Actress Im Yoon-ah solidified her status as a "box-office queen" by successfully concluding Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. Following Big Mouth and King the Land, Im Yoon-ah not only achieved three consecutive hits but also became a "channel savior," reaching No. 1 on Netflix. Despite the hurdle of replacing the lead actor, she did her part without wavering and achieved overwhelming results by creating synergy with all her colleagues, so the epithet "channel savior" is well deserved.
▲ "A feeling that tugs at the heart"…three consecutive hits and the choking emotion of "chief royal cook"
First, Im Yoon-ah expressed deep sincerity about finishing the project. Im Yoon-ah said, "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty is a work that brings out the most feelings that tug at the heart when I think about it," and added, "From the moment I first received the script until now, I lived as Yeon Ji-young for more than a year, so I feel a sense of loss, but I'm proud that I received so much love because I prepared and worked hard."
She cited the "threefold rhythm" as the secret behind leading three consecutive hits after Big Mouth and King the Land. Im Yoon-ah humbly said, "I don't think everything happens by my effort alone. The drama's own appeal, the actors and production staff who create it together, and myself choosing the work all came together in harmony, so we achieved good results."
She especially chose "the most loved actor right now" as the epithet she likes most. Im Yoon-ah said, "It's an epithet that feels real. When I go to airports, restaurants, or meet acquaintances, they call me 'chief royal cook' and say they're watching Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, and I felt it a lot in those moments."
▲ Cooked 95% of dishes herself…taekwondo and 'Come Back Home' comedic scenes performed with sincerity
To perfectly show Yeon Ji-young's skills as the central "chef" of the role, Im Yoon-ah put in tremendous effort. Based on her interest in the cooking element, Im Yoon-ah said, "Cooking is a distinguishing feature; I thought that cooking serves as the medium through which the story of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty unfolds, to the point that you could call cooking the protagonist."
In particular, Im Yoon-ah performed 95% of the cooking scenes herself without a double. Im Yoon-ah, who said, "I even started attending cooking school and received training in plating and Western cuisine from a professional chef," showed a professional attitude, saying she tried to be able to do the parts filmed by the camera "the same from start to finish."
On her acting philosophy for romantic comedy, she said, "Even if it's exaggerated, it's better to try as much as possible, because that yields better results." This shone especially in the comedic taekwondo and singing scenes. About this, she said, "I felt the lyrics of 'Come Back Home' fit Yeon Ji-young best," and she even rewrote lyrics from the script to fit Yeon Ji-young's situation, striving not to miss any small detail.
▲ Unshaken despite lead replacement issue…"synergy with a younger partner"
The lead actor replacement issue that surfaced before the drama began was a significant burden for Im Yoon-ah, but she focused on her part without wavering. Im Yoon-ah said, "No matter the work, it's my task and responsibility to portray the character well, so I studied hard to express the character."
It was the first time Im Yoon-ah partnered with a younger, junior actor. She said, "I often thought about how the seniors and partner colleagues I worked with before behaved," revealing that she worked to lead the partnership herself. She praised co-star Lee Chae-min, saying, "He must have had a lot to prepare in a short time, but Lee Chae-min equipped himself well and appeared on set, which I found amazing. I'm grateful to him."
Im Yoon-ah said that through this work she "felt more that it's not about leading alone but that everyone working together is important," and once again realized that chemistry with fellow actors is the key to producing good results.
▲ "My unnoticed growth"…an actor who approaches with sincerity
Im Yoon-ah said about evaluations that viewers feel immersion in her acting, "I always approach sincerely and I think I express what's given to me in my own way and with my own charm."
Im Yoon-ah mentioned natural growth gained through steady effort, saying, "It's hard to say when a turning point started because I have always done the same, but as experience accumulates, growth that even I don't notice seems to appear." These sincere approaches and efforts accumulated to lead to the success of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. Choosing a buffet to describe how she expresses herself through cooking, she vowed to continue captivating the public's taste through various activities.
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