Actor Shin Hye-sun / Courtesy of Netflix
Actor Shin Hye-sun said that her role in the new Netflix series “The Art of Sarah” was the most ambiguous character she has ever portrayed in her career.
"I usually start a project only after I have a clear plan for the character, but this time was different," Shin told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. "The story was so interesting that I really wanted to find out how it ends as soon as I read the script.”
The eight episode series tells the story of Sarah Kim, played by Shin, who lives a life of lies to act like she comes from a background of luxury. Her carefully crafted world begins to collapse as she is pursued by detective Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk), who is determined to uncover the truth behind her fake identity.
Shin portrayed multiple personas in the series, including Mok Ga-hee, Kim Eun-jae and finally, Sarah Kim. She explained that playing such an elusive figure required her to be flexible rather than following a fixed acting style.
"The script was not very kind in terms of explanations and I actually felt more confused as I read it," she said. "I decided to focus on the idea that she was sincere in each specific moment even if those moments were built on lies."
Shin Hye-sun in a scene from Netflix series "The Art of Sarah" / Courtesy of Netflix
Unlike previous roles where characters had clear goals and emotions, Sarah Kim moves through a gray area between truth and deception. Shin confessed that the changing nature of the character's emotions was a significant challenge because Sarah Kim is someone whose subtext is difficult to read.
"I felt a lot of pressure about my choices as an actor because the character's charm depended on how I portrayed that ambiguity," Shin said. "It was physically manageable but it was so mentally tiring that I kept eating snacks to stay energized."
Actor Shin Hye-sun / Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Korea Times News
