[INTERVIEW] Actress Ryu Hyun-kyung

Interview with Korean actress Ryu Hyun-kyung

Korean actress Ryu Hyun-kyung [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

My name is Ryu Hyun-kyung.
I was born on March 10, 1983.
My family is composed of my parents and my sister. My sister and I are three years apart and she teaches elementary school students. Are we close? Of course we are.
The movie that I really want to see at this year's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) is "Villain," whose original work was written by Yoshida Shuichi. I'm curious to see how the movie came out because I really liked the original story. Yoshida Shuichi came to PIFF last year for "Parade" but I was sad because I wasn't able to meet him.
From all the roles that I have played throughout my acting career, I would want to become friends with the character Hyang-dang from the movie “A Story of Bangja.” She seems like a very cool girl because she blazes through life with the thought of not losing to Chun-hyang. I wish I had a friend that like around me.
There is a folder titled ‘Laroche’ in my Cyworld page [Korean social networking site]. It is the name of the guy who comes out in one my favorite movies “Adaptation.” He's the guy that Meryl Streep starts to like and she gets her inspiration and stimulation from his passion. You can say that person is sort of her muse. That folder contains pictures of people who are important to me while at the same time are my stimulus.
My co-star Song Sae-byeok from the movie "Cyrano Agency" and I are very close because we shot the movie "A Story of Bangja" together. And that's actually why it wasn't easy trying to act like I get fluttery around him when he's acting cool but I also couldn't smile because he's always working hard so I think that's why I was able to able to follow his lead. I also didn't feel nervous at all for our kissing scene but we were able to immerse in the vibe because everyone was so focused.
If I were to appear on a variety show it would be MBC's "Infinite Challenge." I am confident that I would work hard at anything they tell me to do. I could also give a performance. (laugh) I haven't been able to do it lately but before, I would wrap up my week watching the show. My personal favorite was the Chun-hyang episode. I was really into it and I watched it three or four times.
I got to know Chang Kiha from CHANG KIHA & THE FACES while working in radio. I learn a lot from him. All he knows is music. No, frankly speaking all he knows is music and drinking. (laugh) I know for a long time that he gave up drinking and worked out and he was skinny when I saw him at the Jisan Valley Rock Festival but he ended up drinking a lot at the wrap-up party.
I think I will be able to take on a drama only after improving my acting skills more. I know that I have appeared in MBC's "Sweet Buns" and SBS' "Terroir" but if you compare the schedule in shooting a drama or filming a movie, the schedule for a drama is very tight. A person will have to be a great actor in order to show amazing acting skills in such a tight schedule.
I really love movies by director Lee Chang-dong. I didn't feel that great after I watched the movie "Oasis" for the first time though. But you can tell it is an ardent love story after watching it several times. There are some movies that you enjoy the first time you watch it and lose interest if you watch it again but I watched "Oasis" many times. I also watched "Poetry" twice.
I produce movies because I want to express myself but this is all I know and have learned. I would express myself through music or drawing if I was good at it but that’s not the case. If there is something that I want to say, I do it by writing a scenario and it comes quickly because I have been in the movie industry for over a decade. That's what I majored in in college and tested it out in school, directing movies but disheartening when the school says they want to promote themselves with my work or try to show off. I just feel disheartened rather than angry. And I just can't write anymore.
This year's Jisan Valley Rock Festival was the best. I went on the day the Pet Shop Boys were performing and the main stage was great of course. The other performances by the Beatles and Beach Boys tribute bands were fun as well. Then I went back on set to shoot film "Petty Romance" and the director told me that I had a different energy about me after having so much fun at the festival. He told me that I should go to a rock festival every time I worry about my acting. I went to the fest last year as well, on the day Oasis was supposed to play, but I got even more sad because I wasn't able to see the concert.
Actor Jung Jae-young has become more tolerant on promoting himself compared to before. He once ran away right before walking on the red carpet of the Jeonju International Film Festival. He said he was scared. Now he does those things [publicity acts] like putting on makeup even though he says he hates it. (laugh)
I had a lot of worries because I never felt I had presence on screen even with full shots. Even the directors tell me that my entire face has fill up the screen for my presence to be felt. I don't think it has anything to do with my height. I'm trying to act but it comes off as me just standing rigid afar in the distance. Veteran actress Kim So-hee, who played my mother in the movie "My Life as a Dog," told me to try theater. She told me that the emotions will be felt to the tip of my toes. That is why I'm considering trying it out.

Reporter : Wee Geun-woo eight@
Photographer : Chae ki-won ten@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@