Jeon Do Yeon with 33 years of acting experience, “Romcom is not a genre just for young people in their 20s and 30s”
“Original romcom queen” Jeon Do Yeon expressed her opinions about the ‘romantic comedy’ genre.
Jeon Do Yeon made her debut in 1999 through a commercial and was known as the “romantic comedy queen” thanks to her successful roles in various TV dramas and movies such as “Shoot for the Stars” (2003), “Lovers in Prague” (2005), and “You Are My Sunshine” (2005). Winning Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, she solidified her position as a top actress in Korea.
Jeon Do Yeon recently proved her reputation and talent once again with the leading role in “Crash Course in Romance”, playing side dish store owner Nam Haeng Seon who falls in love with a strict math tutor. Her performance showcased her versatility and natural charm, captivating viewers with her deep emotions and trendy romantic-comedy sense.
During an interview at a cafe in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on March 6th, Jeon Do Yeon shared, “I enjoyed the drama because its story had a happy ending. At first, the writer envisioned my character as a more mature, confident, and tough old lady. When I read the script, I complained that ‘it doesn’t suit me. I think you should find another actress’, but later decided to join ‘Crash Course in Romance’.”
She continued, “CP Jo Moon Joo, who worked with me on ‘The Good Wife’, cautiously recommended a book to me. I found the story easy to read and different from the works I’ve done before. When he gave me the script for the first time, he said, ‘Senior, you won’t scold me, right?’. However, I read it and thought it was very interesting”. Recalling her career, Jeon Do Yeon said, “It had been a long time since I received a script with such a bright story. At first, I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure if I could do it well.” Writer Yang Hee Seung and the production team convinced me by saying, “Everyone agrees that only Jeon Do Yeon can realistically portray the character of Nam Haeng Seon, who is a somewhat fantasy figure.”
Nam Haeng Seon was a successful handball player but she gave up her career to take care of her niece and disabled younger brother after her mother died and her sister left them. Nam Haeng Seon has a bright and calm personality even when facing difficulties, and her unique fashion sense, particularly her signature flower-patterned sweaters and flared jeans, also became a hot topic among female viewers.
Jeon Do Yeon explained that she wanted to show a lively and feminine image for her character Nam Haeng Seon by showing a wavy hairstyle and portraying a bright and positive personality. The actress also expressed that she wanted to focus on showing Nam Haeng Seon’s efforts to live a fulfilling life and wanted to make people sympathize with and support her character. Additionally, Jeon Do Yeon revealed that she knows many viewers compliment her beautiful smile and want to see her smiling on the screen.
In the drama, Nam Haeng Seon and Choi Chi Yeol are a couple with a five-year age difference, but in reality, the two actors are actually 10 years apart. In this regard, Jeon Do Yeon laughed and said, “I didn’t know there was such a big age gap, and I didn’t act with much consideration of our ages”.
Jeon Do Yeon stated that she thinks the romantic comedy genre is not just for young people in their 20s and 30s, but can also be done by older actors. Receiving a romcom offer after a long time, the actress expressed her belief that she can still do it even when she gets older. She honestly confessed, “If there is a romcom that I can still do even after 10 years, I want to do it. It’s not that actresses are only allowed to do it at a certain age. I want to act in romcoms if I can at any age.”
About her collaboration with Jung Kyung Ho, Jeon Do Yeon said, “He’s a kind and friendly person. I felt comforted while working with him”. The actress commented that although her character in the drama seemed harsh at first, she and Jung Kyung-ho’s character shared similarities in their warmth and kindness.
Regarding Roh Yoon Seo, who appeared in the drama as her daughter Nam Hae Yi, Jeon Do Yeon shared, “Her acting career is not long. She has just debuted in the tvN drama ‘Our Blues’ but her resume is unique”. She praised her junior, saying, “I was a little worried at first but she is very mature and confident. She knows clearly what she needs to do.”
Source: Wikitree
