Lee Min-jung doesn’t feel like a star yet (but is)
by javabeans
With Cyrano Dating Agency opening this Thursday, there’s been a blitz of promotional activity, as you’ve no doubt noticed. Following the interview with the film’s leading man Uhm Tae-woong, here’s one with leading lady Lee Min-jung, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame in the past year and a half.
“I don’t feel like I’m a star yet… Cyrano was such fun I was giggling to myself”
Actress Lee Min-jung has increased her popularity this year. Her first leading role in a drama was in SBS’s Smile, which began airing last year, which received strong ratings and was extended to finish early this year. After that, she was selected as the main model for the rival brand of the soju Lee Hyori endorses.
She was deluged with all kinds of CF offers, then was suddenly picked to lead the movie Cyrano Dating Agency, which opens this Chuseok season. But it seemed as though she couldn’t actually feel all this herself. She walks the streets as freely as ever, and worries about whether her character will be able to draw in audiences effectively like an ordinary actress. She answered all the questions relatively frankly, and smiled broadly with an unexpected charm.
Now you’ve become a star. Do you feel that it’s real?
I don’t think I can be called a star yet. I’m so lacking in work experience and projects. I’ve got a long way to being a top star. I think being a star is being in a place where the public would trust in me to watch a project because of my name. Actually, even now I can walk around the streets.
When did you first receive this project? How did you feel when watching Cyrano?
I saw the screenplay for the first time ten days before finishing Smile, and it was so fun that I read it all in one sitting while giggling to myself. I already knew director Kim Hyun-seok well because he’s friends with theater sunbaes.
I remember first seeing you act in the MBC morning drama Treat Me Well While I’m Here [있을때 잘해]. How does it feel to think of that now?
That was my debut. Because it was a daily drama, and thanks to sunbaes Ha Hee-ra and Kim Yoon-seok, I learned a lot. Moreover, I recall that I didn’t find the director scary. Anyway, I think that drama allowed me to cultivate adaptability to dramas. Ratings were good too, so it was extended. I really gained a lot through that drama.
Speaking of extensions, Smile was also popular enough to get an extension. Maybe you have good luck with ratings. There’s anticipation about this movie, too.
Hahaha. Please don’t see it that way. I’ve had dramas cut short too, although I wasn’t the lead. Regardless of box office or television viewership, I think I still have a long way to go. In any case, this is my first leading role in a commercial film. I hope it’ll do well.
These days you’re the model for a soju brand that is competing with a brand that Lee Hyori endorses. Do you drink soju?
I happened to run into Lee Hyori in a bar and said hello, and later she invited me to have dinner together. I do like soju. My tolerance is about one bottle. I don’t like being tired the next day, so when I’m feeling drunk I tend to go home right away and sleep. Who knows, I might have to drink the next night. [Laughs]
In this movie, you’re in a love triangle with Sang-yong (Daniel Choi) and Byung-hoon (Uhm Tae-woong). If you met these two characters in real life, what would happen?
In the movie, my Hee-joong character meets Byung-hoon in her early twenties, then later on falls for Sang-yong. The two are different, and I think I could fall in love with both of them at those respective ages. So in my early twenties I would feel attracted to a man like Byung-hoon, and in my later twenties to Sang-yong. But to be honest, I personally lean toward the pure type like Sang-yong. Of course, if he had good manners like Byung-hoon, that would be good too.
This is a romantic comedy. What did you emphasize in your acting?
First off, I felt that women audiences would have to sympathize with my character. For it to succeed, each of the four leads — me, Uhm Tae-woong, Daniel Choi, Park Shin-hye — has their parts. Everyone’s character would have to be sympathetic in their own way. Just like Uhm Tae-woong’s Byung-hoon character would have to satisfy the male audiences, I’d consider it a success if women responded well to my Hee-joong.
Via Segye
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Tags: interviews, Lee Min-jung
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1 Ace
September 14, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Ah, so pretty!
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2 Ani
September 14, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Modest or an attempt to be liked? I would like to think she's modest and I'm glad even if their advertising gigs are rivals, she and Lee Hyori can put that aside and be friends. :)
Can't wait to watch this movie... Which I would probably won't see until a year or two from now. X/
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3 xiaoSxin
September 14, 2010 at 8:34 PM
i hope the movie will be awesome and it would not be too bad if it becomes a blockbuster hit
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4 rainbowcolorrs
September 14, 2010 at 9:10 PM
I JUST finished watching smile you today after like 4 months of putting it off. I stopped at episode 36 and had to read your recaps over again to catch up. Anyways she and Jung Kyung Ho are just adorable.I constantly stopped and squealed over their cuteness. She's an amazing actress and so incredibly beautiful. If she doesn't think she's already something big, watch out world. Lee Min Jung is coming
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5 Dzung
September 14, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Feel like she is the most popular actress these day. I see her everywhere haha. Hope her last works will become a blockbuster.
Anyway I want to see Jung Kyung Ho too. Whats he doing now. I miss him like crazy. I googled him but its seem that he's now in another planet, huhu
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6 aX
September 14, 2010 at 10:35 PM
She's so pretty! I hope that she and her good friend, Son Ye Jin, will one day work together in a Kdrama or Kmovie together! :D
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ParisVanJava
September 16, 2010 at 2:56 AM
They already did it in movie called "White Night" ,..^^
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7 eianv.e
September 15, 2010 at 1:08 AM
This girl is awesome. She has great taste in music too; Radiohead, Collective Soul, Jason Mraz, Oasis, Epitone Project, Paolo Nutini, U2... makes me love her even more. :)
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tamu
September 15, 2010 at 2:15 AM
i dont know i feel like seeing the scene from oh my lady where they interviewed sung min wo, which book he read recently...his replied is paulo cuelho...(if i'm not mistaken)
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8 parsifal
September 15, 2010 at 3:35 AM
she seems nice but for some reason i can't like her and have no idea why
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9 meenuby
September 15, 2010 at 4:46 AM
AH! My girl crush! <3
Thanks for posting the interview :)
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10 supah
September 15, 2010 at 5:18 AM
Cyrano sounds like a sweet flick.
My girl-crush, too! Seriously, I brought a tonne of Lollynne stuff off Gmarket just 'cos she's their ambassador, looking ridiculously pretty in their ad campaign.
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11 Biatchhh
September 15, 2010 at 5:27 AM
I heard somewhere that she is a daddy girl,^^ if i were her daddy ill be dotting on her so much too,.. hehehe, so cute and lovely<3
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12 Shima
September 15, 2010 at 5:30 AM
Aaah I love her, she seems like such a sweetheart! I consider a star already regardless of what she says. *laughs* Still, these interviews are so interesting! I really want to see the movie.......
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13 yolili
September 15, 2010 at 5:44 AM
She's SO sweet! I'm super excited coz I'll be in Seoul in 2 weeks time...haha, I'm SO catching this movie yeah!
However, anyone knows whether they normally put English subs in movie or would it be in korean only? Ahh, but for Uhm Tae Woong & Lee Min Jung, guess I will take a chance at the movies & enjoy nevertheless. :D
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14 RujakCingur
September 15, 2010 at 5:55 AM
Since she is in the same company with Son Ye Jin, i hope they promote her well so that she could starred in many great movie and drama, just like SYJ,..
Anyway MinJung onnie, FIGHTING!!!
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15 cecee
September 15, 2010 at 6:50 AM
she was so cute in Smile. I loved the two main leads but the moms to both leads annoyed the crap out of me so I ended up ff a lot.
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16 vere
September 15, 2010 at 8:44 AM
I LOVE HER. Can't wait to see her in another drama soon.
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17 doodlebug
September 15, 2010 at 8:58 AM
In world full of "Snookies", "Kardashians" and "Paris"...it's nice to know that there is someone with real talent and genuine likability who doesn't treat the rest of us like we are lucky that she'll give us the time of day. Most of us met her as the rival for 'Geum Jandi' and were already in a defensive posture; She melted us with her sweetness and sincerity of character. Her inner light shines through in each and every venture. Those who lack honesty will be given away by the vacancy in their eyes. There is none of that kind of "vacancy" here!
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18 Graceluv
September 15, 2010 at 11:39 AM
My one and only girl crush,, so sweet, isnt she?
I really want her to cast in some drama so that we can watch her for longer period,, Does anyone know where to watch her short drama Doshirak something?
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19 Sonam
September 15, 2010 at 12:04 PM
My girl crush too. I want to see her in a drama soooooon maybe with Gong Yoo or Jang Geun seuk.
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20 kc
September 15, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Girl Crush! it seems like shes a down-to-earth person, which I like. easy to approach. Im sure she enjoys walking in-and-around the streets freely!
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21 shiedo
September 15, 2010 at 7:49 PM
She is such a sweetheart :)
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22 ParisVanJava
September 16, 2010 at 2:54 AM
She has a great thought of an idea being an actress, and i hope she would get much more successful projects in the future, LMJ<333
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23 Cam
September 16, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Oh aw! ^____^ I've read this article about Lee Min Jung and I realized that she is really humble and beautiful, but not acting like a big star -- How unique!
I really admire her alot! ^_^ (I hope she will a lot of attention to rise up till hitting to become so famous someday!)
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Cam
September 16, 2010 at 8:20 PM
Oh my bad! (nervous chuckles)
I meant, she will get a lot of "gaining" attention by fans & made her become so famous someday.
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