'Witch's Diner' Song Ji-hyo, "It was my first fantasy genre and pre-production"

연합뉴스 / 2021-08-18 11:44:52

▲ This photo, provided by the actress's management agency, Creative Group Ing, shows Song Ji-hyo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- “I have never filmed in prior and have never tried fantasy genres. It was really a new challenge to me and I learned a lot through the work,” said actress Song Ji-hyo (40) on an online interview on the 17th.

The actress has taken the role of Hee-ra in TVing original series “The Witch’s Diner” which recently sent out its final episode.

She revealed her desire for fantasy genres and impressive characters. The actress, unlike her random moments and tomboy style in her variety program “Running Man,” has succeeded in showing a whole new side of her.

“I am a person too, so I sometimes get angry and annoyed as well. I tried to show those emotions. Viewers may have felt unfamiliar watching the series, but it was great to show them a different side of me.”

“I tried to depict the point that Hee-ra is a witch but also a listener at the same time. She empathizes with the client’s stories but shouldn’t overly be into it. She shouldn’t be too cold nor too kind. I was especially careful to keep that boundary.”

“As I am not a good cook, I tried hard to seem skillful at using the kitchen utensils rather than focusing on the taste,” added Song with a laugh.

Also, she confessed her hardships depicting her own witch character as witches have usually been dealt in the Western productions.

“At first, I was lost stuck in the frame of the original images of witches. The director told me that Hee-ra is a character who has been living with humans and that he wanted her not to seem too witch or too human. I tried a lot to make my own witch following that advice.”

“People told me that the witch character suits me well. Also, I feel like I did a great thing accepting the role as this new experience may be a basis for my future career,” said Song.

“The Witch’s Diner,” based on a novel with the same title, has been attracting the viewers with its mysterious concept and the clients’ heart-breaking stories decorated with splendid video works.

“The series is focused on empathizing with and talking about the clients’ stories. The biggest attraction is that it deals with humans’ stories,” said Song.

“I am realizing the value of my career and the people I meet more than I used to,” said the actress who has celebrated the 20th anniversary since debut in 2001 as a model for a magazine.

“Rather than categorizing by genres, I see my works as a whole one story,” said Song who has been entertaining the viewers through various dramas, movies and programs for 20 years.

“I enjoy new challenges, new people and adapting to those new environments, so I can’t stop working,” said Song with a smile.

“I don’t want to lose my liking for challenges. I will always strive to be a person who more and more improves, so I wish for the viewers to see me as I am.

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