| Kim Tae Hee “I want to be loved”
Following the time of our scheduled interview, actress Kim Tae Hee arrived on time at the office of her management agency.
“Actually I arrived ten minutes ago and I was resting in the car.”
I asked if she is a very punctual person, she flushed and replied, “I am trying to be one.”
Although the interview questions were prepared beforehand, now in the presence of a punctual Tae Hee, the questions in my head are no longer in sequence. Without pleasantries, I waded straight into the questions.
After numerous requests and delays, I finally had the opportunity to interview Kim Tae Hee during the filming of her new movie ‘Quarrel’ (Directed by Han Ji Seung and produced by Cinema Service).
In fact, before conducting this interview, Kim Tae Hee’s company expressed their concern to avoid questions on her ‘Seoul University graduate’ background if possible.
For Tae Hee, this kind of questions has been asked too many times; and for the reporter, they’re not really news anymore anyways. Thus, we will conduct this interview as agreed.
However, it is the fact that her ‘Seoul University Graduate’ background toughened her sophisticated appearance and intellectual image, sometimes it leads to jealousy and envy from others.
“When I make my debut, there really was a lot of struggle and worry. Honestly, I’ve never thought of becoming an actress when young, somehow I do not have an aptitude for acting. Because I wanted to do something that I am competent in and love, can I be acting for the rest of my life? Do I have to stake my life to make it my occupation? I’ve contemplated very deeply on this issue and was troubled by it.”
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always asked why things happen, even though they may seem right to others.”
Q: What were you like as a child?
A: “I was violent (laughs). Quiet, and fight with brother a lot, verbally and physically. It was only until Lee Wan started junior high school, when he is stronger than me, then I stopped fighting with him. When I was in kindergarten, I would sometimes make boys’ noses bleed. I had also broken windows while pushing Lee Wan.”
Q: Then would your parents be worried?
A: “Even so, I wasn’t a child who never listens to my parents. Because parents knew my worries, they didn’t object to my stepping into the entertainment business.”
When Tae Hee was reminiscing about her childhood, she switched the topic to the movie ‘Quarrel’. “The movie is about a couple who has reached a period of lassitude, always causing a violent uproar over a small matter and in the process realizes their true love for each other.” In regards to this movie, Tae Hee says that “this is a project that can completely reflect my inner feelings.”
Q: Despite that, this kind of character is still quite foreign to you.
A: “When I made my first appearance and gain popularity, the public couldn’t clearly see the real me. In addition, the public perceive me based on my outward appearance and reports. This is their expectation from me.”
Kim Tae Hee admits “I am always perplexed by this”. How she wants to conduct and express herself in public, and she reveals frankly “till now, I’ve yet to find the answer.”
When she first began her career in entertainment, she expressed herself in a straightforward manner and because of this has received looks of bewilderment from others “what is wrong with that child?” Now, I want to show myself slowly. “If I express myself in my own way, then that wouldn’t be good at all. I also want to be loved. Also, starting from about a year ago, I really have decided to keep acting as my lifelong career.”
Q: Anything you regret in life?
A: “No,” she answers firmly. “When I first started out, I felt lost for a while. I thought acting would require tremendous courage but I was fearful about this. Thinking about being a completely different person and doing the things that they do, is it possible for me to accurately portray that as an actress?”
“I have a lot of personalities, which I think is good for acting. But when I began my career I had sense of inferiority. I felt my personality would be unfavorable for my work. Nevertheless, I do have a sense of optimism in my personality as well.”
Character? I do not regret what I had done. Tae Hee explained her perspective on the not dwelling the past “I can’t changed the past. Therefore we must erase our memory, focus on the present and not think too often on the painful events of the past.” However, she also added: “On the other hand, I’m a dull person. I’m capricious?” While saying this, she burst into laughter, which gives me a friendly feeling towards her.
Suddenly, without realization, my curiosity got the best of me.
Q: Do you want to be in a relationship?
A: “Of course (Just like everyone else). If I am in a relationship, I will sustain it for 2 years. If it doesn’t work out, I will not think back. Even though there are things that I am reluctant to let go, I still won’t want to meet again. As time goes by, I might sometimes think that, he really was a nice person. At the time, there were many things that I wasn’t able to do. But as for now, I’m not dating anyone.”
Tae Hee said she doesn’t take a lot of pictures, and she rarely looks for the pictures that she had taken. The diaries from her childhood are also gone. Yet again, this affirms her attitude of “forgetting the past.”
Q: You don’t seem to have many friends in the business?
A: “My friends are usually of the same age. When I’m with someone who’s younger than me, for no reason, I would assume the role of an older sister. And if the person is my senior, it’s difficult to feel like friends. Also, I hardly have opportunities to work with people that are of the same age.”
Q: You’re only 20 something and it seems you’ve already reached the turning point in your life.
A: “When I was in 6th grade in elementary school, I was baptized. Have you seen the movie ‘Secret Sunshine’? Didn’t the actor enter religion in order to give way to despair? The happiness is like having a lover. I think that’s what it feels like. What is your Christian name? Verda. Even now, when there isn’t work scheduled, I would definitely go to church on Sundays.
Q: What are your greatest concerns these days?
A: “Nothing in particular. I’m not the kind of person who can concentrate on something and I wouldn’t devote my time and effort on a specific thing. If I was forced and really had to do something, well, I don’t really know either.
Tae Hee did not reply all other questions except those regarding her acting. I asked again “What did you want to do before going into acting?” She replied, “I think nothing really. When I was in school, I wasn’t sure what I liked and I didn’t think it was especially necessary for me to figure out what my interests were.”
From the way she explained, the work she is doing now seems like something she wants to do and must do.
“For now, acting is pretty interesting. All of the projects are meaningful to me. I learn a lot of things through my works. And I think I’ll do this for the rest of my life.” |