Actress Moon So-ri (51) expressed her feelings about her role in 'The Great Deception'.
The Netflix series 'The Great Deception' tells the adventurous life of a rebellious girl, Ae-soon, born in Jeju, and her clumsy father, Kwan-sik, through the four seasons. It vividly portrays their pure teenage years, unpredictable youth, and the tumultuous middle age as they face life's challenges, all while growing up together in Jeju.
The series is a collaboration between writer Im Sang-chun of 'When the Camellia Blooms' and director Kim Won-seok of 'Misaeng'. IU plays young Ae-soon, while Moon So-ri portrays adult Ae-soon. Park Bo-gum plays young Kwan-sik, and Park Hae-joon takes on the role of adult Kwan-sik. IU also plays the role of Ae-soon’s daughter, Geum-myeong, effectively taking on two roles.
Within just one day of its release, it topped the Netflix 'Top 10 Series in South Korea' ranking. Even after the release of the fourth episode, it maintained its number one position, receiving positive reviews from viewers.
When asked about her feelings after the series ended, Moon So-ri said, "I feel like it’s over now, and I have to let it go," adding, "Whenever a project ends, I always reflect on the character's life. When asked about my experience living as Ae-soon, it feels like the life of a person unfolds before death. I truly lived without regrets and was happy to be surrounded by good people. I remember the happy moments even amidst the strong winds and cold. The filming period was long, and it was my first time doing such hard work, but I’m grateful that many people resonated with it."
She continued, "While I haven't changed much through this project, I wasn't the type of daughter who frequently contacted my parents or expressed affection openly, so I felt sorry. However, I believe that the unspoken parts were conveyed through this work."
Moon So-ri mentioned that after reading Im Sang-chun's script, she was eager to take on any role.
She explained, "As soon as I received the script, I wanted to do it so much. The Ae-soon I portray in her 30s is an ordinary mother. She always does her best for her children, manages the household, and runs a stall, constantly worrying about her kids. Usually, I look at what my role is, but after reading this script, I felt I had to do something. The script was that moving. I had great trust in the writer and director, so I wanted to do it without any doubts."
She added, "Some people say that Ae-soon being so devoted to her daughter feels unfamiliar. I've played many strong characters, so perhaps that's why some find Ae-soon’s character refreshing. Friends who see me up close say that my usual behavior with my daughter comes through. Unconsciously, I think my natural tendency to feed and nag my daughter blended into the role."
She also shared her thoughts on playing a dual role with IU. Moon So-ri said, "When connecting two portrayals of the same character, the person appearing later inevitably feels pressure. I certainly felt that pressure," adding, "IU is an actress I really admire, so I was looking forward to it."
She continued, "However, since IU has such a large fanbase, I worried about whether fans would be disappointed when transitioning from IU to Moon So-ri. Fortunately, IU conveyed that when the casting news came out, her fans were happy, so I think I passed the first hurdle well."
Moon So-ri also praised IU, who played her daughter Geum-myeong, saying, "I wonder if there could be a better daughter. Whenever Park Hae-joon and I filmed with Geum-myeong, we would always shake our heads and say, 'Whose daughter is this?' and 'She really does well.' I think it’s amazing how she manages to excel as both an actress and a singer."
She mentioned that her own daughter is a fan of IU, saying, "IU is really capable and sharp. She embodies the term artist."
Especially regarding her daughter's reaction, she said, "She was so proud and amazed. She has seen celebrities since she was little, so it’s fascinating to hear her say that. She finds it amazing that I met Jonathan. Even when Kang Dong-won came to our house or Song Hye-kyo brought a doll, she didn’t realize it because she was a baby," she laughed, adding, "She thinks it’s incredible that her mom filmed a drama with IU and that the boys from her favorite idol group, Boy Next Door, called her mom after watching 'The Great Deception'."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
