Actress Jeon Do-yeon shared why she continues to work hard despite her reputation as a top actress.
On the afternoon of the 12th, an interview with Jeon Do-yeon for Netflix’s original series “The Price of Confession” was held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
“The Price of Confession” is a mystery thriller about Yoon Su (played by Jeon Do-yeon), who is suspected of killing her husband, and Mo Eun (played by Kim Go-eun), a mysterious person called a witch, and the unfolding events between the two secretive women.
Jeon Do-yeon discussed her character Yoon Su, saying, “She has a family, is a mother and a wife, but I found her to be a mysterious figure. Yoon Su grew up an orphan, which caused a void that I think contributed to her mysterious aura.”
Explaining Yoon Su’s actions, she noted, “From a general perspective, they might seem perplexing, but perhaps Yoon Su couldn’t fully grasp reality. As time passed, taking care of her child and other responsibilities gradually caught up with her.”
When asked why she chose “The Price of Confession,” she stated, “I don’t pick projects solely based on genre, but I found the thriller genre and the story about two women intriguing.”
She added, “It’s not that stories centered around women are extraordinary, but perhaps we’re conditioned by longstanding male-centric narratives. It’s unfortunate that it feels special.”
Director Lee Jung-hyo, who directed the series, previously remarked that casting becomes easier if Jeon Do-yeon is involved. Jeon Do-yeon explained, “There are many actors I’ve wanted to work with but haven’t had the chance. When they readily agreed to participate even in small parts, it made me think, ‘I must have lived well.'”
“Although I don’t make easy choices when it comes to projects, and it can be exhausting, these choices eventually bring opportunities to collaborate. I’m quite proud of that,” she said.
What are these difficult choices Jeon refers to? She elaborated, “If you look at my work, many are challenging and grueling projects. I think I make the best choices I can among my options. I might have made different choices if there were easier or other alternatives.”
Recently, Jeon made headlines with her performance in the play “The Cherry Orchard.” She said, “I’m not an actor who regularly performs on stage, so my focus was on surviving and succeeding rather than on how well the play would do. I didn’t anticipate the success of things like international tours.”
“Unlike in filming, where I can hide behind the camera, theater is different and terrifying, so I initially refused several times. But after watching other works by the director, I wanted to try, though I cried throughout rehearsals,” she shared.
Jeon shared that despite her celebrity status, she constantly practices and strives to improve. The thought of merely relying on talent was “everyone’s assumption,” she said.
She added, “I did wonder whether acting was only for the talented. Looking at my ancestry, no one had a penchant for performance, so it’s fascinating. I feel like a dragon that came from a stream of commoners. There’s surely some inherent talent, but it’s the effort that defines it. It’s easy to satisfy others and only show what you want, but you can’t fool yourself. I strive to progress and look forward to what lies ahead.”
“The Price of Confession” is now streaming on Netflix.
Image source: Netflix
