Yeom Hye-ran Discovers New Facets of Herself in 'No Choice'

Yeom Hye-ran revealed that she discovered new aspects of herself through her role in 'No Choice'.

Recently, at a café in Anguk-dong, Seoul, actress Yeom Hye-ran, who stars in the film 'No Choice', shared her experiences.

'No Choice' tells the story of Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), who, after being abruptly laid off from a paper company where he worked for 25 years, resorts to 'eliminating competitors' in his quest for reemployment. Yeom Hye-ran plays Ara, the wife who is displeased with her husband Beom-mo (played by Lee Sung-min) after he becomes lethargic following his job loss.

In the film, Ara is a theater actress. In her first scene, she is seen wearing a black mourning dress for an audition, yet her nails are quite elaborately done. Yeom Hye-ran shared, "This was my first time doing nail art for a role. When the makeup artist suggested we go together, I decided to do it myself at a nearby salon. When I showed them the reference photo, they asked why I didn't get nail extensions. I didn't even know what extensions were. I ended up redoing them the next day." She continued, "This time, the makeup team accompanied me. They laid out various shades of wine-colored nail polish, and I realized how detailed everyone was. As an actress, I couldn't afford to be careless with my performance."

According to Yeom Hye-ran, the script described Ara as having "sensual blush and the beauty of a woman." She noted, "This was the first time I showcased such a diverse range of expressions. It was different from any role I've played before." She added, "I once received an award from the Directors' Guild, and Director Park first noticed me there. He cast me after seeing me at the awards ceremony for 'Mask Girl'. He thought I looked beautiful. I'm glad I decided to dress up for the event."

Yeom Hye-ran watched the film five times and said, "Each viewing felt different." She added, "This is the first time I've watched a film I'm in so many times. I was curious about the behind-the-scenes stories and the discussions they might spark. I wanted to ask the directors, actors, and staff about their choices and methods."

At a GV (Guest Visit) event, Yeom Hye-ran listened intently to Director Park's insights. She learned the backstory behind the line, "The problem isn't unemployment; it's how you handle it." She shared, "Director Park mentioned that his wife said this to him during a difficult time after filming 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance'. It was new information for all of us, adding depth to the film."

Yeom Hye-ran also recounted another episode from the GV. "Director Park asked, 'Have you seen the meerkat?' The audience was puzzled, trying not to miss anything. He explained that the meerkat on Mansu's hat symbolized someone always protecting their family. It was something I missed, so I wanted to watch it again." She laughed, "Someone asked about the difference between Mansu's sunlight and Ara's light, and the director said there wasn't any. Not everything has a hidden meaning."

When asked what this project left her with, Yeom Hye-ran humorously replied, "Sexiness?" She explained, "When I first read the script, I was surprised because it seemed like something I didn't have. But as I worked on it, I realized it wasn't absent. The femme fatale aspect, the sexy side, the desires—they were all there. I wondered why I thought they weren't. It felt like discovering a daring outfit in my closet that I hadn't worn. It was a valuable realization."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr