Actress Song Ok-sook revealed the fateful story of how she rose to stardom through her life's representative work, 'A Woman Like Octopus.'
In the YouTube channel 'Song Seung-hwan's Wonderful Life' released on the 3rd, actress Song Ok-sook appeared and shared her honest thoughts while reflecting on her acting career.
Song Seung-hwan asked, "Wasn't it too big of a role for you considering your experience at the time?" and inquired about the casting story of 'A Woman Like Octopus.' To this, Song Ok-sook replied, "The profession of an actor ultimately involves fate," and added, "That role was not originally meant for me."
She explained, "Originally, the late Kim Young-ae was supposed to play the role, but she developed Apollo's eye disease, and the late Kim Ja-ok couldn't swim, so I ended up taking it," describing the unexpected opportunity she received. She continued, "The director hesitated a lot, but he took a risk and decided to give it to a hardworking newcomer," expressing her gratitude.
The director was Kim Ji-il. At that time, 'MBC Bestseller Theater' was a short play program, but it boasted a level of completeness comparable to films by shooting all scenes on film. Song Seung-hwan recalled that it was a stage where newcomers like Song Ok-sook could showcase artistic performances that could not be shown in dramas, making her casting as the lead a bold choice.
In particular, 'A Woman Like Octopus' was a drama adapted from the work of Han Kang's father, novelist Han Seung-won, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Song Ok-sook left a deep impression on viewers with a powerful scene of a woman in despair chewing on octopus. The male lead was played by the handsome actor Lee Jeong-gil of that era.
Song Ok-sook expressed, "It is an unforgettable work in my acting life," and added, "It was an unexpected opportunity, but it came to me like fate and became a significant turning point in my acting career."
Meanwhile, 'A Woman Like Octopus' aired on September 2, 1984, and remains a masterpiece that is still talked about today.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
