(Following Interview Ⅰ) Actor Jang Jae-ho spoke about his goals as an actor.
On the morning of the 23rd, at a café in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, actor Jang Jae-ho met with OSEN to discuss his recently completed works.
Jang Jae-ho has met viewers through various characters in multiple works, including the recently released Netflix series 'Squid Game 3', SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Our Movie', and ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Salon de Holmes'. He has shown new faces in each work through diverse performances that traverse between villainous and heroic roles, enhancing the immersion.
In particular, his appearances in the recently completed 'Our Movie' and 'Salon de Holmes' were so extreme that it was hard to believe they were the same person. In 'Our Movie', Min-seok is a human doctor who understands the heart of terminal patients better than anyone else. On the other hand, Tae-hoon in 'Salon de Holmes' appears to be a model student who graduated from a prestigious university, but he is a sociopathic criminal with deep inner wounds from childhood abuse.
When asked if there were any difficult aspects of acting in two completely different characters, he said, "Fortunately, the filming times were different. The release times overlapped, but filming was not difficult. However, it is definitely challenging when playing a villain."
In fact, some actors have expressed that their true personalities change while playing villainous roles. When asked about this, Jang Jae-ho said, "I don't know how much one can immerse themselves to achieve that. To what extent must one be immersed for it to be possible? I truly respect those individuals. The ability to concentrate as an actor is a remarkable talent. I don't think I was able to go that far. It was hard to empathize, yet I still had to perform in a way that audiences and viewers could understand and be persuaded, focusing on each scene as much as I could. I just thought of my short-term goals."
Conversely, he noted it changes when playing benevolent roles. Jang Jae-ho said, "When I play a good role, I think my heart becomes warmer in everyday life. In the case of 'Our Movie', my patient is terminally ill, and moreover, since I am an actor, watching the lines and Yeobin's performance makes me realize that what I am doing is not something to be taken for granted, and I feel grateful, and unconsciously, those thoughts become ingrained in my everyday life."
This year alone, three works have already been released; what has been the reaction from those around him? Jang Jae-ho stated, "Some acquaintances said, 'I didn't realize you were in it,' and with how often I appear nowadays, I occasionally hear, 'Is there anywhere you're not showing up?' I'm grateful," adding, "Since I'm not a lead actor, being able to participate like this is something I appreciate. It's not something to be taken for granted."
As much as the works are loved, it is only natural to desire to be loved by more people as an actor. In this regard, Jang Jae-ho remarked, "I think there are pros and cons. I sometimes feel like I haven't made a lasting impression, but at the same time, I think, 'Ah, I must have blended well into the works.' Because I appeared as different characters."
When asked if there were any regrets about such aspects, he replied, "At some point, my thoughts have become much calmer. I used to have some thirst for love and attention. Now, the desire to be appreciated in my work is overwhelmingly stronger. It's difficult for an actor to achieve a certain level of stability and to be consistently utilized. Realizing that there aren't many actors who can do that, and knowing that it's not something I can achieve by my own strength, I just feel grateful when a project ends."
In sharing his thoughts, Jang Jae-ho revealed, "When I first encountered media acting, I thought that doing it would make me a big star. When I first received a script, I had this strange delusion that once it was over, I would enter the life of a celebrity."
Jang Jae-ho noted, "After it ended, there was no change in my daily life. That's obvious. Once a project finishes, and then another begins, I came to realize 'this is reality' in my mid-30s," stating, "There aren't many people in the world who get to do what they enjoy. It makes me feel grateful that I can earn a living and survive through this. I don't think I have any thoughts of being extraordinary."
Regarding his future goals, Jang Jae-ho expressed, "One of my goals is to act until just before I die. To do that, I need to age well. I need to mature. Because these days, there aren't many projects available, and being utilized means survival, whether it's in character or acting. I want to become that kind of actor."
Finally, when asked about his future plans, Jang Jae-ho responded, "I don't have any grand plans for my activities. If I have a given project, I want to perform it well. I want to show that I'm not such a bad person," explaining, "While I have recently played many villain roles in a row, I believe I am an actor who can portray familial or everyday aspects well. I want to encounter more works where I can provide healing through those portrayals. However, if another villain role comes along, I will work hard."
Meanwhile, Jang Jae-ho married actress Gong Min-jung last September and welcomed their daughter in January. The couple attracted attention after working together as a married couple in the drama 'Marry My Husband' and later becoming a real couple.
[Photo] Y1 Entertainment, ENA 'Salon de Holmes', SBS 'Our Movie', Netflix provided.
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