Han So-hee says working opposite screen legend Choi Min-sik left her equal parts awed and inspired.
Speaking ahead of the release of "Project Y" (directed by Lee Hwan), Han reflected on recently wrapping "The Intern" (directed by Kim Do-young), the Korean remake of the 2015 Hollywood hit, and said she learned firsthand what relentless passion and humility look like from Choi.
“Choi Min-sik is completely unpredictable,” she shared. “I can show up with hundreds, even thousands of choices, and he’s still three moves ahead. He felt like a mountain I couldn’t possibly climb.”
What struck her most, though, was his stamina. “That energy is unreal. I kept wondering, if I’m still acting at his age, could I bring that same fire? With just that energy alone, you’re already halfway there on set. He’s someone who is madly in love with acting. Watching him made me realize, ‘I’ve still got a long way to go.’”
The pair team up in "The Intern", where Han plays Sun-woo, a go-getter CEO of a fashion company who hires Gi-ho (Choi) as a senior, or “silver,” intern. The film reimagines the 2015 global crowd-pleaser, with Choi stepping into the role originated by Robert De Niro and Han taking on the young boss. The buzzy project recently wrapped production and is now in post.
Nine years into her career, Han says she avoids patting herself on the back and stays focused on craft in an increasingly competitive field. “There are so many talented, beautiful, and gifted actors right now,” she said. “My homework is to keep meeting audiences with something only I can do―to be truly irreplaceable.”
Han’s next big-screen turn, "Project Y", opens Jan. 21.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)