Actress Park Ji-hyun recently opened up about the grueling preparation she undertook for her role in the Netflix series You and Everything Else during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on September 25.
The series tells the story of two lifelong friends, Eun-jung and Sang-yeon, exploring their love, admiration, jealousy, and conflicts across decades. Park Ji-hyun plays Sang-yeon, portraying her character’s journey from her 20s to her 40s with meticulous detail, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
To authentically portray Sang-yeon as a cancer patient, Park Ji-hyun engaged in extensive research and even fasted for two to three weeks, drinking only water and Americanos. She explained, “My body became thinner, but my face still swelled yellowish. I thought, ‘This is it.’ Before filming, I deliberately cried at home for a couple of hours so my face would appear swollen on set.”
For her portrayal of Sang-yeon in her 40s, Park Ji-hyun drew inspiration from the women around her whom she admired and even purchased luxury items to prepare for the role, although she admitted she rarely wore the most extravagant pieces, such as watches.
For Sang-yeon in her 20s and 30s, Park Ji-hyun shared how she adjusted her physical appearance to reflect her character’s circumstances:
- 20s: The character experienced poverty, so Park Ji-hyun aimed to look thinner. Cold weather on set required her to wear multiple layers, including six thin heating pads at a time, and even perform scenes in the winter sea.
- 30s: Having established herself professionally, she intentionally gained weight to reflect age-appropriate changes.
Park Ji-hyun also shared emotional challenges on set, particularly working alongside actress Kim Go-eun, saying, “Whenever I saw her, I cried. I knew I shouldn’t cry while she was filming, but I couldn’t help it.”
Regarding the sensitive topic of assisted death portrayed in the series, Park Ji-hyun emphasized her careful approach, “It’s difficult to speak lightly about something that’s ethically, legally, and socially taboo. From Sang-yeon’s perspective, though, it’s still something I can’t completely detach from. While we can’t choose birth, I believe having the freedom to choose one’s own death isn’t necessarily wrong—but this is purely my personal opinion.”
Reflecting on the role, Park Ji-hyun noted, “During filming, I felt no burden or worry. But even long after shooting ended, I realized Sang-yeon’s values lingered with me. I’ve always thought I could separate myself from a role, but this was the first time I felt I hadn’t fully detached.”
You and Everything Else remains a deeply meaningful project for Park Ji-hyun, showcasing her dedication to authenticity and emotional depth across decades of character portrayal.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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