In 2022, the Korean film and drama industry was actively moving to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. There were so many trials, tribulations, and achievements during this time.
Star News met up with some of the film and drama icons who shone this year. The first among them was Song KangHo, who won the Best Actor award at the international Cannes Film Festival for the first time in Korean film history. Another icon was Suzy, who received a world of love for her role in the web drama "Anna".
Suzy was Anna. For those who watched the Coupang Play series, Suzy portrayed Anna to a tee. It is a blessing and a big test for an actor to be remembered only by the name within their work. Suzy did that. She finally crossed the great wall and great mountain in front of her. There will be another big wall and another mountain in front of her, but what's important is that she has crossed this one. This experience will surely lead Suzy down another path that will make her an even bigger star and actress.
The drama has also created buzz for her upcoming film "Wonderland" and Netflix drama "Doona!".
Check out this exclusive interview that Star News conducted with Suzy:
"Anna" was originally planned as a movie but ended up taking the form of a drama. When it was intended as a movie, another actress was mentioned as the main character. Additionally, when the plan was changed to a drama, tvN's story broke and the switch was made to an investment by Coupang Play. That implies that this production had difficulties in the planning stage. The investors also hadn't chosen the drama with a top-class actress at the time. Knowing this, why did you feel the need to be Anna?
I didn't know the details, and there were definitely things that I was worried about. It was entirely me. I was worried about whether I could pull it off well, whether I was being too greedy, and whether I should be the one to take on the role just because I want to... At first, I wondered why this project came to me. The age range of Anna's character in the drama was also different from mine...
Regardless of all that, it made my heart race. I was reading the script and I found myself following the character's way of thinking. It was a little bit different from contemplating how I was going to act out the role. Instead of wondering how I was going to act out the role or say the lines, I thought my feelings of accepting Anna were more important.
Is that why you become Anna and started filming "Anna"?
I wasn't able to become her 100% before we started. But filming in that space on set, wearing those clothes, and embracing the atmosphere, I could feel myself becoming Anna.
Whilst acting in media, it is not easy to convey that an actor is good at acting if they have few lines and few scenes that give off emotions. Acting to suppress emotions and acting to convey those same emotions to the audience is quite difficult, too. In particular, it is more difficult for handsome and beautiful actors and actresses to convey their emotions to the audience, since the audience might be distracted. So, actors have to be conscious of that wall and overcome it, but you've achieved that in "Anna", Suzy. You delivered her anxiety in its proper form.
I calculated and prepared a lot to express the anxiety that YuMi felt as she became Anna and that she felt about not being caught. I calculated and prepared carefully so that her anxiety could be seen through her eyes and even felt through her breath. There were a lot of scenes where I had to press down on my emotions, so I calculated more, and I hoped that the emotions would be conveyed in combination when she exploded at the housekeeper. She can't fight back against someone who is stronger than she is, so she yells but feels sorry about it at the same time, and on the other hand, feels like she's going crazy... Those kinds of countless emotions.
Weren't you lonely on set?
Before filming, I went for drinks with my colleagues such as Jung EunChae, Kim JoonHan, and Park YeYoung, and jokingly said that we shouldn't become too close. I thought it would be necessary to maintain the emotions in the drama. However, unlike the atmosphere of the drama, the atmosphere on set was so nice. Each person spoke about their character's emotions and acting more than ever before. It was nice to communicate more.
Your expressions in the last scene where the car accident takes place and you're staggering but able to stand upright yet unsure where to go were really good.
It was a scene that I liked so much when I first read the script, that it's no exaggeration to say that I did this production because I wanted to do this scene. The script said, "I cry in despair." Rather than crying, I really wanted to scream properly. Due to the noise between floors, I couldn't practice at home, and I wanted to express my feelings properly on set.
We filmed that scene in Gunsan and it was really cold. The sun was setting, and the scene had to be shot quickly while the sky was still red before sunset. I really enjoy those kinds of situations. There is an energy that is given off in situations like that when it is urgent and everyone feels compelled to achieve something. There's a proud moment that follows when you achieve it. So, I was grateful.
When we met for "Architecture 101", you said, "I live diligently." It was when you split the day as a singer, practiced choreography until dawn, slept for less than an hour, and then went on to film a movie. The time spent living so diligently may have continued, but the world was sometimes harsh with cold reviews. How did you endure those hard times?
Everyone works hard, but due to the nature of the job, reviews always follow. There was a time when the reviews were stuck like thorns in my heart and wouldn't come out. There were moments when I couldn't say anything even if I tried to overcome it. I lived by enduring and holding on little by little. That's why I chose "Anna". I don't know how it will be received but I've made up my mind to, "Just do well. Let's try and get a compliment for once."
I think you're hard on yourself, but could you compliment Suzy for playing "Anna"?
Like you've said, I think I'm hard on myself. I think that made me stronger. However, I did compliment myself a bit whilst playing "Anna". I decided to stop being too strict with myself and give myself a pat on the back.
The director Kim TaeYong's "Wonderland" came before "Anna". "Wonderland" tells the story of various couples, but the Suzy and Park BoGum line is the most central narrative. According to what was said on set, Suzy's energy and acting were very good.
I gained a lot of energy on the set of "Wonderland". I even learned how to concentrate entirely on myself on the set. I have a kind of 'good person disease'. I try to take care of everyone. As a result, there were many cases where I couldn't take care of myself. When I work, I learned that in order to be that person, I have to focus more on myself in the field. So, when I did "Anna", I tried to focus on myself on set because I was the most selfish character.
I used to want to be a good person. I always treated people like the good person I believed I should be. I think I had a compensation mentality that told me that if I do something well, good things will come back to me. That's how I ended up with expectations and ended up losing those expectations, too. While doing "Anna", I became a little free from those things. I thought that it was time for me to focus more on myself. I also thought that everyone might have been surprised whilst watching "Anna". Doesn't everyone live telling big and little lies?
You got a lot of compliments through "Anna", though.
It was a weird feeling that I experienced for the first time. I was so thankful for words like, "I see you as YuMi," or, "I see you as Anna." I was obsessed with Anna for a while at some point. There were times when that tone and behavior sprung out, too. There were many busy and hectic moments when I was a singer. So, there were times when I didn't know what was what. There were times that I realized that I'm standing on a big stage or have achieved my dream after the fact. When an actor puts other things down and focuses on themselves, time seems to melt away. At one point, I couldn't enjoy my work because it felt like work. I became convinced that it's work these days. Since becoming certain of this, it's become more comfortable.
What is life like for Suzy, the professional?
I go to work and go home. I find my routine naturally. It's become more comfortable making a distinction between working me and not working me. It's fun. It makes me wonder why I had to keep having a hard time. Now I'm trying to get rid of the stress from working and knock off work.
Anna also resembles Suzy in some ways but the new Netflix series "Doona!" also resembles you. In "Doona!", you play an idol who enjoyed great popularity and suddenly retires and then lives in a university share house.
I can't relate well to the character if they are different from me. I only become very interested when I can empathize with them. That's why I sympathized with Anna. Besides myself, isn't everyone anxious and under pressure? "Doona!" resembles a part of me, standing without feeling completely. Me from that time.
In "Anna", there was a line saying that hell is not a place but a situation, do you agree?
I totally agree. I wonder why humans can't communicate like this. However, these days, work is a little fun. Every moment is fun and filled with gratitude.
What is your MBTI?
ISTP. It's changed 8 times, each time I checked, and this is the latest version. It seems that my MBTI changes every time I start a production.
What are you most grateful for this year?
Finishing the production on a high note and going for dinner with the staff and having conversations after work. I feel like I'm working with really good people. I'm so grateful when I can end the day like that.
What do you think of Suzy's role in "Anna"? Are you looking forward to her acting in "Doona!" and "Wonderland"? Let us know in the comments!
