Actor Jung I-seo captivated global viewers with her portrayal of a "three-dimensional villain."
Jung I-seo delivered a strong performance as Seok Ju-ran in the Netflix series The Wonder Fools, released on the 15th, directed by Yoo In-sik and written by Heo Da-jung.
In the drama, Seok Ju-ran is one of three "Wunderkinder" who gained supernatural powers after being experimented on by Ha Won-do (Son Hyunjoo), the chief director of the "Wunderkinder project." Due to the poor conditions at the group home in her past, she lost her hearing, and her ability is, in fact, a brainwashing power that paralyzes others' hearing and controls them like puppets.
Jung I-seo portrayed the moment she activates this ability, both a miracle and a tragedy, with an expressionless face that seemed to have erased all emotion. Without exaggerated action, she intensified tension by overwhelming others with only her gaze, breathing and presence. In particular, her three-dimensional acting that shifts between sorrow and cruelty left a strong impression in every appearance. The unique cheerful tone of the work combined with Jung I-seo's deep character interpretation created a singularly chilling villain character.
What made Jung I-seo shine in this work was that she convincingly portrayed the justification hidden behind the character's evil acts. Jung I-seo conveyed Seok Ju-ran's dilemma—choosing to become a monster herself to protect her younger sister Seok Ho-ran (Choi Yoon-ji)—with a mournful look. Facing a harsh fate in which those deemed useless are discarded, Seok Ju-ran brainwashed even herself and threw everything away solely for her sister; that narrative was completed as a "three-dimensional villain" through Jung I-seo's delicate internal acting.
Having expanded her range with distinct performances in each work, Jung I-seo renewed her "life role" by skillfully manipulating the drama's tension, including reversing the genre into a mystery thriller through The Wonder Fools.
[Photo] Netflix' The Wonder Fools' screen capture
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