IU Immerses Herself in Role Amidst Acting Criticism in '21st Century Grand Duchess'

Singer and actress IU has found herself amidst a storm of acting criticism, yet she showcased her complete immersion in her role.

On the 14th, the YouTube channel '이지금' released a video titled 'I Still Want More (Status) | Behind the Scenes of 21st Century Grand Duchess.' The video featured the filming set of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Grand Duchess,' in which IU stars.

In the video, IU was seen filming a scene where she places her bare feet on a desk while talking on the phone. Playing the role of Seong Hee-joo, an ambitious character who stops at nothing to achieve her goals, IU flawlessly delivered the arrogant line, "Is it so hard to have abilities, wealth, and beauty like mine?" capturing attention.

After the shoot, IU returned to her usual self and apologized, saying, "My posture was too disrespectful, I'm sorry." She added, "You shouldn't see me with my feet on the desk on IU TV, but please understand it's because of Hee-joo," bringing laughter. IU commented, "From the first scene to the last, Hee-joo's personality is really something else. She's a character with a broken personality," and added, "But it's surprisingly fun. From an acting perspective, it's only tough at first, but playing a character with a broken personality is quite enjoyable."

The drama '21st Century Grand Duchess' premiered on the 10th with a 7.8% viewership rating, which rose to 9.5% by the second episode, indicating a promising start. However, there were mixed reactions regarding the lead actors' performances. Some viewers felt that the acting tone seemed somewhat artificial, and the repeated emphasis on specific angles and visuals detracted from the drama's immersion.

Meanwhile, '21st Century Grand Duchess,' featuring IU, is set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy in Korea. It tells the story of Seong Hee-joo (played by IU), a wealthy woman frustrated by her commoner status, and Lee An-dae-gun (played by Byun Woo-seok), a prince who is saddened by his inability to possess anything, as they navigate their fates and challenge social status in a romantic tale.

The third episode of '21st Century Grand Duchess' will air on the 17th at 9:50 PM on MBC.

By Soo-min Lee, TenAsia Reporter danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr