Actor Jin Seon-kyu (48) has done it again. He showcased his presence once more in 'The Horse' by transforming his face.
Released on the 22nd, the Netflix series 'The Horse' depicts the story of top star Hee-ran (Lee Ha-nee) and rookie actress Joo-ae (Bang Hyo-rin) bravely confronting the dark realities hidden behind the glamorous spotlight of the birth of erotic films that swept Korea in the 1980s.
Jin Seon-kyu played the role of Gu Jung-ho, the head of a film company who will stop at nothing for commercial success. He has received rave reviews for portraying a character who is servile in front of power but shows a cold nature towards the weak.
When asked about the reactions from those around him after the release, Jin Seon-kyu said, "My fellow actor Lim Se-mi, who runs with me, said, 'I feel disgusted. It's so annoying, so low-class.' In a way, that's a good thing for an actor. It's nice to hear such comments from fellow actors when I perform my role. It feels good as an actor when viewers and industry people say, 'That's how it looks.'
His wife, actress Park Bo-kyung, also did not hold back her praise.
Jin Seon-kyu said, "My wife said I did really well and that I fit in well with the character. She said it felt natural and that the character's color was very good. That's a huge compliment. Since we act together, we tend to be cautious with compliments. But her saying I fit in well means she watched it well. I usually don't watch my own performances, so I ask my wife to watch, and she gives me an objective view," he smiled.
Even for Jin Seon-kyu, who is often called a 'trustworthy actor', playing Gu Jung-ho was not easy.
Jin Seon-kyu said, "It was difficult to play Gu Jung-ho. Director Lee Hae-young wanted him to be a bit dirty and vile, but also sexy and cool. I remember saying that it was very difficult. I hoped that all those aspects would show."
He continued, "We talked about the appearance as well, and the director said he wanted my face to shine. So, I did a base makeup like a bride. It took an hour and a half to get ready, but my face ended up shining. Thanks to that, I could perform confidently. The director's vision was clear, and I worked hard, changing every take."
In particular, he confessed, "The lines weren't difficult, but the actions were. When taking prop photos, the director wanted me to look sexy, but I felt awkward doing those actions."
Above all, Jin Seon-kyu said, "Gu Jung-ho is really pathetic and ugly. Especially when he shows weakness to the strong, he becomes even more vile and annoying," adding, "But I have to show this character well. So, throughout the filming, I kept asking the director and Lee Ha-nee why they were saying things to me, and why everyone leaves my office breaking things and cursing."
He continued, "I kept saying that I love movies. It's true that he survived cowardly in that era and was servile, but didn't he try to create movies that could satisfy people? If I were to compare it to now, I think of him as someone who is very sensitive to trends and skilled at making money commercially, and I acted accordingly."
Jin Seon-kyu also did not hold back his praise for the actors he worked with in 'The Horse'.
He said, "Lee Ha-nee and I worked together in the movie 'Extreme Job', so there's a sense of camaraderie, which made it comfortable when we worked together. She does action well and is considerate, so it wasn't difficult. It was fun even when we were throwing trophies and having a brawl. Although there was a power dynamic, it felt like neighborhood kids fighting. We matched well, and I think my feelings as a character were well expressed."
Regarding Lee Ha-nee, he said, "She is more magnanimous than I am, and there is a lot to learn from her. She is a good actress who makes her co-stars perform well. She almost participated in the press conference via video call before giving birth to her second child, but all the other actors were there. So, maybe she was worried, but she came to the press conference. It was very reassuring," adding, "I would like to meet her again next time. It would be nice to work together as a couple. I think it would be fun to have chemistry like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the movie 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'."
Regarding rookie Bang Hyo-rin, who debuted in this work, he said, "She is not the type to talk big usually, but when the shot goes in, her eyes change. That's the kind of gaze and heart an actor should have. It's not something that can be achieved just by trying. So, I was surprised to see Hyo-rin. I hope our 'The Horse' team will help her stand out and become a good actress, just like Jeong Hee-ran," showing his affection.
Jin Seon-kyu still believes in the power of acting. He finds both good characters similar to himself and characters like Gu Jung-ho, who are completely different, equally interesting.
He said, "In my daily life, I'm a boring person, but I like the changes I experience while acting. It's exciting and thrilling to accomplish things I couldn't do before. I'm not good at other things and have no interest in them. I want to keep acting. If playing a kind and ordinary role similar to me is like endurance training, then playing a completely different villain feels like interval training. It's like raising and lowering my heart rate thrillingly," he joked.
When he feels stressed, he relieves it through running. He said, "I've always liked exercising, so I used to box, but I found running to be the exercise that suits me. I relieve stress from acting or daily life through running. It feels like the wind takes away my stress and clears my mind. Just two years ago, when people asked me why I run so much, I told them they would understand if they tried it. Now, many people are doing it. Especially when we have a lot of location shoots, if I run 5-10 km in the neighborhood the day before filming, it feels refreshing and helps me prepare for acting while getting to know the area," he praised running, making the set burst into laughter.
Jin Seon-kyu expressed his desire to continue being a person who shines in his works and roles as a 'good elder'.
He said, "Recently, I met Yoon Kye-sang in a project, and we talked about this. I said I would become an elder in the future, but I hope to be a good one. They say an elder is someone whose mind is closed to creativity. If I try to live based on my habits and experiences, I might come off as an elder. I hope we can accept the hearts of people with new creativity based on my experiences and continue to create good works and performances. There are seniors who have endured and acted with that mindset for a long time. I said I want to live to be a guiding light until the end, like those seniors. I want to be someone who can harmonize well," he hoped.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
