December 10, 2024
Disclaimer: Article is roughly translated. It may contain inaccuracies. Please pardon any mistakes.
L'art de Vivre, Lee Seyoung
Life as art, Art as life. Lee Se-young and Louvre come together to capture special moments that reflect the beauty and depth that blooms in everyday life.
WWD: I heard you enjoy going to art exhibitions. How was today’s shoot with all the various art pieces?
Lee Seyoung: I used to visit a lot of exhibitions, but now I’ve started to enjoy creating art. I started this hobby because I enjoy the process of creating more than finishing a perfect art piece. I approached today’s shoot with that same mindset. I enjoyed it as if I were painting.
WWD: I heard you have lots of hobbies. What’s the motivation behind continuing to make time for yourself despite your busy schedule?
Lee Seyoung: It hasn’t been long since I started getting into my hobbies. Just a few years ago, I would simply lie down and do nothing after filming. Then, one day, I thought I was just wasting my time. After all, I’m still young and with a lot of potential. That’s when I started being interested in the world outside. I tend to try things that interest me.
WWD: It must be difficult to put those thoughts into practice. You’re amazing.
Lee Seyoung: There was a time where my motto was “Don’t start anything unless you can do it perfectly.” I wanted to do everything perfectly. But I realized that mindset stopped me from trying new things. So I let go of perfectionism and decided to try anything that makes me happy. It may seem like I’m overworking myself, but it’s actually a process of getting to know myself.
WWD: Are you still a perfectionist when it comes to your job?
Lee Seyoung: When working on a project, I still immerse myself in my role. However, instead of focusing on doing everything perfectly, I prioritize being honest and genuine. In the beginning of my career, I was overly nervous. I recently watched a variety show I was on 10 years ago, and although I was laughing, my expression was stiff. I couldn’t eat much back then, either. (laughs) Now, I focus on showing my sincerity rather than perfection.
WWD: I heard that, like your hobbies, once you get hooked on a food, you stick with it for months.
Lee Seyoung: That’s right. I’ve been eating grilled clams for 6 months now. But after getting sick, I’ve recently moved on to jalapeno pasta. Oh, and French fries too.
WWD: Your performance on <What Comes After Love> was impressive. In particular, the breakup scene with your co-actor Sakaguchi Kentaro became a hot topic. Was it difficult to portray those emotions?
Lee Seyoung: That scene was important as I had to convincingly express the reason for Hong and Jungo’s breakup. It’s memorable because it’s a scene I prepared for a long time. While acting, I was overwhelmed by feelings of frustration, sadness, and disappointment. It was a moment that allowed me to truly connect with Hong and become her, rather than just Lee Seyoung.
WWD: You said this was one of the most challenging roles to portray, right?
Lee Seyoung: That’s right. Learning the Japanese lines in such a short time was really tough. I stayed in Japan for two months, and the first month was especially difficult. I couldn’t act properly because I couldn’t understand anything my co-actors were saying. So I practiced by labelling everything I saw with Japanese words. By the second month, the lines started to flow naturally without me having to memorize them.
WWD: What drew you to your next project, <Motel California>?
Lee Seyoung: Usually, the story begins when the protagonist experiences an incident, but in this drama, Ji Kanghee’s struggles begins the moment she was born. I was curious to see how she would overcome her pain on her own, and wanted to portray her growth.
WWD: I’m looking forward to the chemistry in this drama as well.
Lee Seyoung: I actually went to an all-girls middle school, high school, and university, so I’ve never experienced the subtle excitement of having childhood friendships with boys. However, working with Na Inwoo, who is sometimes dependable like an older brother and other times easygoing as a friend, brought out fresh sides of me I didn’t know I had. With Choi Minsoo, who plays my father, our characters constantly argue in the drama, so I made an effort to approach him more comfortably off-camera, just like a real daughter would with her dad. He appreciated that, and now he treats me like his daughter. I think viewers will feel the natural father-daughter chemistry in the drama as well.
WWD: Is there a role you’d like to challenge in the future?
Lee Seyoung: A fascinating villain with a deep backstory. Also, regardless of genre or role, I want to be part of a series like <Friends> or <The Big Bang Theory>. Being part of such iconic works would be an incredible honor as an actor.
WWD: As someone known for being a planner, what is your daily routine?
Lee Seyoung: Actually, my daily routine is to not plan anything. My way of life is to avoid being confined by a set structure. Oh, but I do plan ahead when it comes to choosing my work outfits during shoots—that’s probably the only thing I prepare in advance.
WWD: What are your goals for the new year?
Lee Seyoung: I started learning English recently. I memorize sentences in conversation patterns and record videos to track my progress. I hope to be able to communicate freely in English when I travel abroad.
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