Acclaimed Actor Jeon Yeo-been Discusses Her Challenge in Portraying Two Distinct Characters in Netflix's Time Travel Drama

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In the realm of acting, taking on multiple roles within a single show can be an intricate and demanding feat. However, for the versatile performer Jeon Yeo-been, renowned for her ability to master unconventional characters, it presented yet another opportunity to expand the horizons of her craft.

Jeon recently graced the screen in the Netflix time travel drama series "A Time Called You," which premiered last Friday. This 12-episode Korean-language series is a remake of the beloved Taiwanese drama "Someday or One Day" and saw Jeon immersing herself in the portrayal of two contrasting characters, pushing her artistic boundaries.

The storyline of "A Time Called You" revolves around Han Jun-hee, a woman who continues to grieve the loss of her lover. In a mystical twist of fate, she finds herself transported back in time to 1998, inhabiting the body of a high school girl named Kwon Min-ju. Here, she encounters a man who bears a striking resemblance to her departed love, played by Ahn Hyo-seop.

The narrative intricately weaves the lives of these two women from different eras, as Jun-hee, a career-focused woman in her 30s, steps into the shoes of Min-ju, a timid high school student with a crush on her charismatic classmate, Nam Si-heon (also portrayed by Ahn).

Jeon's portrayal takes viewers on an emotionally charged journey through time, as the character grapples with shifting realities and uncomfortable truths.

Reflecting on the challenge of embodying these multifaceted roles, the 34-year-old actor shared her thoughts during a group media interview held at a café in Seoul. "Both of the characters were challenging, but as an actor, I was happy. I enjoyed taking on different personalities and suffered at the same time," Jeon remarked, encapsulating the complexities of her dual performance.

Jeon, an avid admirer of the original Taiwanese drama, admitted feeling pressure due to the immense popularity of the source material. Yet, she embraced the task with her distinctive interpretation of the characters. "I watched the original work years ago and fell in love with it. As I have respect for its creator, I felt pressure," she acknowledged. "The director (Kim Jin-won) told us not to take reference from the original drama, concerned that it could limit our imaginations."

While the remake streamlined some aspects of the original's intricate plot and the stories of supporting characters, Jeon underscored that both dramas revolve around a shared theme: the universal yearning for love and the desire to be loved. "As people yearn for love, inevitable love is deep in their hearts. No matter how situations unfold, they hope for one existence to recognize them, and I thought that it is a feeling that can be shared with many people," she elucidated.

Following her captivating performance in "A Time Called You," Jeon is poised to engage audiences once more with her upcoming film, "Cobweb," set to grace local screens on September 27. Directed by the esteemed Kim Jee-woon and featuring veteran actor Song Kang-ho, this black comedy film is one of the most highly anticipated Korean releases for the Chuseok holiday season.

Despite her impressive repertoire, which includes notable roles in drama series like "Glitch" (2022), "Vincenzo" (2021), and "Be Melodramatic" (2019), as well as the Netflix film "Night in Paradise" (2020), Jeon remains committed to exploring the unknown and unlocking her limitless potential.

"I think actors tend to choose this job out of a desire to express something, and that applies to me as well," she mused. "I want to work hard with a long-term perspective. I want to open many possibilities like a blank white piece of paper." Jeon Yeo-been's unwavering dedication to her craft promises continued excellence in the world of entertainment.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com