I know, I’m not covering IRIS as much as some people probably feel I should, given that it’s ruling its Wednesday-Thursday timeslot and wowing viewers with its action-packed, star-studded storytelling. But what can I say? IRIS is a lot of fun but it leaves me unmoved, so for that reason it gets pushed back to the end (or maybe the middle) of my always-growing to-view pile of dramas.

I did, however, enjoy reading this interview with its star actress Kim Tae-hee, because I always think she’s a curious case for being such an A-list star. She’s known for being highly intelligent and is loved for her cute, girl-next-door appeal, even though it’s also widely acknowledged that her greatest drawback as an actor is her acting. Pretty people getting by on their looks generally annoys me because I always think of how better the drama/movie could have been with a better actor. But in Kim Tae-hee’s case, I can’t even hate her because she’s so baldly frank about her limits, and it’s clear that it bothers her as much as it bothers the rest of us. You’ve kinda gotta respect that.

(Note that the interview came out on Monday, before the two latest episodes of IRIS aired.)

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Read the rest of Kim Tae-hee attempts new challenges with IRIS (1,288 words)

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Post tags: interviews, IRIS, Kim Tae-hee

The following video clip (watch below) and interview caught the cast of You’re Beautiful in a rare spare moment as they filmed busily — time is scarce and it looks like they’re in the thick of live-shooting by this point, with just three more weeks left till the series wraps. The cast also seems unusually close and always in good humor, based on the behind-the-scenes clips that have been released.

(Basically, my principal reaction to the interview was, “Jang Geun-seok and Park Shin-hye, just date already!!” Seriously, it seems like they’re always flirting, and it’s too cute.)

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Read the rest of Midnight interview with You’re Beautiful’s sleep-deprived but happy cast (2,182 words)

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Post tags: interviews, Jang Geun-seok, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Hong-ki, Park Shin-hye, You're Beautiful

Bad news for Jang Nara: Her film company has decided to pull their recent film Sky and Ocean from theaters a mere twelve days into its run. The company says this is in response to the controversy the film has sparked, but no doubt the abysmal ticket receipts are also to blame.

For being a small, relationship-based music film, the film has been at the center of a lot of noise. Jang’s production company, which is headed by her father Ju Ho-sung, has battled accusations that there was unfair lobbying going on behind the scenes when the film was nominated for a best film Daejong Award.

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Read the rest of Jang Nara on her new movie and its controversy (973 words)

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Post tags: box office, controversies, interviews, Jang Nara

Y’all know I have much affection for actor and former idol star Yoon Kye-sang. That affection endures despite his role as one of the most irritating characters in the recent drama Triple, and I’m eager to see the new movie he has coming out (the prison drama Executioners), which looks great. Here’s an interview with him as he promotes the new film.

“Even now, I’m still crazy about acting. And I believe in myself.”

It’s been six years since Yoon Kye-sang began acting. In 2004’s Flying Boys, he stood with uncertain eyes, not knowing where he was supposed to go, and is now a 32-year-old young man acting in movies. In the wake of his idol glory, he has been quietly walking the path of an actor. There were people who threw stones, and others who spit at him. Praise was scant, and his path was strewn with thorns. All the while, Yoon Kye-sang was always growing within his roles. No, the roles he chose reflected Yoon Kye-sang’s feelings of that time.

After he was released from military service, we met him in Crazy for Love after he’d split from a long-time girlfriend. The movie Lovers for Six Years was also an autobiographical project.

Yoon Kye-sang was called a traitor for leaving G.O.D. before the sixth album; they went on to release a seventh before disbanding (unofficially; rumors periodically surface that they may make a comeback). Yoon recently said that he had ended a six-year romance as he headed into military service, as both parties got busier and they naturally drifted apart.

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Read the rest of Yoon Kye-sang still crazy about acting (1,134 words)

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Post tags: interviews, Yoon Kye-sang

The following is an interview with Park Shin-hye in Movieweek about her role as the crossdressing nun (apprentice) in You’re Beautiful. I think she, like Jang Geun-seok, had shown a lot of potential at a young age but sorta glided by in average performances for a while. But in this spunky trendy drama, I find both are really bursting with personality, and it sounds like the fun is alive both in front of and behind the cameras.

You’re Beautiful’s Park Shin-hye: “I have dark circles under my eyes… The new challenge is thrilling!”

MOVIEWEEK: I didn’t know you had such a bright side.

PARK SHIN-HYE: “I’ve taken on a lot of quiet, sad roles till now. That’s why a lot of people have told me that they’re seeing a new side to me in this drama. But actually, Go Mi-nyeo is a bit like me. We’re similar in how we bump into things left and right, and how we mean well with good intentions, but end up causing accidents and trouble.” (Laughs)

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Read the rest of Park Shin-hye is tired but happy (1,150 words)

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Post tags: interviews, Park Shin-hye, You're Beautiful

SBS’s You’re Beautiful showed off its Ilsan, Kyunggi-do, filming location on the afternoon of October 13 for an open set day. The cast showed some behind-the-scenes activities (and new hairstyles!) and gave interviews with the media, who were on hand to watch some new scenes being shot.

If you’ve been watching the drama (or just following along with the developments), you’ll know that A.N.JELL is the drama’s fictional idol group, led by Jang Geun-seok and also consisting of Park Shin-hye, Lee Hong-ki, and Jung Yong-hwa. In these scenes, A.N.JELL appears on a television variety program (as so many of kpop’s real idols do) and participate in some silly games.

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Read the rest of Behind the scenes with You’re Beautiful’s cast (2,213 words)

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Post tags: interviews, Jang Geun-seok, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Hong-ki, Park Shin-hye, You're Beautiful

Kim Heechul, resident oddball of boy band Super Junior, is probably more known for his singer status, but he’s done a bit of acting in multiple television series. They include the heartwarming comic family drama Bad Family, last year’s Golden Bride, and his latest project, SBS’s new I Love You Ten Million Times, which stars Ryu Jin, Lee Soo-kyung, and Jung Kyeo-woon.

“I act, but Suju is my eternal home”

“Because of the popularity, at one time I wanted to drop out of Super Junior, but now it’s an important name, one I couldn’t shake off if I tried.”

This is Kim Heechul, whose name became known through the popular idol group Super Junior. But if you take a look, his debut project was actually KBS 2TV’s 2005 Sharp 2 [반올림2], which means that the label “singer-turned-actor” is not accurate to describe him.

Therefore, Kim Heechul’s return to television in the new SBS weekend drama Love You Ten Million Times [천만번 사랑해] isn’t a deviation from his course but actually a return to his original profession. He makes his return a year and seven months after his last television role, the SBS drama Golden Bride [황금신부], which wrapped its broadcast run on February 3, 2008.

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Read the rest of Kim Heechul: “I act, but Suju is my eternal home” (538 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: interviews, Kim Heechul, Super Junior