[On Stage] "Back on Theater Stage After 32 Years" Lee Young-ae: "Hedda Gabler, Attractive Because There Is No Right Answer"

"Hedda Gabler seems like a woman without a definitive answer. Every time I rehearse, I try this and that, learning a lot in the process. That's why it's enjoyable."

On the 8th, actress Lee Young-ae shared her thoughts on returning to the theater stage after 32 years at the production presentation of 'Hedda Gabler' held at LG Arts Center Seoul. The play 'Hedda Gabler,' starring Lee Young-ae, will open on May 7 at LG Arts Center and LG Signature Hall.

Hedda Gabler is a work by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, famous for 'A Doll's House.' 'A Doll's House' is a controversial piece regarded as the origin of feminist theater. The protagonist Nora in 'A Doll's House' lives a submissive life to her husband but, doubting the sincerity of his love, decides to leave and live her own life.

Actor Lee Young-ae is taking a commemorative photo after the press conference for the play "Hedda Gabler," in which she is appearing for the first time in 32 years, held on the 8th at LG Arts Center Seoul.
[Photo by LG Arts Center]

Like 'A Doll's House,' Hedda Gabler deals with the psychology of a woman yearning for freedom amid social constraints and oppression. Accordingly, Hedda Gabler is as controversial a character as Nora. Although outwardly elegant, she harbors hidden anxiety, desire, and a destructive nature, earning her the nickname "female Hamlet." Therefore, the actor must express a complex psychology. Lee Young-ae said, "There are many aspects to show as an actress, but it is equally challenging."

Director Jeon In-cheol of Hedda Gabler said he has long been fascinated by the controversial female characters in Ibsen's works. He introduced the charm of Hedda Gabler by saying, "Watching women in Ibsen's plays who act with a will to live, I have been very interested in what the source of that power is, what drives them to behave that way."

This is Lee Young-ae's first time on the theater stage since 1993, when she appeared in the play 'Jjajangmyeon,' which dealt with the May 18 Democratic Uprising, as the opening production of the Freedom Theater at the Seoul Arts Center. Although it has been a long time since her last theater performance, Lee Young-ae has nurtured her passion for theater, including entering a doctoral program in theater and film studies in 2009. She also showed her affection for theater by recalling memories from her first stage performance 32 years ago.

"It was right after I graduated from university and started acting. Because I had a romance with theater, I got connected with director Kim Sang-soo and appeared in the play. I played the role of a dead girl, an angel, in 'Jjajangmyeon.' While acting, I also helped with production tasks like handing out flyers at subway stations and putting up posters. I was young then, so I did everything I was told, but those tasks were so fun that they stayed in my memory for a long time. The feeling of breathing together with the audience remained even when I acted in TV or film."

The cast of the play 'Hedda Gabler' are taking a commemorative photo after the production presentation held on the 8th at LG Arts Center Seoul.
[Photo by LG Arts Center]

Coincidentally, Hedda Gabler is also a work that left a strong impression on Lee Young-ae as she watched numerous plays with her mentor, Professor Kim Mi-hye of Hanyang University. She said, "Because Hedda's charm is so diverse, I thought any actress would want to play her. Since you can show various colors, I once told Professor Kim Mi-hye that I wanted to play Hedda."

Lee Young-ae said that portraying the complex character Hedda Gabler is not easy, but the life experiences accumulated with age might be helpful.

"I got married, had children, and raised them, and now my child is already a teenager. As a woman, I have been able to share various emotions. Although Hedda Gabler is a classic over 100 years old, it is definitely a work we can relate to even today. If I think about showing a certain image, it might become more difficult. If I study the character for a long time, I believe the result will naturally blend into the play. I think the creative work we are doing together will definitely be different from the image of Lee Young-ae shown in movies or dramas so far. I am working hard and enjoying it."