Ha Ji Won revealed the lengths she went to transform into her character for the upcoming film Portrait of a Family, including giving up her regular skincare and exercise routines and intentionally damaging her hair.
In the film, Ha Ji Won plays Nam Mi, a former top actress whose life changes dramatically after her family faces unexpected circumstances. Years later, she is shown living a much more difficult life while trying to support herself as an entertainer.
Ha Ji Won explained that making Nam Mi's appearance believable was an important part of building the character.
She said, “I didn’t receive skincare treatments, and I didn’t work out. I wanted to create a tired body and mood that matched Nam Mi’s life.”
The actress also repeatedly bleached her hair and intentionally made it look damaged. According to Ha Ji Won, the effects lasted even after filming ended.
“I deliberately damaged my hair, but it stayed damaged even after filming was over. It felt like traces of Nam Mi remained with me for a long time,” she shared.
Her transformation involved smaller details as well. Ha Ji Won said the production carefully adjusted everything from her lipstick shade and eyebrow shape to her clothing, hair, and makeup to reflect Nam Mi's changing circumstances.
The final appearance was so different that Ha Ji Won herself felt unfamiliar when watching the footage.
She recalled showing the result to her mother, saying with a laugh, “I think my mother was shocked.”
Ha Ji Won said she was attracted to Nam Mi because the character felt more grounded in everyday life compared with many of the strong fantasy and action roles she has played throughout her career.
“I’ve played many strong characters in fantasy and action projects, but this time I was attracted to the fact that the character lives a more realistic life,” she explained.
Playing an actress also led Ha Ji Won to reflect on her own career. She said that while preparing for the movie, she found herself asking questions such as “Who am I?” and “Why am I acting?”
Production on Portrait of a Family was delayed for about a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than distancing herself from the role, Ha Ji Won said the delay gave her more time to understand Nam Mi and discuss the character's life with the director.
After nearly 30 years in the industry, Ha Ji Won said the movie helped her rediscover some of the emotions she felt when she first started acting.
“This project made me feel as if I were beginning acting again,” she said, adding that the experience also made her think more seriously about the responsibility that comes with choosing each new role.
Portrait of a Family follows a former celebrity couple who become involved in a difficult family situation years after their lives take an unexpected turn.
