That bold statement from legendary journalist Son Seok-hee during his recent MBC program Questions with Sohn Suk-hee captures the growing public sentiment: Yeom Hye-ran isn’t just a stellar supporting actress anymore—she’s ready to take center stage.
On the September 3rd broadcast, Yeom Hye-ran opened up about why she initially declined the interview. “I didn’t feel worthy,” she admitted. “I kept asking—me? On this show? Why?”
Despite her humility, Yeom’s resume says otherwise. Her unforgettable portrayal of Gwang-rae in the hit Netflix series The Atypical Family (폭싹 속았수다) continues to resonate. Son Seok-hee praised her performance, even stating, “You deserve the lead, not just supporting awards.”
Veteran actor Jung Hae-kyun echoed that sentiment via video, calling Yeom’s role “a divine casting choice.” “Without her, The Atypical Family wouldn’t have had the same emotional depth,” he insisted.
But Yeom revealed she turned down the many endorsement offers that came her way after the drama’s success. “I wasn’t ready,” she said. “Gwang-rae is a character I want to cherish a little longer. She’s too precious to dilute with other images right now.”
Yeom also reflected on her chemistry with co-star Oh Jung-se, whom she first met on When the Camellia Blooms. Their deep trust and mutual respect shone through as she shared how he often advocated for her on set. “He’d say, ‘Want me to tell the director for you?’ when I was too shy to ask for another take.”
Oh Jung-se reminisced about seeing her onstage two decades ago. “Even then, she stood out. She performs emotion with such depth—it stayed with me.”
As the conversation turned to meaningful roles, Yeom cited her theater debut in The Strongman and the Accordion, a project where she literally learned to swing nunchucks. “That show taught me about physical and emotional endurance,” she laughed, linking it to the way critics once described her performance in Mask Girl as “a circus of acting strength.”
Son Seok-hee asked whether she intentionally gravitates toward socially conscious works like My Name Is, Teacher Choi, or Taeil. “As an actor, I’m cautious about the messages I convey,” she explained. “I see myself as a messenger, not the message itself.”
To close the program, fellow actress Ra Mi-ran sent in a heartfelt message: “Hye-ran, you’ve done so well. Your prime hasn’t even begun. Go devour it all—and buy me dinner.”
Son Seok-hee summed it up best: “Yeom Hye-ran seems to live every moment on-screen like it’s her finest. I didn’t ask her if this is her peak, because for her, it’s always Day One.”
Sources: 다음 – OSEN
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