[Interview] Han So-hee from 'Project Y'② "In an era where we need to do 'well' rather than just 'hard', to show a different face, I must be able to let go of myself"

※〈Project Y〉 actress Han So-hee's interview continues in part 1.

〈Project Y〉 is particularly iconic in terms of the characters' visuals. How did you design Mi-sun's visuals?

Since the movie captures a short period of time, the outfits we could wear were limited. To express stylishness within that, I felt that each character needed a signature color or pattern. At first, I thought about completely excluding the character and wearing clothes that fit our bodies and that we liked. As a result, I chose leopard print, and Do-kyung wore red. So when you see Do-kyung and Mi-sun, they are both stylish but their styles do not overlap.

Did you wear your own outfits in the movie? I heard that you used your actual pouch in the film.

The leopard outfit was mine. The pouch isn't anything special, but it's a significant part of Mi-sun's job, even if it doesn't sound like it. So it has traces of long use, and I wanted to use something that felt lived-in. Therefore, I brought the pouch I usually carry around.

Working on an unusual 'female buddy noir' film must have had its challenges.

Since it's a film with less explanatory content, I needed justification while acting. This was true for the narratives of Ga-young, Do-kyung, and Mi-sun, as well as the reasons why Do-kyung and Mi-sun are so entangled with money, and the process of finding justifications for why they risk their lives in dangerous situations. However, all of that was resolved through the character of Ga-young. Also, in a revenge story, you have to convince the audience of how a person physically and strategically overcomes another. This has been a concern since the latter part of 〈Project Y〉 and even from 〈My Name〉, I have been thinking about how a woman can physically overthrow a man. I discussed a lot with the action director about how to physically punish and how to persuade the audience.

Actress Jeon Jong-seo mentioned in a previous interview that "〈Project Y〉 is a movie where Do-kyung and Mi-sun run hand in hand until the end." Do you agree with Jeon Jong-seo's summary? She said, "I hope it's not a movie where one person stands out."

Yes. That was a good summary. (laughs) That's right. I believe this movie has no main character. Although the story flows with Do-kyung and Mi-sun at the forefront, without Seok-gu (Lee Jae-kyun), Hwang-soo (Jung Young-joo), Ga-young (Kim Shin-rok), and Tosa-jang (Kim Sung-cheol), this movie wouldn't exist. So I think it's more of an ensemble film rather than a film where someone takes the lead. In that sense, I think Jong-seo said that too. It's a story that everyone pulls along together, not just one person leading it.

You are also friends with Jeon Jong-seo. How did the friend version of Jong-seo differ from the actress version?

Jong-seo is a really lovely friend. She is filled with so much love. In fact, I am not good at expressing that. But Jong-seo expresses the love she has very well. The Do-kyung in 〈Project Y〉 is a bit of a wild character. However, I didn't see Jong-seo in Do-kyung. So that helped me a lot in portraying Mi-sun. Also, Jong-seo is like a sponge. She absorbs things very quickly, even when the situation on set or the lines suddenly change, so I received a lot of help in that regard.

Director Lee Hwan is a former actor who appeared in films like 〈The Age of Shadows〉 (2016), 〈Assassination〉 (2014), and 〈Paju〉 (2009). What was it like to collaborate with a director who is also an actor?

Coincidentally, the recent film I shot, 〈Intern〉, is also by director Kim Do-young, who is an actor. I met two directors who are former actors. They definitely think from the perspective of an actor. They seem to accurately catch what state I am in by observing my condition and expressions.

Han So-hee is building her career by transitioning between films and dramas. How are the film and drama sets different?

When I debuted, OTT was just starting to rise. So there were many cases where film staff came to series. Fortunately, I was an actor who started just when the film shooting time system was established, so I don't think I felt much difference in condition when filming movies and series. Both dramas and films are mountains that I have to overcome one by one. I think I need to create and show even better, more impressive mountains in the future. I don't want to divide the boundaries between films and dramas, and I want to participate in any work I can challenge myself with. However, since films have box office scores, I do worry a bit about that. And I am curious about how you will interpret and view this film.

This is your first time participating in promotions after the release of your first commercial film. How did you feel attending the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival? You are an actress with a passion for films.

I really do. They say the film market is very difficult these days. But this was my first time at the Toronto Film Festival, and my first time at the Busan Film Festival with a film, and seeing the expressions of people who still have romance for films made me happy. Just the other day, I did promotions for 〈Project Y〉 in Japan, and it felt great to see the audience seats filled. Even though they say films are difficult, I felt that people still want films.

You have experienced the independent film scene with the movie 〈Heavy Snow〉. What was it like to shoot an independent film?

〈Heavy Snow〉 is a low-budget independent film, so there was a lot of pressure regarding the number of episodes, and the staff's fatigue must have been high. 〈Heavy Snow〉 is a winter surfing film that deals with nature, so we had to match the conditions of the sea. I remember going out to shoot even on days when we didn't have filming to check the sea conditions. It was really cold, but as time passed, I wonder if my memories are being beautified, but it felt good.

I understand that Han So-hee sent a DM to Jeon Jong-seo, and that's how you two became close. Why did you send a DM to Jeon Jong-seo? Did you feel that she would match well with you?

At first, it was really just a simple fan sentiment. I didn't expect her to read the DM. Before that, I liked Jeon Jong-seo as an actress. My brother Jang Ryul, who worked with me on 〈My Name〉, appeared in 〈The Price of Things〉 (2022 drama), and I saw Jong-seo in that, and she was so cool.

What aspects made you a fan of actress Jeon Jong-seo?

It might be a purely superficial preference, but I really like Jong-seo's face. I like that her face has both good and evil coexisting, and I also like her voice. Does that sound too much like a love confession? (laughs) In 〈Call〉 and 〈Burning〉, she was a newcomer at the time but had a strong screen presence. She had a charm that made you focus on her despite being an unfamiliar face.

Then, what do you think are your charms and strengths as an actress?

In the past, I honestly thought that just working hard would be enough. But these days, I think it's ultimately a battle of skills. I used to think that way, but nowadays, the times are so fast, changes are rapid, and it's becoming harder to distinguish the needs of the public, so I feel it more. In the end, I find myself in a situation where I need to do 'well' rather than just 'hard'. I see my strengths as having limitations because everyone is born with their own unique charm and talent. In fact, in the beginning, I acted using my innate abilities in a shallow way, but eventually, that fades over time. As an actor, I have to live someone else's life, but if I keep living that life with my own unique color, diversity disappears. So I think that to show a completely different face, I must be able to let go of myself, and these days, I am trying to make myself like a blank sheet of paper, without any color applied.

Do you have a role model as an actress?

I don't have a role model, but personally, I like Jeon Do-yeon.

After rising to stardom with 〈The World of the Married〉, you have appeared in challenging works like 〈My Name〉 and 〈Gyeongseong Creature〉. Is there a special reason for that?

After 〈The World of the Married〉 ended, many scripts came in. At that time, I didn't want to just end up as a decent-looking actress. So I think I chose 〈My Name〉.

Then, is there a role you would like to challenge in the future?

A psychopath. Since I keep playing characters who solve things emotionally, I want to portray someone who is unaffected by hardships and adversities.

In a previous interview, you recommended 〈The Book of Disquiet〉 (by Fernando Pessoa), and since then, that book has become a bestseller. As an actress who loves books and movies, could you recommend some recent content? Do you still read 〈The Book of Disquiet〉 often?

That book is too thick. (laughs) These days, I read a lot of poetry. In the past, I read novels and thick books, but these days, I seem to have lost the ability to read sentences, as I can't turn two pages. So I read poetry and watch variety shows like 〈Divorce Counseling Camp〉 and 〈My Precious Child〉... (everyone laughs)

Could you share your goals as an actress?

When someone asks, "What do you think of actress Han So-hee?" I want to hear them say, "She does well." I want to hear more that she did well in that work, rather than just saying Han So-hee is pretty.

Then, what is the life of Han So-hee like? It seems like a lot has changed since rising to stardom with 〈The World of the Married〉.

In fact, my life didn't change dramatically before and after becoming a famous actress. It's not that glamorous. If it is glamorous, it's just that I can order whatever I want to eat. I still work part-time at a friend's café when I have time. If someone recognizes me, I say 'thank you'. I try to maintain that kind of life. I think that's my happiness.

You wrote in your diary today that you want to make a business card. If actress Han So-hee were to make a business card, what phrase would be written on it?

Just 'Han So-hee'. I don't know what I would be greeting for. I might greet as a café part-timer. I don't want to define myself in one frame.