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It seemed that Jung-hwa in "Always" was saying "I'm a cheerful and loveable woman" with her whole body. From a certain point onward, I forgot that she was visually impaired.
Han Hyo-joo: Then I succeeded! [laughs] I wanted to express Jung-hwa in exactly the way you put it just now. I didn't want to show people that she's thinking 'This is how tough of a life I live' just because she can't see nor did I want her to accept that of herself. That's why she dressed in brighter colors and smiled more. If I were in Jung-hwa's shoes, I may have been depressed and told myself, "I'm such a miserable person. How will I live my life from now on?" but Jung-hwa is beyond all of that. She can't die. She somehow has to live. And I think it's because she received a lot of love from her parents while she was growing up. She's a very strong person.

I felt that you were able to give off that feeling about her very naturally because you've built on your image as being an actress who is positive and cheerful.
Han: My character was supposed to be even more cheerful, according to the script. But as the one who'd be acting her out, I felt that it would be pretty difficult to do. What about the guilt she feels over her parents dying because of her and having nothing to do when she somehow needs to make a living right away? So I told director Song Il-gon, "I know what you're saying but I don't think I'll be able to express her to this point." And he said, "She has to be cheerful. She has to smile. That's the only way Chul-min (So Ji-sub) will fall in love with her." So from the very beginning, we continuously discussed and adjusted on the amount of cheerfulness she'd show. While the script was very movie-like, the characters became more realistic as we played them. Jung-hwa held herself back a bit and Chul-min became a bit more cheerful than he was originally set to be.

Well, you may not be her but were there moments you choked with tears from a woman's point of view?
Han: I really liked the scene where she went to Chul-min and asked him out on a date after not having seen him for a while since getting assaulted by her immediate superior at work. It must've taken a lot for her to be able to do that so I felt a bit sad when shooting that scene. And when the camera zooms into Jung-hwa's face for that scene, Jung-hwa gives a brief smile. That smile was really sad. I think I felt more sorry for her when she was smiling than crying. She's really an amazing girl.

There were many details you had to mind to, not just in expressing her emotions but also to how she was visually impaired. So Ji-sub said it seems like you're the type that puts a lot of stress on yourself... How was it having to control your emotions on set?
Han: Now that I think about it, I think I got influenced by my character a lot. It's not like anything had happened but for no particular reason I kept getting angry while I was acting. And I'd never been so sensitive before. Even if I am on the more sensitive side, I usually don't show it and get over it with a positive mindset. Yet it's true that I got very sensitive when working on this project. Jung-hwa may have been cheerful and spirited on the outside but of all the characters I've played so far, she held the biggest pain inside. It was frustrating to have to smile. But I'm not the type that gets mad so I dealt with it within myself.

So it must've not been easy to laugh and chat with other people when you had breaks on set.
Han: That's why I spent a lot of time in my dressing room alone. It wasn't on purpose [laughs] but everyone was very considerate about it. They helped me spend alone time.

Having good chemistry with So Ji-sub has to have been important because Jung-hwa and Chul-min basically led the entire emotional flow of the movie.
Han: So Ji-sub showed different acting for every take. And because he acted differently, I'd respond to it differently too which I liked. I acted every scene with the emotion I felt that moment. I didn't tell myself that I should act in a certain way and it's hard for me to tell you how I felt back then. It was as if I was doing everything live.

In an interview after "Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown" ended, you said that you'd like to take on a romantic movie next. Is there a reason that you pinpointed to a specific genre?
Han: Both "Shining Inheritance" and "Dong Yi" were about love within the framework of growth, family, friendship and all. But I'd never done anything which is just about love and nothing else. So I'd been thinking I want to do that is deeply romantic and the timing worked out for this.

Now that I think about it, you don't have any parents who are against you or gives you a long lecture on what to do. [laughs]
Han: There really wasn't. [laughs] Jung-hwa didn't even have a single friend.

So was working on a melodrama as good as you expected it to be?
Han: To start with, I'm so happy that I look so pretty in it. [laughs] And I think I've gained depth after shooting a melodrama. It's a project that suits the word 'first time' in many ways. It was my first melodrama, my first big commercial movie, and it felt like I was acting for the first time as well. Everytime I went into shoot, I asked myself, 'Why am I so nervous?' [laughs] As much as firsts are always nerve-racking and awkward, they're also that significant. That's the sort of movie "Always" was for me.

You'll really start building on your movie career now but there actually aren't that many roles for actresses to play so what sort of roles do you think you'd want to play from the choices that you have?
Han Hyo-joo: I think there are more opportunities to change your image in movies than dramas and it's also easier to. It's better to take on the villain in movies, since they have their reasons and are attractive, rather than just be the plain mean person in dramas. So I'd like to continue to play cheerful characters in dramas.

Does that mean you'd like to split your image into two?
Han: That would be nice. I'd like to show a different side to me through movies.

Is the reason you want to maintain your image from TVs because you want to or because of the expectations the public has of you?
Han: I think it's both. The best thing about "Shining Inheritance" and "Dong Yi" was that my acting gave people strength. And that was exhilarating for me. All I did was act but those characters had a positive influence on people. People that I don't know thanked me and said they were having fun watching the show so it made me think that I should at least repay them with my acting.

What else did you gain as an actor in "Dong Yi"?
Han: I gained a good image thanks to the positive energy that Dong-yi had and was able to become recognized by people in various age groups. But the biggest thing I gained was the friendship of actors that were in "Dong Yi." I still keep in touch with them and we monitor each other's works when we start on new projects. Yet as much as I've gained, there was also a lot I had to endure. I think I experienced every experience possible that needs to be handled differently. And in that process, I learned patience and persistence. It was a project that was worth pouring my year into.

I'm sure that your looks which go well with your beaming smile helped you build on that image but I think that strength of yours could also serve as a limitation for doing movies.
Han: I'd been told that I'm not distinct enough but after doing this movie, I was told that they finally see who I am. I think I'll be able to ease into different characters more easily by looking plain than trying to change my outer appearance. I think there'll be more faces like me over time.

It doesn't seem like you're that worried about it. [laughs]
Han: What can I do about it, it's my face. [laughs] My face won't change.

I felt this from when you were on stage at the Grand Mind Festival (GMF) last year and feel it now while talking to you but it seems like you're someone who naturally has a cheerful vibe about you. And I think that rubs off onto your characters. Where do you get such energy?
Han: I received a lot of love from my parents. [laughs] It's easy for people to become negative when they're placed between a positive and negative choice because human beings are weak and waver easily. I too am close to being negative but I make a fair amount of effort to be positive.

Aren't there times that it gets tiring to be like that?
Han: There are but I still believe one needs to live with a positive mindset. I believe in the power of positivity.

Well not much has been revealed about that life of yours that you live so positively. You're an actor who draws the line between your work and personal life. Is there a particular reason for this?
Han: I didn't intend on it but things just turned out that way. I really live a very ordinary life. I like to cook so I cook at home, I read and go on walks. I think actors look their best within their projects and I'm going to be acting for a long time and transform many times so what would there be for me to show people if I revealed my personal life as well? [laughs] I'd like to surprise people by showing them a side to me that is already there but that the public doesn't know of.

And I think that first surprise came through "Always." How do you want to spend the remaining half of your twenties? You've reached that point in your career where it's time for you to show something as an actress.
Han: I have a wider range of choices to choose from which means there's that much more for me to do. I've shown so little to me so far that I think the path for me to show a variety of sides to me has now opened up. That's why I'm really looking forward to what'll happen from now on and I think I'll be having more fun.


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