Editor's Note: 

A "scene-stealer" is a term used in various media to describe a character or actor who, regardless of their screen time, naturally captures the audience's attention with their strong personality and charm, often overshadowing the main roles. The term literally means to steal the scene. In this context, K-Vibe presents a relay interview series featuring actors who started with theater and expanded their acting range into drama and film, becoming scene-stealers. The series will be updated biweekly and will serve as an archive of scene-stealer actors with a background in Korean theater, providing valuable resources for casting directors worldwide.

 

▲ This photo of Korean actress Gil Hae-yeon is provided by JUST Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

[K-People] Actress Gil Hae-yeon: "Experiencing Various Outings Through Acting is a Blessing"

SEOUL, July 17 (Yonhap) -- "The charm of being an actor is that you can live different lives through each piece of work. I often say 'life is an outing,' and experiencing various forms of outings through acting is a blessing."

Actress Gil Hae-yeon (60), known for her performances across various genres including dramas and films, confessed this in a recent interview with Yonhap News, reflecting on her career. "Even if my role is just a small piece of the puzzle in the work, I want to be someone who fills the gaps faithfully," she said.

Reflecting on her 38-year acting career, she noted, "Outings are not always enjoyable. There are ups and downs, like getting lost in the rain. In tough times, I remind myself that 'this too shall pass' and strive to give my best on stage."

Starting as a founding member of the theater group 'Little Myth' in 1986 and working as an instructor at the Theater Arts Academy, she made her official debut in the 2003 film 'If You Were Me.' Since then, she has consistently shown her solid acting skills built on the theater stage in both films and dramas.

Earlier this year, she appeared as 'Jeong-ok,' a middle-aged woman, in director Bae Doo-ri's film 'Dolphin.' She also caught the audience's eye with her roles as Eun Soo-hyun's (played by Kim Nam-joo) mother-in-law Jeong Myeong-hee in the drama 'Wonderful World' and as academic counseling director Kim Hyo-im in 'Graduation.'

Since mid-June, she has been performing the role of Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and the Queen of Denmark, in the Seensee Company's play 'Hamlet,' maintaining a busy schedule.

She mentioned that acting in media like films and dramas is not significantly different from performing on stage. "In theater, the size of the performance is important, and fundamentally, I need to be bigger," she said. "It requires expansion, not only in the volume of lines but also to convey the actor's intentions to the audience in the back row."

She added, "While the essence of acting in films or dramas is the same as in theater, it requires more detailed expressions. Depending on how you express yourself in a close-up shot, the intended meaning can come across differently."

"Although I become more sensitive when appearing in films or dramas, I enjoy being able to showcase various expressions. In theater, there are moments of intense introspection and anguish, which can be painful but beautiful in every moment," she emphasized.

▲ This photo of Korean actress Gil Hae-yeon is provided by JUST Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

When asked for advice for those contemplating shifting from theater to media acting or vice versa, she said, "It's best to continue doing what you have been doing."

Gil Hae-yeon advised, "When a good opportunity arises, rather than trying to show something special, it's better to trust yourself and approach it comfortably. Just have a fearless heart when encountering something new. Enjoying that moment is important."

In the interview, she also introduced her involvement with the Korea Theater Welfare Foundation.

Since September 2020, Gil Hae-yeon has been serving as the chairperson of the foundation, which aims to create conditions and environments for theater actors to continue their work healthily.

"Money alone cannot support theater actors," she said. "Acknowledging and comforting them, reminding them that they are proud theater actors, is the core of the foundation's work. This gives them the strength to endure for another ten years."

The foundation provides emergency living expenses, medical expense support, and scholarships for the children of theater actors. It is operated with donations from theater actors, including Park Myung-sung, CEO of Seensee Company, who serves as the foundation's fundraising chairman.

She particularly highlighted the establishment of the 'Yeonbok Acting Award' to thank and encourage mid-level theater actors who sustain Korean theater and the 'Theater Staff Award' to support young theater staff dreaming of becoming professional staff as significant achievements.

"The foundation plays a supplementary role in helping theater actors maintain their pride," she said. "I'm pleased that a culture of mutual support within the theater community, such as voluntary donations of prize money from winning awards, is emerging."

Towards the end of the interview, she shared about her appearance in the new series, tentatively titled 'Try: We Become Miracles,' set to air next year.

In this drama, which uniquely focuses on rugby, Gil Hae-yeon will play the role of the principal of a sports high school. 

"I recently read the script and laughed and cried joyfully after a long time," she said. "I think my character will be someone who makes you think, 'If only there was an adult like this beside me, my life would have improved.' I'll show the best of humanity," she smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

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