Jun-ho, a chef working at her hotel, was the son she had abandoned, Chae tried to flee from the police but accidentally hit Oh Jang-mi with her car. However, Kang Jun-ho threw himself in front of the car and died, forcing Chae to face the cruel fate of having killed her own son.

Regarding 'First Man' concluding after 140 episodes, Oh said, "I prepared myself from the very beginning. I wondered if I could pull it off and what I would gain from this experience. But I had a strong desire to act."

She added, "Over the years, I've worked on both daily dramas and mini-series, allowing me to explore diverse roles. When I played a villain in tvN's 'The Bird That Doesn't Cry' before, it was extremely difficult. I often wondered why this character had to live such a life or choose to kill others. As a child, I would curse at the character, but later I came to understand that she simply couldn't survive any other way. Through that understanding, I eventually found joy in portraying her, which allowed me to take on this role as well."

At 56 years old, Oh confessed, "I wondered if someone my age could still play the lead and sustain such a long-running project. I saw this as an opportunity to prove that I could do it. With the boundaries between film and drama blurring, I wanted to showcase everything I can offer."

She said, "I had to portray a character who was sophisticated and elegant yet could commit evil deeds without hesitation. 'First Man' was the most difficult drama of my life. Not only was the volume large, but there were also an enormous number of lines. About two-thirds of the entire script belonged to me, and I filmed while receiving intravenous fluids. Still, I kept going with the mindset that it was just part of the job. Since Eun-jeong and I worked together in the 2024 drama 'Our Matched Hearts,' when news broke that she had been cast first, I immediately said I'd do it too. There was pressure regarding ratings, but it was fortunate that the show received a positive response overseas."

Hwa-young was an outwardly beautiful villain with an ironic twist. To convey this, Oh explained, "It's not easy to secure sponsorships for daily dramas these days, but I managed to get several and wanted to showcase them on screen. Even department stores told me that the brands I sponsored achieved strong sales. In past dramas like 'High Kick Through the Roof' and 'Gentlemen of the Magnolia Tailoring Shop,' I was well-lit and looked good. This time, they paid special attention to lighting as well. Actually, filming was tough—I even dropped down to 48kg—but the staff took great care of me. My meals mostly consisted of kimbap and eggs. I also practiced my lines very diligently."

After portraying a villain for nearly nine months including preparation time across 140 episodes, the physical and mental toll must have been immense. Oh remarked, "In 'Our Matched Hearts,' I played an ideal wife and mother, while this time I took on a villainous role. In 'Gentlemen and Ladies,' I also portrayed a good mother, so this role likely stood out in contrast. I couldn't sleep well while acting, which left me feeling dazed. People around me kept saying it was amazing that I pulled it off. I realized how differently one can utilize their body depending on age."

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*This content was translated by AI.