K-drama actress Park Shin-hye’s girl-next-door appeal
BY CHESTER CHIN
Fresh face South Korean actress Park Shin-hye’s oh-so-dramatic lives on the small screen betray her relatively unassuming real life.
WITH wide-eyed innocence and occasional spunky demeanour, Park Shin-hye exudes a special kind of aegyo in the K-drama universe. It’s a kind of likable winsome manner that translates well on screen and draws audiences in to the various leading roles that she portrays.
From a shy orphan who assumes the identity of her K-pop idol twin brother (You’re Beautiful) to a tenacious poverty-stricken student at an elite school who catches the attention of a rich heir (The Heirs), Park’s fictional lives are nothing short of, well ... dramatic.
In real life though, the fresh face Gwangju native is pretty much your normal collegiate twentysomething who leads a larger than life existence on the hallyu lane. And if online news reports are any indication, she’s also an extremely diligent student.
“The weather is so good. This is a great day for hiking but I can only be there in spirit. The reality is that I am at school and I am experiencing the life of a university student who has back-to-back classes,” she once wrote on Twitter.
The cheerful 24-year-old beauty took some time off to talk about her new blockbuster drama Pinocchio, passion for acting, newfound respect for journalism and what it’s like to romance some of the most good-looking South Korean actors on the small screens in an interview transcript provided by ONE HD.
You play a reporter in Pinocchio. If you could be a reporter for a day, what question would you ask Park Shin-hye the actress?
That’s a difficult question, but a good one! It will really depend on what kind of reporter I am. If I could be an entertainment reporter for a day, I would want to dig information for my readers and her fans. I would ask Park Shin-hye what’s keeping her busy lately and if there’s anything we can look forward to.
Having tried your hand at being a reporter on screen, do you think you could be a reporter in real life?
Playing a reporter has changed my perception of them entirely! I feel that reporters are great and amazing! It is not an easy job and they truly deserve my respect.
In her latest drama Pinocchio, Park plays a girl who hiccups whenever she lies.
I am an emotional person, so it wouldn’t be easy for me to become one. Through this drama, I learn that it is very difficult to deliver facts – good news and/or bad news to your readers. It is a really important job and at the same time, very difficult. You are responsible for the things you hear, read, witness and have to pick the right tone and words to bring forth the message. It is a huge responsibility.
It was sad that your character Choi In-ha has a mother who is cold and hostile to her in Pinocchio. How is your relationship like with your mother in real life?
My relationship with my mother is the exact opposite of In-ha’s. We are really close. My mum is so adorable. People tell me that I’m adorable and lovely but when they meet my mum, they’ll know where I got that from (laughs).
She’s always curious about my life; she’d ask me about my day on set, what I had for lunch, and what kind of conversations I had with the co-stars. Sometimes, I do feel sad that I can’t spend more time with her.
In the drama Pinocchio, your character Choi In-ha hiccups when she lies. In what situations do you think it’s OK to lie in real life?
My mum calls me and asks me where I am, and I tell her that ‘I’m on the way and am almost there’ when I am actually just preparing to leave home! (laughs)
What do you think is your appeal as an actress? Do you think it’s your beauty, or girl-next-door appeal, that makes you appealing to guys, girls, and even mothers?
I’m a very lively and cheerful person by nature, both at work and in my private life. I need to feel comfortable at my work place, if I don’t, I cannot concentrate on acting. So before I start working on any drama or show, I will familiarise myself with my colleagues and crew. This is no exception for my co-stars too. Once we are familiar with each other, the chemistry would be there and it will be so much easier to get things done well.
How was it like starring opposite your on-screen lover, played by up-and-coming actor Lee Jong-suk? How is his acting?
While shooting the drama, I enjoyed spending time and catching up with my co-star Lee Jong-suk. He is a quick thinker and a true gentleman. He gives me great assurance and would always listen to my opinion on things. He’s a really great co-star, like Jang Geun-suk in You’re Beautiful. I think the entire shoot went really smoothly too.
You are the envy of many K-drama fans. You have romanced Lee Min-ho in The Heirs, Yoon Si-yoon in Flower Boys Next Door, Jang Geun-suk in You’re Beautiful, Jung Yong-hwa in Heartstrings and now Lee Jong-suk in Pinocchio. In reality, which actor has the qualities closest to your ideal man?
I cannot just pick one. Every co-star has their own strengths, X-factor and charm. They are all great actors with great attitude. They’ve never made me or the other cast feel uncomfortable. So I think that’s why we could rely on each other to produce the best outcome, in times of shooting.
What are some of the upcoming projects that fans can expect to see you in soon?
I haven’t decided on my next project, but you can be certain that I will not be taking up any role as a student anytime soon! (laughs)
■ The final episode of Pinocchio airs tonight at at 8.55pm on ONE HD (Astro Ch 393).
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Published: Thursday February 19, 2015 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday February 19, 2015 MYT 10:35:06 AM