ENTERTAINMENT
Kim A-young was a million-dollar beauty creator... “Overflowing with confidence and self-love”
As JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'The Girl Who Is Different from Day and Night' came to an end, viewers' attention was focused on Kim A-young, who exuded a sparkling presence until the end. In the play, Kim A-young captivated the weekend night with her role as Do Ga-young, a beauty creator with over 1 million subscribers.
Kim A-young, who caused 'Togaholic' in the small screen, brought laughter and emotion. He shows the side of a lover who goes straight ahead without hesitation to win the love that has come to him, and he doubles the fun at the right time by exuding cute, lively, and cute charm along with confident confidence in everything.
Also, Kim A-young created a warm atmosphere with an interesting story. This is because Do Ga-young (played by Kim A-young) stood by her best friend Lee Mi-jin (played by Jeong Eun-ji) and provided reliable help. Using her recognition as an influencer, she actively took steps to find the cat that was involved in Lee Mi-jin's change, and moved those who watched her by revealing her warm heart for her friend.
In each episode, he showed off his passionate acting as if he were completely one with the character and freely displayed his expanded spectrum, once again proving his outstanding skills as an actor. Kim A-young played another leading role in ‘The Girl Who Is Different from Day and Night’. Through his agency AIMC, he told various stories related to the work, from his thoughts on the end of 'The Girl Who is Different from Day and Night' to the behind-the-scenes story. The following is a Q&A with Kim Ayoung.
Q1. ‘The Girl Who Is Different from Day and Night’ ended amid much love. How do you feel after finishing the drama?
A. While watching the drama and making video, I once again remembered many warm and fun days on set. I was grateful to be able to reminisce again, and it was new and fun to see the scenes I had imagined only by reading the script from the viewer's perspective.
Q2. In the play, she transformed into the role of beauty creator Do Ga-young and captured attention with her sly and passionate performance. Is there anything special you prepared for setting up the character of a beauty creator?
A. To prepare functionally for the character of Do Ga-young, I practiced makeup while taking makeup classes. I thought that a million beauty creator should have basic knowledge of beauty and be detailed when applying makeup to Mijin. So, I wrote a content script for the play while practicing hand gestures, how to hold tools, and how to touch the face. I remember having fun practicing because I always wanted to learn how to do makeup.
Q3. In your opinion, what are the similarities and differences between Kim A-young and Do Ga-young?
A. I found similarities between me and Gayoung in many areas. Gayoung seemed to have filled the empty space in her family with Mijin ever since she was young. So, I thought that if it was Mijin's job, she would take action. I also have a best friend, and in my relationship with that friend, we naturally trust and understand each other unconditionally, no matter what! I think Gayoung and I are similar in that respect.
And the difference between Ayoung and Gayoung is... Gayoung seems to be a person full of confidence and self-love. If you look closely at Gayoung's room, you will see that her picture is hanging in the room. That's different. I tend to try to be cool with myself. I try to look at it objectively.
A. It was so new and fresh. When acting with senior Eunji, I thought it would be nice to see a lot of 'real-life chemistry with no secrets, where we've seen everything we've seen since we were young', but the more time I spent talking with senior Eunji, the closer we became and the more comfortable we became. So, whenever I act with a senior, I think she is just ‘my friend Mijin’. On the other hand, I thought it would be fun to have chemistry with senior Jeong-eun, like 'my friend who is unfamiliar and awkward, but somehow familiar.'
When I acted with senior Jeong-eun, there were many times when I felt like I was really alive while acting because the chemistry was different from what I had practiced. So, after filming with my senior, when the cut sign came out, I remember acting with excitement, saying, “I just felt good!” and “Senior, I think I was just alive!” It was really fun. I went to the site with excitement and anticipation of ‘what kind of interaction I will have with my senior today’.
In fact, seniors Jeong-eun and Eun-ji gave me a lot of warm encouragement and took good care of me. I also thought that this might be something that the two seniors were similar to. You both are lovely and cool. She always seems like a warm and cool sister to me. So, I was able to act with my two seniors with a sense of ease rather than nervousness. I always feel a lot of nervousness when I go to a site, but this time, I have many memories of going there with good tension and excitement. I really want to take this opportunity to say thank you.
Q5. Is there a memorable episode from the filming set?
A. I remember that at the beginning of filming, the director called me aside and told me that I could lie down or move around as if there were no cameras, so I could do whatever I wanted. I think there was some tension in the beginning, but thanks to the director's words, I was able to feel more free on set as the episodes went by. Not long ago, I watched the footage from that episode on air and saw that he was making gestures and acting that even I couldn't remember. 'I acted like that?' I wanted to. It was an action I wasn't prepared for, but I felt like I was mentally comfortable on set.
And what I remember most is the scene where Mi-jin came to Ga-young’s house saying “I am Mi-jin” with Sun-i’s face. Even I was curious about how to make a situation that is difficult to achieve realistically a reality, and while rehearsing with senior Jeong-eun, I remember having a different chemistry from what I had been practicing, so it was so new and fun to film.
Q6. What did you learn as an actor through ‘She’s Different from Day to Night’?
A. ‘Day and Night Woman’ is a work that I learned a lot from. I think what I felt the most was that I learned how to feel a little lighter. I tend to feel at ease when I practice a lot, but there are many things that feel new, gain, and change in the field. At the same time, I thought a lot about how I needed to become more flexible and lighter.
Q7. I am also curious about what kind of work Kim A-young will leave behind.
I think 'Day and Night Girl' will be remembered for 'Dogaville', the house where Gayoung lives. When Gayoung goes to her house, many staff members are crowded, but when I go to film, it feels like I'm going to a crowded relative's house. At home, I have my own actions and freedom that others don't know about. Thanks to the director, many staff members, and senior actors who believed in me, I think Gayoung will cherish this work in her heart as a work she was able to freely act at home.
Q8. He is expanding his acting spectrum and growing as an actor. Is there a genre you would like to challenge in the future?
A. I want to try the thriller genre. The more I acted, the more difficult and interesting it became to create a character while imagining things I had never experienced. This time, I was a warm-hearted person worth having around, but next time I want to play a cold-blooded person without blood or tears.
Q9. Please say hello to the viewers who loved ‘The Girl Who is Different from Day and Night’ and Do Ga-young until the end.
A. Actually, I often go to the real-time chat window. (Laughs) I was so amazed and grateful to see so many people passionately immersing themselves in it. There were many moments when I was touched when I saw posts of people remembering and supporting my previous works. We look forward to seeing you in more diverse ways in the future! As always, Gayoung will be angry, crying, and laughing next to Mijin. Thank you very much for sharing Gayoung’s sparkling moment. Please look forward to seeing more of actress Kim A-young in the future!
Meanwhile, Kim A-young has confirmed her appearance in the movie 'Hit Hit Hit' and plans to continue her career.
Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr
