Actress Choi Hee-jin on 'Motel California': A Journey of Growth and Connection

"Shortly after being chosen as the model for a dog dewormer commercial, I encountered 'Motel California.' The ad shoot made me feel closer to animals, and then I was cast as a veterinarian in the drama. It felt like destiny."

In an interview at the Ten Asia office in Seoul on the 18th of last month, actress Choi Hee-jin shared her experiences filming the MBC drama 'Motel California' (hereafter referred to as 'Motel Cali'). In the series, she plays Yoon Nan-woo, a junior veterinarian to Cheon Yeon-soo, portrayed by Na In-woo. 'Motel Cali' is a 'first love remodeling' romance about Ji Kang-hee, played by Lee Se-young, who reunites with her first love in her hometown after 12 years.

Choi Hee-jin said, "I asked the director if he had seen the dewormer commercial I did, but he hadn't. Working with dogs opened my heart naturally, and it was an honor to participate in another animal-friendly project."

When asked what she learned from 'Motel Cali,' Choi Hee-jin replied, "I gained a lot of insights. This project approached things very differently from my previous works. We started with improvisation from the first shoot. Even the scene with the beagle was ad-libbed. It was challenging, but it was meaningful to try a style of acting I hadn't before."

Filming for 'Motel Cali' began in August last year and concluded at the end of January. Unlike many productions that finish filming before airing, 'Motel Cali' was shot concurrently with its broadcast. Choi Hee-jin noted, "It was my first time filming while the show was airing. I saw many shortcomings at first, but as I adapted to improvisational acting, I noticed my growth."

She added, "My character's story isn't shown continuously but appears sporadically. Filling in the gaps with my acting to make it understandable for viewers was a huge task."

"I had many discussions with the director. Some of my opinions were reflected, and some weren't. Watching the broadcast to see which scenes survived and which were edited out taught me a lot. I believe I can approach my next project more skillfully thanks to this experience."

When asked if she differs much from her character Yoon Nan-woo, she explained, "Nan-woo is open to everyone, almost like a cartoon character. In reality, I'm more individualistic and introverted. I prefer to quietly show consideration rather than express it verbally." She added, "Nan-woo is outspoken yet righteous, and I want to emulate that. I feel similar to her in my warm-heartedness and love for animals."

Though she doesn't have pets at home, Choi Hee-jin enjoys visiting dog cafes as a hobby to connect with animals. She laughed, "I've been using the project as an excuse to visit dog cafes more often." She also shared, "I got so immersed in my role treating cows that I couldn't eat beef for weeks. I remember my face turning pale when my mom made beef seaweed soup."

Reflecting on memorable reactions to her acting, Choi Hee-jin said, "I love it when people recognize my previous works. Seeing comments like 'Isn't that the actress from 'Gangnam Soon' or 'the BJ from 'Hip'? gives me a thrill. It feels rewarding to portray such diverse characters."

Choi Hee-jin also shared the challenges of playing Nan-woo. "She's a character who always says the right thing and has no flaws. She also has to be righteous and lovable, which wasn't easy to portray," she confessed.

A graduate of the Korea National University of Arts, Choi Hee-jin was inspired to pursue acting after watching the play 'Macbeth.' She said, "After studying in China for 10 years, I focused on acting and was fortunate to achieve good results."

She expressed, "I still have a strong desire for the stage. Although I'm currently focused on media acting, I want to experience the unique excitement of being on stage again."

What does 'Motel Cali' mean to Choi Hee-jin? She reflected, "This project allowed me to feel warm emotions and broaden my acting spectrum. I'm grateful to the director for bringing out another side of me. Creating the character wasn't easy, but it felt like solving a big puzzle. I look forward to showing more diverse sides of myself as an actress."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr