Actress Lee Young-ae shared her thoughts on her participation in 'Hedda Gabler'.
On the afternoon of the 8th, a press conference for the play 'Hedda Gabler' was held at the LG Arts Center Seoul, LG Signature Hall in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included General Producer Lee Hyun-jung, Director Jeon In-cheol, and actors Lee Young-ae, Kim Jung-ho, Ji Hyun-jun, Lee Seung-joo, and Baek Ji-won.
The play 'Hedda Gabler' deals with the psychology of a woman yearning for freedom amidst social constraints and oppression, and is regarded as an important classic, often referred to as the 'female Hamlet'. This new production is presented by the LG Arts Center, which celebrated its 25th anniversary after drawing 40,000 audiences with 'The Cherry Orchard' featuring Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo in 2024.
Particularly, there is great interest as this marks Lee Young-ae's return to the theater after 32 years, showcasing her irreplaceable presence through various characters in dramas such as 'Dae Jang Geum', 'Lady Vengeance', and 'Spring Days'.
Lee Young-ae stated, "I did a play called 'Jajangmyeon' in my 20s," adding, "It was my first work, and although I was young, it has remained a significant memory for a long time."
She continued, "As an actress, I have always thought about theater. After entering graduate school and studying theater, I also performed on workshop stages. There were several opportunities, but I couldn't catch the timing until this good opportunity came along. I had discussed wanting to do 'Hedda Gabler' with my school advisor, and this is the result. It is challenging, but it is so much fun. Every moment is hard, but I am gaining several times the enjoyment. I am working hard to meet expectations, so please take good care of me."
She also mentioned, "I think there are no actors who are 100% satisfied with their own work. After each project, I often think I could have done better and that there were many shortcomings. After finishing the drama 'Eunsu Good Day', I thought I should have worked a bit harder, and then I encountered 'Hedda Gabler'. I started with the mindset of approaching it as a learning experience. There is a lot to show as an actor, but there are also many challenges. Just talking with good actors is so much fun. I hope the results of my long-term research will come out. Rather than thinking about what kind of image I will show, I am working hard with the thought that it will be different from what I have shown in dramas and movies before."
Performances will take place at the LG Arts Center Seoul, LG Signature Hall from May 7 to June 8.
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
