Actress Cha Joo-young Reflects on Late Debut and Career Journey

Actress Cha Joo-young expressed her satisfaction with her late debut in the entertainment industry.

On the 27th, a video titled 'Cha Joo-young♥ Enjoyed an Unfiltered Talk with Actress Cha Joo-young, Like a Female Sung Si-kyung' was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Sikyung's Meeting'.

In the video, Cha Joo-young, known for her hearty appetite, compared herself to fellow actress Lim Ji-yeon, saying, "I eat as much as Ji-yeon. While Ji-yeon tends to eat a lot in one sitting, I prefer to taste various kinds throughout the day."

When asked about the pressure of maintaining her weight as an actress, Cha Joo-young admitted, "I didn't gain weight before, but as I age, I do. During 'The Glory', I gained a lot of weight and haven't fully lost it yet, so I'm managing it."

Cha Joo-young, who grew up in a conservative family as the eldest granddaughter, shared, "I wanted to pursue dance, but my father opposed an arts education. I was independent from a young age and studied abroad, but I ended up majoring in business administration as my father wished."

After enrolling at the University of Utah, Cha Joo-young said, "I dreamed of life in New York or California, but I didn't have the courage to defy my father, who threatened with tuition fees. After graduation, I applied to a major bank and lived in the heart of Manhattan, New York, under the pretense of employment."

Cha Joo-young humorously confessed about her financial struggles, "I used the tuition money I had saved and my lifelong pocket money." She added, "My father knows I had money stashed away."

After taking profile photos, she was fortunately cast in the drama 'Cheese in the Trap' (2016). "I had many aspirations and dreamed of being an actress who could live various lives through roles. When I told my parents about my first project, they asked if I was crazy. I filmed under the guise of employment," she recalled.

Reflecting on her debut, Cha Joo-young described her acting as 'imitating' and shared, "I was simultaneously filming lead roles in 'Wonkyung' and 'Lobby', and I was still scared of going to the set. While doing 'Sister', I realized I was moving in a direction that could convince the majority," showing the confidence of a decade-long actress.

Debuting at 26, Cha Joo-young reflected, "I debuted when I had my own life, and I think it was fortunate to debut late. I enjoyed life, played, and lived freely before debuting." She added, "After graduating, my dad wanted me to go on blind dates or get a job. I ran away from that. It would be interesting to make my story into a project," she laughed.

Cha Joo-young described herself as "someone who speaks uncomfortable truths" and said, "I can't just pretend to be nice. I was often misunderstood as a rookie, and when told not to change after becoming famous, I replied, 'I don't think I'll change because I'm already like this.'"

She continued, "People misunderstand my pursuit as 'elegance'. I tend to be cautious, but I don't care what others say about me. However, I worry about my acquaintances getting hurt." Sung Si-kyung encouraged her, saying, "She's like a female Sung Si-kyung."

Meanwhile, Cha Joo-young recently announced a temporary halt in her activities due to treatment and recovery from a nosebleed condition.

Eun-jung Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr