Actress Lee Yoo Mi has opened up about the intense physical and emotional preparation she underwent to portray Hee-soo, a domestic abuse survivor, in the new Netflix original series As You Stood By.
In an interview with iMBC held at a café in Jongno, Seoul on November 11, Lee shared insights about the role and the lengths she went to in order to fully embody the character.
The series, which premiered on November 7, follows two women trapped in a brutal reality where they must either kill or be killed. Lee Yoo Mi plays Hee-soo, a woman suffering from domestic violence at the hands of her husband Jin-pyo (played by Jang Seung Jo), who ultimately decides to take action with the help of another woman, Eun-soo (played by Jeon So Nee).
Lee explained her motivation for taking on the role, stating, “I wanted to save Hee-soo through my performance and make her happy. As the story progresses, she faces many choices and conflicts. In the end, I wanted viewers to see and feel that every choice Hee-soo made was right. That was the mindset I had while portraying her.”
She detailed how she approached the performance: “When I had lines, I used them to express emotions. But in silent scenes, I focused on my facial expressions, physical condition, and movements to convey Hee-soo’s inner state. I constantly thought about how to become more aligned with her.”
One of the most drastic preparations Lee Yoo Mi undertook was losing weight to appear more fragile and vulnerable. “There’s a scene where Hee-soo eats with Jin-pyo, and it’s not exactly a warm, comfortable meal. It felt forced and tense. To visually represent Hee-soo’s frailty, I lost weight from my usual 41–42kg down to about 36–37kg.”
She further explained, “I tried to sleep a lot so I wouldn’t crave food, and I naturally eat less during shoots. At some point, I felt like my body had adjusted itself for this role—it wasn’t as difficult as I expected.”
Lee also praised the makeup and styling team, saying, “Makeup is like another costume for an actor. Looking in the mirror after putting on the makeup helped me visualize Hee-soo better and dive deeper into the role.”
Her transformation for As You Stood By is being applauded not just for its visual impact, but for the emotional intensity she brings to a harrowing yet powerful role. Lee Yoo Mi’s dedication once again proves her depth as an actress, adding another memorable performance to her growing body of work.
Sources: Daum
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