Arin, known as the 'lovely maknae' of the group Oh My Girl, has successfully taken her first shocking step as an actress after receiving public love for 10 years. Through the Wave original drama 'S Line', she perfectly shed her previous image and proved her infinite potential as an actress.
Arin fully infused her aspirations into the character 'Hyun Hee' that she portrayed in 'S Line,' saying, 'I want to be an actress remembered only as the character of the work.' Her transformation was so surprising that even the Oh My Girl members noted, 'This is the first time we've seen this side of her in 10 years.'
'S Line' is a fantasy thriller with a shocking premise that red lines are visible between people who have sexual relationships. For Arin, who was synonymous with innocence, this was undoubtedly a difficult choice. Arin also shared, 'The genre itself is shocking, so when I first received the script, I wondered if I could fully embody it, how I could present it naturally, as it was different from the image I had displayed before.'
Fan reactions were also a concern. Arin remarked, 'Since our fans have cherished me as the maknae, they seemed quite surprised. Luckily, it seems that many looked at my first start as actress Arin positively,' expressing her gratitude.
Ultimately, Arin's challenge was successful. She expressed her joy as an actress, stating, 'I was very thankful and impressed by the reactions of people who said they didn't realize it was me when they saw the character 'Hyun Hee.' I felt that I could emerge as a role, not just Arin, when I took on new challenges.'
In order to become 'Hyun Hee,' Arin boldly attempted changes from her appearance. To capture the character setting of a recluse, she readily accepted the director's suggestion of a short haircut and added her own ideas. Arin noted, 'The character Hyun Hee is a recluse and doesn't go outside much. I thought if her skin looked pale and unkempt, it would be more realistic.' She revealed that she aimed to make her makeup look less appealing to enhance the character's authenticity, saying, 'I made it look rougher and added freckles. I also didn't groom my eyebrows.'
Her internal acting was also a result of deep contemplation. Arin explained, 'Hyun Hee had a complicated family background due to her special abilities, and since her grandmother passed away, she likely had many feelings of loneliness, unable to rely on anyone. I thought that she would struggle with face-to-face interactions, so I expressed it that way,' as she fully immersed herself in the character.
Arin's spirit of challenge was not built overnight. The experiences she gained over the past 10 years while working with Oh My Girl and engaging in various concepts served as nourishment for actress Arin. She remarked, 'Even during my time with Oh My Girl, I took on many different concepts, and that helped a lot. I also want to see a new side of myself, so I have a strong desire to take on diverse challenges.'
The reactions of the Oh My Girl members, who have closely observed Arin's challenges, were a solid support. Arin stated, 'The older members also said that this style is very attractive after watching the work and were surprised to see me on screen. Since it was a side they had never seen before, they seemed to find it even more charming. Though the members were surprised by the changes in my appearance, they seemed to have a positive reaction to me showing this side as well,' expressing her gratitude toward her fellow members.
Having successfully transformed through 'S Line,' Arin is now dreaming of bigger aspirations. She expressed her desire for the noir genre, stating, 'I love noir films like 'The Thieves' and 'Shinsegae.' If a good opportunity arises after diligently preparing, I would like to take on that challenge.'
In particular, Arin, who believes that the challenge of new characters and genres is her driving force for acting, is prepared to go to great lengths. She expressed her passion for acting, saying, 'For external appearances, if it fits the work, I want to try everything. I'm even willing to shave my head if necessary.'
If the past 10 years were a time that solidified her, Arin believes the next 10 years will be a time of constant challenge and growth as an actress. She declared with determination, 'I hope that as I work on different projects, the image of Arin doesn't come to mind as much. I want to be an actress who can only be remembered as a character in the work, an actress with no limits.'
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