Jang Gyu-ri: "Is 'Four Hands' a BL genre? The work belongs to the viewers, so I respect all perspectives" [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Jang Gyu-ri directly shared behind-the-scenes stories about "Four Hands."

Jang recently met with StarNews for a wrap-up interview regarding the tvN weekend drama "Four Hands" (screenplay by Shin I-won, directed by Park Hyun-seok) at the Namu Actors headquarters on Dosan-daero in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

"Four Hands" is a drama depicting the friendship, love, competition, and growth of young people who meet at an arts high school that gathers only musical geniuses. Jang played Hong Jae-in, a violinist with sensitive musical sensibilities. Jae-in, the daughter of classical artist So Sok-sa (President), is a character born with exceptional perfect pitch, able to recognize another person's talent the moment she hears them play. She not only immediately recognized the skill of Jung Yo (played by Lee Jun-young) but has also consistently supported Bi-o (played by Song Kang) and his performances since childhood. Eventually becoming Bi-o's manager as an adult, Jae-in silently stood by his side as he struggled with Jung Yo's disappearance, portraying deep feelings for Bi-o that went beyond those of a friend or manager. Jang injected vitality into the drama as Hong Jae-in, a "strong sunshine character" with bright and bold energy.

Jang was a member of the group fromis_9 from 2018 to 2022, began her acting career in 2019 with "Essential Romance Elective," and subsequently transitioned to acting by appearing in works such as "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," "Cheer Up," "Player 2: The War of the Con Artists," and "The Call."

-How do you think "Four Hands" depicted the growth of its three main characters?

▶I ultimately believe that everyone grew. Jae-in also seems to have grown in her own way. In the end, Jae-in appears in a relationship with Bi-o that is like friends yet has some tension. While Bi-o was once her entire life, she later became someone who supports him.

-You showed various outfits. Was there one you liked the most?

▶In Episode 6, there was a scene showing the relationship between Bi-o and Jae-in after 10 years had passed. Because it was filmed in Prague, I like the outfit from that time. My heels were worn down, but since the overseas filming schedule was tight, speed was important, so I didn't have time to worry about it.

-What is your aesthetic preference as actress Jang Gyu-ri?

▶I often wear comfortable clothes and like tracksuits. It's the complete opposite of Jae-in.

-Being in the arts, physical education, and sports field, you must have seen many genius-type talents.

▶Rather than feeling they were geniuses, I thought, "That person makes things very easy." I didn't feel envious; I just felt that they were born differently from me.

-Is there anything you would like to say to Jae-in?

▶Jae-in becomes the representative of an artist management company. I hope she does a good job at it.

-At this point, what genre and character do you desire?

▶I want to try everything except Navy Headquarters roles. Since I played a character who follows her mother into music, it would be fun to play a soldier following in his father's footsteps. I also want to try historical dramas.

-You are in your 7th year as an actress. In what ways do you feel you have grown?

▶While working on "Four Hands" this time, I acted out various emotions and age ranges, and I felt growth through that process.

-In an interview four years ago, you said the title "actress" felt awkward. How do you feel about it now?

▶I wonder if titles are that important, and I think viewers will see me as they perceive me.

-Is there anything you want to continue for a long time, like Jae-in does?

▶I want to continue acting for more than 20 years. I don't think I have ever felt fully prepared since my debut. When given a role, I seem to do my best.

-There were many perspectives viewing "Four Hands" as a BL genre.

▶When I first read the script, I knew that Jung Yo and Bi-o were deeply intertwined through music. The work belongs to the viewers, so I respect all perspectives.

-What music did you listen to for healing when things were difficult? Is there any music you would recommend these days?

▶Since I was young, my mother made sure I learned one instrument at a time. I learned piano, guitar, and others, which allowed me to play when I was struggling. I recommend the song "Dandelion" by Woo Hyo. There was a time when I wondered, "What is love?" and I thought, "Is this what love is? I want to have this kind of love too."

-What are your plans for your next work?

▶The film "Perfect House," which was a screening selection at the Busan International Film Festival, is scheduled for release. I newly challenged myself with the occult genre and appeared with almost no makeup.

-If you were to wrap up with an acrostic poem for "Four Hands."

▶When watching "Fo"ur Hands, I put down my "Ha"ndphone and watched with a grip of sweat in my hands. Thank you for loving it until "Z" (now)!

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*This content was translated by AI.