Actor Lee Jong Suk surprised fans after revealing that he initially turned down his role in the Disney+ series The Remarried Empress because he felt pressured to play a prince described as extremely handsome.
On November 3, Lee Jong Suk appeared on the YouTube variety show Salon Drip, where he shared the story behind his casting as Heinrey, the prince of the Western Kingdom.
In the original webtoon, Heinrey is described as a man so beautiful that people could faint just by making eye contact with him. Lee Jong Suk, who was already familiar with the webtoon, admitted that the character's appearance made him hesitant to accept the offer.
“When you read the description of Heinrey, he's incredibly beautiful. They even say people faint when they make eye contact with him,” he explained.
“That made it difficult for me to decide. I felt so much pressure,” the actor admitted.
Lee Jong Suk even revealed that he suggested another actor for the role because he believed someone exceptionally handsome should play the character.
“I thought the role should go to someone truly beautiful and handsome. I was ready to just enjoy watching someone else play him,” he said.
However, director Jo Soo Won eventually convinced him to join the project. The two had previously worked together on I Can Hear Your Voice and Pinocchio, making The Remarried Empress their third collaboration.
According to Lee Jong Suk, the director initially approached him to discuss concerns about the project rather than directly offering him the role. Their conversations gradually became more frequent until the actor eventually received the script.
The director also reassured him that the role would not involve too much filming or difficult work.
However, Lee Jong Suk jokingly revealed that the experience turned out to be more demanding than expected.
“Once I started, there were so many things I had to learn,” he shared.
He explained that he had to learn horseback riding and waltzing while traveling to filming locations in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Jeju Island.
The actor also laughed about watching scenes in which other characters repeatedly praised Heinrey's appearance and voice.
“I wondered if they were making fun of me,” he joked.
Despite his initial hesitation, Lee Jong Suk eventually accepted the role, bringing the webtoon's famously handsome prince to life.
Meanwhile, The Remarried Empress, starring Lee Jong Suk, Shin Min Ah, Ju Ji Hoon, and Lee Se Young, was released on Disney+ on November 3, one day earlier than its originally scheduled November 4 premiere.
