Shin Min Ah has opened up about taking on her first-ever empress role in Disney+’s upcoming fantasy romance The Remarried Empress, revealing that the elaborate costumes became one of the most physically demanding parts of filming.
During a GV event at the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 9, Shin Min Ah discussed how she approached Navier, the empress at the center of the story.
Laughing, she admitted, *“It was my first time playing an empress, so when I read the script, I thought a lot about how I should portray her.”*
Rather than focusing only on Navier’s royal image, Shin Min Ah said she wanted to show the character’s emotions, sense of responsibility, and strength.
She explained, *“I tried to build the character by focusing on Navier’s emotions, how she responds when something major happens, and the qualities of an empress who loves her people and works hard.”*
However, transforming into an empress also came with an unexpected physical challenge.
Shin Min Ah revealed that she wore a large number of elaborate dresses throughout filming and admitted that the costumes were not easy to handle.
She said with a smile, *“I wore so many dresses, and it was difficult. I wasn’t used to wearing clothes like that, but I thought, ‘When will I ever get to wear something like this again?’ So I worked hard while filming.”*
She also noted that co-star Lee Se Young, who plays Rashta, likely faced similar difficulties because of the amount of elaborate clothing required for the fantasy setting.
Shin Min Ah added that she focused on making Navier’s emotional journey understandable despite the large-scale original story and its many characters.
She said she especially wanted viewers to connect with Navier as an independent woman navigating major changes in her life.
The Remarried Empress, which also stars Ju Ji Hoon, Lee Jong Suk, and Lee Se Young, is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on November 4.
