Ha Ji Won opened up about the challenges of life as an actress while discussing her upcoming film Portrait of a Family.
During a press screening held in Seoul on August 24, Ha Ji Won reflected on playing Nam Mi, a former top actress whose life changes dramatically after falling from the height of her career.
Speaking about how the role affected her personally, Ha Ji Won said, “While filming this movie, I found myself looking back on the life I have lived.”
She explained that her busy career had sometimes made it difficult to focus on the people closest to her, including her family.
“I started thinking about my family, whom I could not always take care of because I was so busy, and about who I was after stepping down from the stage,” she said. “It made me think about how I have lived my life.”
Ha Ji Won added that the experience brought out many emotions and encouraged her to reflect on her relationship with her mother and other important parts of her life.
Her character Nam Mi is also very different from her real personality. According to Ha Ji Won, Nam Mi speaks more harshly and even uses strong language, while the contrast between her life as a top star and her later struggles is especially dramatic.
“There is a very big gap between when she is a top star and when she falls from that position,” Ha Ji Won explained. “The director and I spent a long time developing the character, and I prepared each line carefully.”
Reflecting on the emotional side of the role, she added, “Living as an actress is not easy. My heart really hurt while playing Nam Mi.”
Portrait of a Family stars Ha Ji Won alongside Ryu Seung Ryong and Kim Si A. The film follows a former celebrity couple whose family is changed by an unexpected event, with the story later focusing on their efforts to uncover the truth when their daughter becomes involved in another serious situation.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on September 2.
