Actor Kang Han-na shared her feelings about letting go of the project as tvN's Bon Appetit, Your Majesty concluded.
Beyond JAY released a one-on-one interview on the 29th with Kang Han-na, who delivered a fierce presence as Sukwon Kang Mok-ju in Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, which ended on the 28th, is a survival fantasy romantic comedy about a chef who time-slips to the past at the height of their career and meets the worst tyrant and a king with absolute taste. Kang Han-na played Sukwon Kang Mok-ju, a "national beauty" who monopolizes the king's favor and wields power and scheming, raising immersion with her passionate performances each episode. In particular, her acting, visuals and clear diction came together perfectly, earning praise as "a Kang Han-na historical drama you can trust."
We present a one-on-one interview that includes Kang Han-na's various stories, including her feelings on the finale, filming episodes and future plans.
-Full one-on-one interview with actor Kang Han-na-
Q1. I am curious about your feelings as you send off Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
After going through hot summer days, I can't believe a project that everyone prepared and filmed passionately together is already at its end; I really don't want to let it go. But because the work received love and attention from many viewers, I think I can send Kang Mok-ju off with a joyful heart.
Q2. When you read the script, what attracted you most to Kang Mok-ju and how did you begin interpreting the character?
Kang Mok-ju appears to hold the only cure that can pacify the rough tyrant in the palace, but I was drawn to the idea that she actually harbored poison inside and could move between extremes to have a deadly presence. Although she has the pretext of aiding Prince Je-san's cause, I wanted to portray her villainy and emotional line more dramatically than usual. I projected narcissists who gaslight others for their goals, plot schemes and whose emotions swing wildly onto Mok-ju, and tried to portray that appropriately for each situation.
Q3. Kang Mok-ju captivated viewers in every scene and appearance. Which scene from this drama is the most memorable?
I remember the scene where she intentionally provoked Yi-heon, who came to scold Mok-ju, by bringing up his trauma about his mother. To keep Yi-heon in her grasp until the end, she even shed fake tears and appealed passionately, then coldly wiped away her tears as she left; that showed Mok-ju's chilling dual identity very well, I think.
Q4. Kang Mok-ju has been evaluated not as a "simple villain" but as a three-dimensional figure who alternates between stubbornness, lust for power and jealousy. What is Mok-ju's charm?
Before entering the palace, Mok-ju lived a life so lowly, rough and difficult that no one could imagine it from her current appearance, so I thought that allowed for varied expressions. Thus, when alone with Chuwol she would let out her inherently vulgar laugh, but in front of Yi-heon she would feign elegance and, when needed, adopt coquetry. She showed childish jealousy and a sense of crisis toward Yeon Ji-young for the first time, and revealed her true self before Prince Je-san, who knew her whole identity and shared her intent, which made three-dimensional expression possible.
Q5. Praise such as "national beauty," "eye-commanding power" and "personal-color historical drama" continued. What viewer reaction impressed you the most?
The late-series reaction that "Mok-ju is the tyrant" impressed me. She may have come across as someone who, under the pretext of being the concubine most favored by the king in the palace, wields her power in the wrong direction. I hadn't thought of it that way, but I was struck that viewers reacted to Mok-ju's brutal rampage in the latter part of the series that way.
Q6. In this work you showed a new side as an actor and powerful acting playing a historical character with strong lust for power. What part did you focus on most to portray the character's growth?
Mok-ju wasn't someone who interacted with many palace figures or took direct action, so I focused on making her clearer and more distinct in relatively few scenes. The director wanted Mok-ju to show a beautiful yet deadly presence in the palace, so I paid attention to that, and the writer personally commented that she hoped I would use a lot of facial expressions, so I tried to capture emotions and schemes deliciously well.
Q7. How was your acting chemistry with the other cast members in the work? Are there any moments that remain particularly memorable?
There were many scenes with senior actress Kim Chae-hyun, who played Chuwol, and she gave me many words of blessing and praise every time we met, so I felt loved while filming. On the day we filmed the ok-sa scene with Chuwol, when I held the senior's hand for emotional continuity, it happened to be the senior's birthday and her last day of shooting. Thanks to her, we were able to film what might be the most sincere display of Mok-ju's emotions, so that remains memorable.
Q8. Kang Mok-ju's red hanbok and intense makeup became a major topic. When expressing not only acting but also external style and atmosphere, what did you pay attention to?
With vividly colored hanboks, extravagant hair ornaments and red-tinged makeup, she became a character who emitted a certain red energy even without speaking. The director commented that Mok-ju's eyes should certainly look bad, so except for a brief moment when she happily ate a macaron, I tried to consistently project the external atmosphere of a bad and dangerous woman.
Q9. Playing Mok-ju, who met a tragic end, is there anything you would personally like to say to her one last time?
Mok-ju, in your next life be born into an ordinary family and live rightly. I hope you build a happy home, have children and live together in harmony.
Q10. As the show ends, are there roles or genres you want to challenge next, and how would you like the public to remember you?
I don't know when or which character and project I'll meet next, but I will greet you with works I've already filmed; I will work to show new and diverse sides, so please watch and give a lot of interest and love. Thank you.[Photo] provided
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