'Salon de Holmes' star Nam Gi-ae shared her feelings after finishing the work.
On the 15th, ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Salon de Holmes' concluded with its 10th episode, in which Nam Gi-ae played the role of 'Jun Ji-hyun', the eldest sister of four solution seekers and the CEO of Gwangseon Super. The character Jun Ji-hyun that Nam Gi-ae portrayed was a representation of pure warmth. She empathized with the stories of her neighbors with sincerity, shedding tears and captivated viewers with a girl-like innocent smile. Nam Gi-ae became the warm and friendly neighborhood sister that anyone would want to befriend, adding realism to the drama and captivating the audience.
Nam Gi-ae became the embodiment of Jun Ji-hyun, enriching the drama even further. From her first appearance, she exuded an extraordinary presence, naturally engaging with the neighboring residents, while watching local children with eyes flowing with love, embodying the image of a neighbor one might have seen once in the neighborhood. Moreover, knowing the backstory of Gong Mi-ri (played by Lee Si-young) and Park So-hee (played by Kim Da-som), she shared heartfelt hugs while getting teary-eyed, truly representing a reliable eldest sister. With her delicate acting skills, actress Nam Gi-ae transforms into the character itself in every project, and she directly expressed her thoughts about the drama 'Salon de Holmes' and the character Jun Ji-hyun.
After finishing 'Salon de Holmes', Nam Gi-ae is concentrating on filming the new SBS drama 'Kiss is for no reason!'. There is much anticipation for how actress Nam Gi-ae, who is fearless in her challenges through constant efforts, will return to us.
Here is the full Q&A with Nam Gi-ae.
Q. I'm curious about your feelings after finishing the drama.
"I had to wait a long time from when we finished filming in July of last year until the release, so I was even more anxious about the reaction. I worried a lot about how it would turn out, but after watching the first episode, I felt relieved. The development was fast, and the chemistry of Zoom Avengers was also well alive. It was really tough, but we filmed it with great fun; it felt rewarding to see that on screen. The viewership ratings were high, and the response from acquaintances was warm, so I was sad that it ended with 10 episodes. Instead, I'm excited about the anticipation for season 2."
Q. Is there a specific reason you chose 'Salon de Holmes'?
"There was no reason not to choose it (laughs). I have wanted to do a woman-centered drama for a long time. It's a fortune that the opportunity came to the main character group in my age bracket. Everything was perfect, from the trustworthy director to the intriguing story. The concept of ordinary housewives working together to solve episodes that could happen in an apartment drew my interest the most. These are themes that can resonate with housewife viewers. Although I was a bit worried since it was my first time doing a comedy drama, I thought I could trust the director. Since he directed SNL, he has an exceptional sense of humor. The actresses Lee Si-young and Jung Young-joo, whom I wanted to work with, were both 'reliable actors', and seeing them on set showed their extraordinary passion and energy. Da-som was also very polite and lovely. It was a really great choice."
Q. You took on the role of 'Jun Ji-hyun', the neighborhood supermarket owner and information source. Were there specific things you kept in mind while portraying and preparing for the character?
"Mi-ri and Kyung-ja (played by Jung Young-joo) have unique abilities like sharp intuition and the special ability of a female Dong-seok, but Ji-hyun has no special ability, so I did a thorough character analysis. Ji-hyun is a mother in her early 30s who has lost a child, and due to the guilt of that, she has relied on alcohol and underwent treatment for alcohol addiction. Although she appears bright on the outside, she is a past-oriented person who cannot escape her past. I analyzed that she remained in her early 30s and set a style and outfits that feel younger but are not suitable for her age. Until meeting Mi-ri, Ji-hyun spent her routine days as an ordinary housewife in a small supermarket. If she had a dream, it would be to appear once in Miss Silver Korea, and the emotions behind Ji-hyun's heart resonated with me. As a 37-year-old, and a mother of three, I also dreamed of returning to the stage from being an ordinary housewife, having made my late debut in theater. Everyone has unfulfilled dreams in their hearts. Understanding that feeling deeply, I wanted to characterize Ji-hyun even better. While considering harmony with the other actors, a lovely character with warmth and consideration as the eldest sister was created. She also became a couple with her husband, with whom she quarrels but shares the pain of letting go of a child."
Q. In this work, you challenged action acting for the first time. I'm curious about your preparation.
"There wasn't much action acting, but did it come out well? (laughs) I received PT twice a week and also attended action school. My heart felt like it could fly, but my body didn't follow as much as my heart. With the director's and colleagues' consideration, we only did the necessary actions. So, I feel a bit disappointed. In season 2, I want to train more and try some cool actions."
Q. The chemistry between the four problem-solvers was, of course, a topic of discussion, as was your chemistry with your husband Cheon Yong-man (played by Kim Jong-chil). What was the chemistry like with the fellow actors you filmed with?
"Wasn't the chemistry between the four clearly revealed in the drama? It was genuinely perfect. Si-young, Young-joo, and I are all mothers with kids, so we often shared stories from our everyday lives. Da-som was a lovely and very respectful junior who followed her seniors so well. Just looking at her made me smile as a mom. Since Si-young had a lot of scenes, we had quite a bit of waiting time in between, and during that time, we thoroughly explored the chicken rib restaurants in Chuncheon. Chuncheon has so many pretty cafes; it truly feels like a city one would want to live in. I was honored to work with Senior Kim Jong-chil. Since this was his first media project, there must have been a lot of uncomfortable parts, but he always took care of me, for which I am very grateful. Thank you, Senior."
Q. How was your synergy with director Min Jin-ki?
"The director has the best leadership and drive. The on-site directing is fast, and though he seems like he doesn't acknowledge it, he understands and cares for everyone. He is someone who proves that if you trust him, good results will follow. The director is really amazing."
Q. If you had to pick the scene you liked most or a standout scene in the drama?
"It's the scene where I ran off carrying a little customer who came to buy ramen alone, surrounding that child who was scolded by her mother for stealing bread, thanks to my husband who stopped me, and then I was able to collect myself and suggested having a glass of wine at Tanghulu. That scene stays in my heart most vividly as it helps to understand Ji-hyun's character arc. Ji-hyun, who buried her child in her heart, wouldn't eat the bracken. I believe the greatest sorrow in life is to lose a child first. It's a sorrow akin to punishment, and I can only imagine how stifling that thought can be. In the drama, So-hee, the mother of a son whose life hangs in the balance, works herself to the bone, and still, she says she cannot die because she is a mother after almost being killed by the Ribbon Man. Mi-ri runs to an abandoned hospital, disregarding all dangers to save her daughter who is kidnapped by the Ribbon Man. And knowing that feeling well, Kyung-ja, Ji-hyun, and So-hee rushed right over. Reflecting on many of the standout scenes in our drama, I realize they all contain themes of motherhood."
Q. Are there any memorable episodes from the filming set?
"In episode 6, there's a scene where I walk in the rain wearing a red dress on a wig while catching a mouse. I usually don't wear heels because I'm tall, so when I do wear them, I walk carefully, fearing I might trip. But the director wanted a rhythmic walk, so I practiced hard, but when they joked that I might break into a jive, I burst out laughing. (laughs) That day, I felt really embarrassed in a short skirt and a long-haired wig, but when I saw the broadcast, it came out amusingly, so I was glad. The scene where the representative's wig was coming off and put back on, and the roaring was all improvised on set, which made it rewarding to have created while getting soaked."
Q. 'Salon de Holmes' features various villains you can encounter around you. Besides the villains featured in the drama, are there any other villains you would like to take down?
"I would like to take down multi-level marketing scammers targeting the elderly. It's bad enough that they take money that the elderly can't even spend by robbing their pocket money, but I've seen many elderly feel utterly defeated when someone they trusted and cared for suddenly disappears."
Q. A word for the viewers who loved 'Salon de Holmes.'
"Thank you so much for watching and supporting us so warmly. We find strength from viewers who say they gained strength through 'Salon de Holmes.' Please continue to support season 2, and look forward to how Ji-hyun, who was stuck in the past, changes her life for her future. I hope you can also nurture dreams in your hearts amid your weary daily lives... "
[Photo] OSEN DB, Ace Factory provided.
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