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| ▲ This photo, provided by Netflix, shows Jeon Do-yeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Netflix, shows Jeon Do-yeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This file photo shows audience waiting to watch 'Kill Boksoon' at this year's Berlin Film Festival. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Netflix, shows Jeon Do-yeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Apr. 5 (Yonhap) -- “It was very cathartic to have viewers get to see a completely different side of me in an action film as an assassin Jeon Do-yeon.”
During an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency at a cafe in Seoul, veteran actress Jeon Do-yeon expressed her feelings about trying to have a breakout transformation via Netflix’s recently released original thriller “Kill Boksoon.”
Jeon, who successfully transformed into a renowned assassin, said, “I did hours of practice for action scenes for about four months,” adding, “I also worked out and even followed some dietary restrictions for the first time to increase my muscle mass.”
The action-packed flick follows the story of Gil Bok-soon, a single mother to a teenage girl who lives a double life as a legendary assassin at work. Director Byun Sung-hyun, who was in charge of writing and directing, said Jeon, who also lives a double life as a prominent actress and a mother, inspired him to write the scenario.
“Whenever I am at work, I always pour my utmost effort, and when I am at home, I also try my best to be a better mother,” the actress-cum-mother said. “I think I actually resemble Bok-soon in the film.”
“When a child reaches a certain age, the time comes when the mother’s efforts no longer matter. There are moments when children stop talking as they grow up into teenagers and start pondering over themselves. However, I tend to leave all the decisions to my child. Instead, I tell her to take responsibility for all the consequences,” the actress with a daughter said.
As for working with Director Byun, she shared her candid thoughts, saying, “His method of locking up the cast in one place and filming first seemed to be very new and interesting. But as soon as the filming began, it turned out to be slightly frustrating.”
“He gave me direction for every move and even for the angle of my face. I did not move in the way I wanted to. We even fought over whether it is okay to lock up the cast without respecting their feelings," she said, drawing laughter from reporters. "But looking back, I know that I should thank him since it was him and his way of directing that unveiled a new side of me, even the smallest ones.”
Her first Netflix film was invited to the non-competitive category of this year’s Berlin Film Festival, where the film had its screen debut. The film then received rave reviews for capturing Jeon’s unknown and completely new sides.
The actress said, “I was proud to listen to the compliment that I can not only act realistically as I did in ‘Secret Sunshine’ but also do something else. After winning at the Cannes Film Festival for ‘Secret Sunshine,’ people tended to believe that I was given so many scenarios to choose from. I also wished for that. However, that actually never happened. People must have thought that I would only star in some serious and artistic works. Now that I have starred in ‘Kil Boksoon,’ I wish more would get to know that I am capable of doing diverse genres.”
Nevertheless, the actress added that she has no intention of challenging herself once again for an action movie for the time being.
“I think I have done enough. I am not sure what I will think after some time, but for now, I think I graduated from the action genre.”
“Kill Boksoon” also marks Jeon’s first-ever online over-the-top streamed work. In regards, she said, “There is something different with the kind of stress I feel when it comes to Netflix's original series. We have to rake up high viewing time and also top the chart. So, I am streaming the movie on repeat at home.”
Unlike her worry, her red-hot film is continuing its hot streak: Her Netflix debut film touched down in third place in Netflix’s movie chart based on data released by FlixPatrol on the second day of its release while topping the streamer’s non-English film chart on the third day.
Jeon said, “I am so grateful. I am beyond grateful that we seemed to have lived up to the public expectations of ‘Kil Boksoon.’”
The actress recently showed off her lovely charm by taking the lead role in tvN’s recently wrapped-up popular rom-com “Crash Course in Romance,” while showing off a completely different charm with “Kill Boksoon.” “I am curious and looking forward to what projects I will come to pursue,” the mega-hit actress said.
“I wish more people to have higher expectations of me and my acting. I love this job and always thought this job as a part of me. That is why I always think about my future works rather than solely looking back to my past career.”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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