Jeon Do-yeon Warmed by the Glare of Publicity
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Monday afternoon in Samcheongdong, Seoul is already showing signs of summer, and tiny droplets of sweat appear on Jeon Do-yeon's forehead. The actress is very much in the spotlight, what with her new movie "Secret Sunshine" getting accolades and an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival and having just embarked on her married life.
In the film, Jeon plays a woman who turns to Christianity after she loses her husband and only son and then even feels betrayed by God. When complimented on her acting, Jeon smiles. "To tell the truth, I can't hide the expressions on my face". Although it's a few weeks yet until the movie's release on May 24, compliments and encouragement are pouring in. But Jeon confesses she couldn't understand the extreme emotions of the character when she first read the screenplay. The actress had a love-hate relationship with the director Lee Chang-dong while filming. "Even if the famous Lee Chang-dong directs a movie, an actor can't just be a puppet and not understand what's going on", she says.
"Secret Sunshine" may be interpreted differently according to the viewer. When asked about the impressions of her husband after watching the movie, Jeon quotes him as saying, "I'd have never watched it unless my wife was in it". "My husband is the kind of person who enjoys movies as entertainment", she explains. But what really rewarded Jeon was the reaction of her mother, who is in her 70s. Jeon's mother said she couldn't breathe even the day after she watched the movie because she felt so sorry for the character.
Jeon looks cheerful when the conversation turns to her new role as a wife. Despite what some may think, she is a morning person. She gets up around 7 or 7:30 a.m., prepares breakfast, mostly salad and bread, for her husband and herself, and cleans house when she doesn't have work. "You can't imagine how hard I work. My shoulders ache. Before getting married, a day was very long, but now it's too short".
Jeon can't wait to walk down the red carpet in Cannes for the first time. "A lot of stars will be there for the 60th anniversary of the festival and will stay at the same hotel. Will I have to get their autographs? I should preserve my dignity as a Korean actress, right?".
In the film, Jeon plays a woman who turns to Christianity after she loses her husband and only son and then even feels betrayed by God. When complimented on her acting, Jeon smiles. "To tell the truth, I can't hide the expressions on my face". Although it's a few weeks yet until the movie's release on May 24, compliments and encouragement are pouring in. But Jeon confesses she couldn't understand the extreme emotions of the character when she first read the screenplay. The actress had a love-hate relationship with the director Lee Chang-dong while filming. "Even if the famous Lee Chang-dong directs a movie, an actor can't just be a puppet and not understand what's going on", she says.
"Secret Sunshine" may be interpreted differently according to the viewer. When asked about the impressions of her husband after watching the movie, Jeon quotes him as saying, "I'd have never watched it unless my wife was in it". "My husband is the kind of person who enjoys movies as entertainment", she explains. But what really rewarded Jeon was the reaction of her mother, who is in her 70s. Jeon's mother said she couldn't breathe even the day after she watched the movie because she felt so sorry for the character.
Jeon looks cheerful when the conversation turns to her new role as a wife. Despite what some may think, she is a morning person. She gets up around 7 or 7:30 a.m., prepares breakfast, mostly salad and bread, for her husband and herself, and cleans house when she doesn't have work. "You can't imagine how hard I work. My shoulders ache. Before getting married, a day was very long, but now it's too short".
Jeon can't wait to walk down the red carpet in Cannes for the first time. "A lot of stars will be there for the 60th anniversary of the festival and will stay at the same hotel. Will I have to get their autographs? I should preserve my dignity as a Korean actress, right?".
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