Actor Choi Ji-woo opened up about why she signed on to the true-story drama movie “Sugar.”
“Sugar” follows Mira, a mother who refuses to accept the limits of red tape after her son is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes―ultimately building a medical device herself to keep him safe. It’s a fierce, tender portrait of a mom pushed to innovate by love.
The film marks Choi’s first big-screen role in three years. She chose the more modestly scaled project for its authenticity and resonant message. Having become a mom at 46, Choi said she deeply related to the character’s maternal drive and decided to take the part.
At a press screening held Jan. 15 at Lotte Cinema Konkuk Univ. in Seoul, Choi shared, “I had my child later in life, and when I read the script, it just pulled at me.”
“Because it’s based on a real person, there were parts I approached with extra care,” she continued. “Any parent knows the panic when a child is sick―it’s beyond imagination. While filming, I actually found myself getting too emotionally immersed at times. The director helped rein that in, and I did a lot of prep before we rolled.”
The film was inspired by interviews with Kim Mi-young, head of the Korea Type 1 Diabetes Association. Choi Ji-woo plays Mira, a mother who breaks through legal and regulatory barriers to create a life-saving device for her son―delivering a performance steeped in fierce maternal resolve.
“As the director mentioned, they also have Type 1 diabetes, so I was able to hear a lot firsthand and prepare with that insight,” Choi added.
“Sugar” opens Jan. 21.