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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-09-13 08:06:42
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- "Joon (Heo Nam-joon) was silently preparing, sweating on set, but once the camera started rolling, he completely transformed." (Son Hyun-joo)
"As soon as the shoot starts, he turns into a 'madman.' His uncalculated, pure explosiveness is his biggest strength. I'm so confident in his future that if he were a stock, I'd buy shares." (Kim Myung-min)
Rookie actor Heo Nam-joon from the recently concluded Genie TV drama Your Honor made an impression on viewers from his very first scene, showcasing a unique appearance and bold acting. His distinct breathing and facial expressions added depth to the typical "arrogant chaebol heir" villain character, giving it more complexity.
In an interview on the 12th at the Yonhap News headquarters in Susong-dong, Jongno, Seoul, Heo Nam-joon shared, "The director and senior actors said I act in a unique way, but I'm not sure exactly what makes it so unique," he laughed.
He added, "The director said that if I can really bring out this 'strange acting' well, it could become my unique trait. That gave me confidence."
In Your Honor, Heo Nam-joon plays Kim Sang-hyuk, the eldest son of Woo-won Group Chairman Kim Kang-heon (played by Kim Myung-min), inheriting both his father’s ruthlessness and charisma. He is the only one who can disturb his father’s composure. In one of his most challenging scenes, after his half-brother dies in a hit-and-run accident, Sang-hyuk stands before reporters at his brother’s funeral and delivers a chilling line, "If a wild dog bites someone to death, justice is hunting down that entire pack, even if it means scouring the whole mountain."
Reflecting on the scene, Heo said, "This was filmed on the first day of shooting, and I was so nervous that I can barely remember anything from that day."
"Sang-hyuk feels like he's stepping into the spotlight, becoming the star in front of the reporters. I had to convey the tension of a ticking time bomb, so I kept thinking about how to maintain that energy throughout the scene," he said.
"Even though I knew rehearsing too much could backfire, I practiced endlessly because it was the only way to shake off my anxiety. But when I finally stepped on set, my mind went blank, and I wondered what I had been preparing for all that time."
Although Heo Nam-joon admitted to feeling uncertain and anxious even after wrapping up the scene, it left a strong impression on viewers. The clip circulated widely on social media, with fans praising the subtle details in his acting, such as the way he paused mid-sentence to stare off into space before continuing.
Heo shared, "I usually consider various options for key scenes, but in the moment, I often follow my instincts."
"Sometimes, on set, I get a sudden feeling like 'I want to try it this way.' For instance, when Sang-hyuk looks at his brother’s portrait and mutters a quiet eulogy before cursing or when his eyes roll back while speaking—those were ad-libs that happened on the spot," he explained.
He added, "I tend to get extremely nervous before filming, but once the camera starts, I do my best to hold it together and make sure I'm not the weak link in the performance," he laughed.
Debuting in 2019 with the film Like the First Cup, Heo Nam-joon has appeared in films like Night in Paradise and Hostage, as well as dramas such as Snowdrop, The Matchmaker, and Netflix's Sweet Home seasons 2 and 3. Your Honor was his first leading role in a drama.
"Back in the day, even if I had a minor role, I hoped someone would notice me. After many rounds of hope and disappointment, I tried to suppress my expectations this time," he revealed.
Though he received more attention than he expected from this project, Heo remained grounded, saying, "Life is the same as before."
"It's still the same routine—going to shoots, hitting the gym, then heading home. People say they like me, but it doesn't really feel real yet. It still feels like something happening in a virtual world." (laughs)
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