Magazine Pictorial

By Lee Se Young Content - January 20, 2022

Lee Se Young- The Red Sleeve

VOGUE FEB 2022 ISSUE

#LEESEYOUNG for #VogueKorea Magazine February Issue ☘❤

"Clever & Clover"

The story of Lee Se-young after "The Red Sleeve"

[INTERVIEW]

Are you walking fast?

When I'm alone at home, I'm alone, so I walk around 'slowly', but it's a little different when I'm working. One day, a friend said, “You walk very fast while enjoying the natural scenery. What kind of life did you lead?” he asked. Actually, I have been like this since I was a kid, but when I saw adults on my way to work, I wanted to get ahead, so I quickly walked over and overtaken them.

She seems to be the type of person who needs to know everything and is curious. Meanwhile, the clothes she's wearing now are overalls.

'work clothes'. These are the clothes I wear when I go out to work militantly (laughs). When working, it is easier to change into clothes with zippers or buttons for makeup or hair. So, I decide to wear such clothes like a uniform. I usually enjoy a classic look. I like the oversized style, but I'm not tall so I often feel like I'm carrying clothes on my back (laughs). I'm going to try on a very large leather jumper or jacket soon.

You once said that the character remains for the actor after the work is over. <The Red Sleeve> What kind of character did Deok-im remain?

It's heartbreaking and desperate. It was so lovely, but I feel sorry that I can't see it anymore. After the drama is over, I often get asked how the character is living, but the Deok-im ends in death, which breaks my heart. But they say that all dead people know. Deok-im and Jeongjo know each other's feelings well and are doing well without fighting.

It is a work of history that is also a script. The most impressive point in Deokim's life.

Deok-im was a woman who took great pride in her work as a court lady, and did not have to do it if she thought it was something she had to do. Her oath that she would risk her life to protect him until the day he ascends to the throne is the exact opposite of this child's goal of wanting to live long and simple. The oath she made against what she wanted was so courageous and wonderful.

Does Deok-im have any influence on actress Lee Se-young?

I tend to separate myself from work. Nevertheless, there are things that have changed through Deokim. Despite the many restrictions and limitations as a court lady in the Joseon Dynasty, this child said that she wanted to live independently and made a choice. Even people in that era talk about their dreams, but now I have been thinking about whether I am living with a choice. I thought I should live my life more independently. As a result, even if there is no significant difference, the achievements and viewpoints you feel will be different.

Regardless of the importance, it is a work that shows the narrative without neglecting any character. There were a lot of female characters, so it was more welcomed. Have you ever talked about this with the female seniors and juniors who appeared in <The Red Sleeve>?

I had an opportunity to talk about that with Ji-eun, who plays the role of Wol-hye. All the actors had a lot of affection for their character, because there was a clear win-win and how this character ended up was well organized. I always ask the director, 'So what will happen to this character in the end?' I knew that the end of Seong Deok-im is death, and it was important to finish the end, so it was a wonderful work.

Deok-im had Seo Sang-gung. Since court ladies from all generations (age) appeared, it must have been a scene with many senior female actors.

Jang Hye-jin didn’t say anything, but as if she knew everything, she would hug me and say “Deok-im-ah”. There were so many moments in the beginning and middle of filming that I felt like I was going to cry, but I felt like seniors were supporting me on set. It was a comforting existence without saying anything.

The friendship of the four court ladies was also portrayed warmly. Lines such as “We are not alone, we can help each other if it is difficult” was circulated. Friendship sustains us in a different way than love. What do you think the power of friendship is?

The line “the four of us should always be together” left a deep impression on me. In the past, I used to be careful when I was having a hard time alone, and when others were having a hard time, I had to help. I have three close friends and they are a great strength to me. Looking back, I was able to do things with them that I couldn't do alone. I gained confidence and was not afraid. If you want to protect them, you can have more courage. Friendship is the power that makes people strong.

If you go back to the childhood days, it is the fifth historical drama alone. As an actor, does it fit well with historical dramas?

I always did what I wanted to do. I never thought about whether the genre of historical drama was right for me.

What is the virtue of the historical drama genre?

That new interpretations are possible. And the angle that can only be shown in historical dramas is pleasing to the eyes. When the sky, earth, and water are put on one screen, there is a taste of harmony, the artistic angle where curves and straight lines meet, and the feast of colors presented by hanbok. In historical dramas, the vocals are refreshing and fun to learn about the history of the time.

Have you always been interested in history?

When I was in school, I neglected to study history, and I know that it is lacking, so I try to study by looking for broadcasts or YouTube. I feel ashamed because I knew the importance of history and neglected it. It is embarrassing to not know history more than any other field. It is also interesting to learn about the cause of an event in history and its consequences. The more I study history, the more 'Am I really paying attention to society?' think like that.

There are many people who watch <The Red Sleeve> and go back to the 2019 <The Crowned Clown>. What are the similarities between the two major historical dramas in your career and what are the differences?

Because historical dramas have limited sets, the locations may overlap, but the two works are completely different. Of course, my face changed because of the weight difference between then and now (laughs). At the time of <The Crowned Clown>, I felt a lot of pressure to pay for the meal. The character itself was a desperate person, and I was always standing at the edge of a cliff on the set. I was always smiling, but in each scene there was a role that the character had to play, but I was not able to do it well, so I was very worried that it would cause trouble to the whole work. <The Red Sleeve> was filmed for nearly 7 months, and I started with the thought that I had to put it together so as not to lose affection and concentration due to prolonged breathing.

In a movie magazine, there was an article in which a child actor was reborn as a full-fledged adult actor. In your case, it was the movie <Duck Town>. Do you agree?

At that time, my life was very desperate. After the <Melon Music Awards> in November 2014, there was no work for the whole year. I've never had anything like that in my life, so I was shocked. I couldn't stay still, so I was thinking about whether I should find a way to make a living as a professor, and I studied really hard with the intention of getting a scholarship. I only slept while traveling. I didn't want to take only easy subjects, so I stood up drinking eight shots of espresso and started attending classes, while also running the cosmetics business. Then I met <Duck Town>, and the work itself was me at the time. Heejeong was more sad and I sympathized with her. The future won't change if we settle in with reality, so we have to do something, but we don't see any hope. I was trying to find the light in the dark, so I didn't have time to cry. Later, during a press conference, I remembered that time and cried. It makes me sad when I think of myself at that time. It is a very special and precious work.

What changes have occurred in your attitude toward acting?

Rather than the difference in the film itself, the mind and attitude have changed. I thought I could do anything on my own. She said, 'I'm so amazing' and 'I have survivability no matter where I fall'. I didn't want to go back to that time, and I worked hard so that I didn't really regret it. I tried acting methods that I didn't usually do and went to ask the professor for help. From then on, I started to treat acting more preciously.

In <Doctor John>, <Memorist> and <Kairos>, she mainly took on strong but different characters. Is the reason for choosing a character who wants to step up somehow because you wants that kind of life?

I don't know if i'm progressive other than when I'm working. I need to have fun with what I do, but it's always more important for the person watching it to be fun. No matter how good a character is, it is meaningless without viewers and audiences. If you think about what people want to see, the characters in the work are often subjective. I was very passive, but I learned to endure any events, changed, and suffer. Even just talking about zombies, isn't it enough to adapt to zombies and work together to overcome them? It's fun when a character grows up. In the end, I think I want to play a character I want to see.

What do you think an actor does? It's a society that considers actors to be very special, but you don't seem to think so.

An actor is a person who acts and faithfully embodies the story written by the writer. As a celebrity, it is good to convey a good message of 'let's do this', but the most important thing for an actor is to be good at acting, and I want to be good at acting. Even actors will be rejected if they do not constantly hone their skills or ability.

Effort never betrays?

Effort is also betrayed. But nothing comes automatically to those who do not work hard. It's the same reason I like sports. I have been interested in sports for three years and have been watching them passionately, and sports are really a drama in itself.

It seems that you are immersed in sportsmanship rather than enjoying the desire to win.

That's right. sports spirit. comradeship. fairness. It's a pity that it's been 3 years since I joined the soccer team, but I can't really play soccer (laughs). Woodangtangtang is a style that sometimes scores goals. There was a time when I used to say, 'I just need to recharge my stamina', but now I have a lot of interesting hobbies. Everyone is tired, but it's lovely and cool to see people looking for fun things even after going to work. I wanted to live like that, and I gained energy. I also like sports cartoons and dramas, but I really want to do something like <Slam Dunk> or <The Last Game>.

You started acting when you were young, but did you ever think that you chose a career path too quickly among many paths?

No. If I hadn't made that choice back then, I would have been thinking about another job, but I can do that now. I don't have talent in other fields and I like acting, so I'm glad I started early.

Were you not worried about whether the actor was a good fit?

When I was about 19 years old, there was a time that I was afraid to get caught up in some rumors or incidents with other actors around me. I wondered endlessly whether it would be okay if I just walked my own path. I also thought it would be nice to act rather than become a celebrity. Besides acting, it is hard to do as an actor, but being able to work as an actor is also a blessing. In fact, no one will stop me even if I say that I am dissatisfied with my acting career. All are my choices.

What is the driving force behind continuing to work as an actor?

I like it and want to do better. And I think of the fans. I don't have many fans, but I treat them like a family. They are very precious, and they are compassionate and moved for each other. It's like 'we know each other's hard work'. Having such a fan gives me strength and sense of responsibility to do better. Acting seems to break the quest. A quest that does not end when you climb somewhere, but carries out missions one by one. There was a saying in a certain movie that 'failure is the father of success', and it really touched me. I like to work and I want to do well, but I also think that i might fail. But it will be a process.

The oldest memories related to acting.

At the age of six, I appeared on a reenactment program. I was a child who fell into the well three times. I fell into a well while riding the seesaw, I fell a second time while walking on the edge of the well, and the third fell while riding a swing. The water was almost on the ground, but I acted as if I forcibly grabbed a rope and come up. My brother gave me medicine because I said it hurt, but the pill was chocolate (laughs).

Does the acting you performed as a child continue to affect Lee Se-young now?

The perception of the field is inevitably related, but since I started anew after a long break, it must be said that I started again from the beginning. Acting as a child actor is probably closer as a natural reaction.

I saw it on SNS, "Daco" is your hobby? (Diary Decorate)

That's right. I bought vintage stickers and decorated my diary and iPad. I couldn't decorate the script because it was a waste. I had a lot of dreams, but I couldn't achieve my dream of becoming a painter, the small artistry inside me, the last remaining aesthetic value, and my own art world (laughs). It's kind of crude when I decorate it.

Sometimes I write a diary and set a plan or goal.

It's a short-lived resolution, but if you do it 100 times for 3 days, it's 300 days. No special plans were made this year. Last year, I lived only with survival instincts, so this year, let's take time for ourselves and eat well.

As I was looking for past videos on YouTube, the algorithm even guided me to <The King of Mask Singer>, which appeared a few years ago. Do you like to dance?

Even if I'm not alone, I enjoy singing and dancing when I meet with my close friends. And on set, there is always a lot of excitement in the make up room or dressing room. Even if you are not excited, if you dance, everyone will laugh and have fun.

BGM that fills our daily life.

Every time I go to the field, 'BGM' changes. When I'm feeling down, I listen to music that beats and heavy metal (laughs). When I appeared in historical dramas, I mostly listened to serenades or grand songs. I like British band music, dreamy songs, and old-fashioned songs like 'To You' on a loop track.

At the end of the previous video interview, she said, “Next time, I will make it more fun.” Is humor important in everyday life?

Small daily life becomes our life. You don't have to be serious. You shouldn't cross the line, but that doesn't mean to not play pranks. Everyone has difficulties, but people who laugh are amazing. I want to laugh a lot and I want to laugh together. My taste for humor is a wordplay. It is a horse that hits back or digs into a gap. I like the humor of Joo Seong-chi, Jim Carrey, and Adam Sandler. But acting in a comedy is really difficult. It's the hardest.

Hong Hyebin said to Jeongjo, who turned away from her heart, “Your Highness, please be happy.” The king of Joseon also cares about happiness, but what should Lee Se-young do to be happy?

The standard is low. Originally, I always wanted to live a simple life, but I realized it more clearly after the hard time during "Duck Town". The standard of happiness is set by me, and depending on that standard, you can be happy or unhappy. I don't compare. My life is my life, and others are others' lives. I am happy when I go home after work, take a shower, and eat. (VK)