Starring in his first historical drama Under The Queen’s Umbrella, actor Moon Sang Min appreciates the warm atmosphere built on the set.
Recently concluded tvN weekend drama Under The Queen’s Umbrella follows the story of the royal court’s fierce preparation for troublemaker princes to become worthy heirs of the throne.
In the drama, Moon Sang Min takes on the role of Prince Seong-nam, the second son of Queen Hwa-ryeong portrayed by actress Kim Hye Soo. Maturing after his older brother’s death, Prince Seong-nam undergoes a cut-throat competition and becomes the next crown prince.
Expressing his role well, actor Moon Sang Min highlights his character’s distinct charm before and after he became the crown prince.
Through an interview, Moon Sang Min shares his experience auditioning for the role and filming with a talented set of colleagues and seniors. Moreover, he appreciates the love he received for the drama and talks about the future roles he wishes to explore.
Auditioning for the Role
With the drama receiving high ratings and positive reactions, actor Moon Sang Min tells how much he found the script amazing when he first saw it and humbly admits he did not expect the overwhelming support in its broadcast.
“First of all, the script itself was so fun. The more the script came out, the more I was looking forward to it…”
Causing turmoil among the staff for his appealing visuals during his audition, the actor shares how much he prepared and watched at the end for the other princes, not just Prince Seong-nam.
“I read the script and it was so much fun. I prepared very hard because I wanted to participate.”
Reacting to the staff who swooned over his visuals, the actor confesses he wasn’t able to notice it since his mind was set on doing well for the audition.
“I was very nervous and I wanted to show a great performance, so I wore my favorite coat.”
Even at the beginning, the actor wanted to play Prince Seong-nam, and the character’s unpredictability appealed to him the most, which he also believes that attracted viewers.
“Usually, when you look at the script, you can see that he says and acts like this in this situation. But Prince Seong-nam was unpredictable, so I felt a lot of charm. I think the viewers also loved that.”
Upon receiving the news he got accepted as Prince Seong-nam, actor Moon Sang Min recalls being worried about taking on a large role for the first time.
“I auditioned about four times. When I heard that the appearance was confirmed, I was stunned. And suddenly I was worried. I was worried a lot because it was my first time playing a large role.”
Sharing how he relieved himself from his worries, the actor recalls how the script helped him a lot.
“The more I read the script, the more I got rid of my anxiety.”
Preparations for His Character
For his first historical drama, the actor discusses the preparations he made for his character. Among those, he focused the most on establishing the difference before and after his character became the crown prince.
Explaining in depth his character transformation, the actor draws the maturity Prince Seong-nam gained after his older brother’s death.
“When I first became a prince, I had scars, so I could be emotional…then after the death of my older brother and misunderstandings with my mother, I wanted to show a calm appearance and a strong presence.”
In addition to building his character, Moon Sang Min shares how much he paid attention to the physical build of Prince Seong-nam.
“Since Prince Seong-nam is good at physical fitness and martial arts, I thought that a scene where he does horseback riding or sword fighting could be Prince Seong-nam’s great charm. As an actor, I was greedy and that’s why I practiced so hard.”
Through practicing and attending action school, the actor admits he gained more confidence in his role.
“I went to action school every time I rested, and I practiced to adjust to horseback riding because I couldn’t do it at once. I think I gained a lot of confidence.”
With all those preparations he made, the actor reveals he has recovered from the suture surgery he underwent for a facial injury.
“I had a good surgery and I am recovering well. The wound has healed a lot.”
Wholeheartedly preparing for his role, the actor tells how much he wanted to show the prince’s cynical atmosphere and good body characteristics.
Reaction to Rising Popularity
Through interviews, the actor admits he has realized his popularity. In addition to that, he believes that the drama is loved by all ages after being praised by his grandparents.
“I can feel it even from doing an interview like this now…my grandmother and grandfather called me, saying, ‘I’m so proud of my grandson.’ I thought it was a drama loved by all men and women of all ages.”
Telling more about his friends’ and parents’ reactions, the actor reveals how many times his mother and father watch the rerun of the drama.
“When my friends from my hometown contact me, it’s so strange. They say that they feel a sense of distance because I’m on TV. My mother and father love it so much. In fact, my parents seem to watch reruns 8-9 times a day.”
Searching the drama every morning, actor Moon Sang Min expresses his gratitude after finding strength in viewers’ heartwarming support.
“I saw the viewers’ reactions naturally, and the support and feedback gave me so much strength. I think I was able to finish filming safely because I received a lot of that strength.”
Heartwarming Encouragements on Set
Explaining how he became Prince Seong-nam, actor Moon Sang Min shares what he heard from the director, which boosted his confidence.
“I asked the director, and the director said, ‘Actor Moon Sang Min has two eyes, but he has a sharp side and sad eyes, so he is a suitable friend to show the two sides of Prince Seong-nam.’ Hearing this story, I gained a lot of confidence.”
Appreciating the bond he has with the drama’s director, the actor notes how the director felt like a father to him.
“The director really encouraged me like a father. In fact, I saw the director more than my father while filming. He was almost my father.”
Enthusiastic about his role, the actor tells how much he consulted the director since his eyes were crucial in expressing Prince Seong-nam.
“I expressed a lot of situations and emotions with my eyes, so I asked a lot about how I should look and how I would be shown.”
Commenting on his experience working with his seniors in acting, the actor finds the tension stemming from his excitement.
“They are great seniors that I respect so much, and I had a dream that I wanted to act with them…The seniors tried to create a comfortable atmosphere. I think I had a fun and happy time with my seniors.”
With much gratitude, he mentions actress Kim Hye Soo showering him with encouragement while filming.
“When senior Kim Hye Soo said, ‘Seong-nam has improved a lot’, it really gave me a lot of strength. She always encouraged me that I was doing well. I think it was a big piece of advice and a compliment to me that helped us relax a lot while working with our seniors for eight to nine months.”
Kim Hye Soo as His Role Model
Given the chance to work with Kim Hye Soo, whom he respects so much, actor Moon Sang Min calls the experience a great honor.
“Being able to work with a mother-son relationship with a senior I respected only on TV and in movies was such an honor for me, and it was a great stimulus for me to prepare for the audition.”
Proud of his mother-son chemistry with Kim Hye Soo, the actor tells how the actress looked out for him along with the whole cast and staff like a mother.
“She was Hwa-ryeong herself, to the point where I wondered if her appearance was really Hwa-ryeong. I learned a lot about the attitude of working, the mindset and responsibility as an actor, and I think I was able to follow it naturally.”
Moreover, he also appreciates the help he received from the actress in building his character. Recalling the day of Chuseok when they were not able to their hometown, the actor tells how Kim Hye Soo gathered her sons in the drama and treated them to a meal.
“We couldn’t go home during the Chuseok holiday because we were all filming, but the senior knew about it and told us first. It was very touching.”
Touched with that experience, he also feels impressed with being able to communicate about work and their fellow actors Yoo Seon Ho Yoo (Prince Gye-seong), Yoon Sang Hyun (Prince Mu-an), and Park Ha Jun (Prince Il-yeong).
In addition to the meal, actor Moon Sang Min also recalls his senior Kim Hye Soo giving sets of cosmetics for them to bring to their mothers during Chuseok, which his mother gladly received. Amazed by Kim Hye Soo, actor Moon Sang Min calls her his first role model.
“To be honest, meeting the seniors seems to be a great blessing not only as an actor but also as a human being, Moon Sang Min. I think it could be a turning point in my life. I have a role model.”
Thanking his senior, the actor tells how he gained a greater sense of responsibility and became more motivated to show a better image in the future.
Older Brother on Set
Making the drama more fun to watch, the chemistry among the actors contributed a lot to it. Revealing who the mood maker is, Moon Sang Min points himself out.
“I was grateful that the younger siblings created the atmosphere so well and followed them well. But I think I was the mood maker.”
He notes how he always brought up a lot of stories while preparing for rehearsal. Having said that, the actor also tells how he became an older brother on set even though their ages were relatively close.
“I was always the youngest, but in ‘Under The Queen’s Umbrella’, I became an older brother. So maybe I was clumsy, but the younger siblings followed me so well. I’m so grateful for that part…I think the viewers liked that kind of chemistry.”
Guiding his colleagues well, the actor made sure they all gathered to rehearse before filming and shared ideas and energy. Though they were not able to watch the drama together, the actor reveals that they were able to share a meal as promised after their schedule is over.
Chemistry with Oh Ye Ju
Appreciating the adorable love line he had with actress Oh Ye Ju who portrays Crown Princess Cheong-ha, the actor thanks the viewers’ love and support for both of them. He also praises the actress for creating a comfortable experience filming their romance scenes.
“Actress Ye Ju is younger than me, but she seems to have tried to create a comfortable atmosphere. That’s why I think there was a fresh romance when there was a romance scene. I had so much fun filming it.”
Retelling a behind-the-scenes story, the actor laughingly tells how he had a difficult time keeping his cheekbones down when taking a picture with his love interest in the drama.
“What was fun when I took a picture with Cheong-ha was that my cheekbones kept going up. It must have been in the behind-the-scenes video, but the director told me to pull myself together to lower the corners of my mouth as a joke. That was my daily life.”
Bidding Farewell to the Drama
Choosing his memorable moment from the drama, actor Moon Sang Min reveals it was the scene when he became the crown prince. Explaining, the actor tells how it was the first scene he saw where he and his seniors wore a dragon robe. In that, he gained confidence while looking good and fitting well in his outfit.
With the drama’s recent conclusion, the actor shares his impression of feeling sad on its end.
“I still don’t realize that it’s over…I think I’m more sad than cool. I’ve heard a lot about the work and it’s a pity that it’s over.”
Giving meaning to the drama, the actor tells how he’ll remember it as a work that gave him a lot of confidence in himself.
“It seems to be a work that gave actor Moon Sang Min confidence and faith in himself…I think I got an opportunity to show a different side of myself.”
Adding to that, he thanks actress Kim Hye Soo, the production staff, and the writer of the drama.
“I’m so happy to have met Prince Seong-nam at the age of 23, I’m so grateful to that friend. I’m grateful to senior Kim Hye Soo who was with me, thank you to the PD who believed in me even though I didn’t have much experience, and thank you to the writer who made me look cool until the end.”
Future Plans
Leaving an impact with his roles in Netflix’s My Name and first historical drama Under The Queen’s Umbrella, the actor draws attention with the genre he next wishes to explore.
“I want to try a romantic comedy once. I want to try a younger man character.”
Sharing his own charms, the actor prides his right-angled shoulders and enjoyment in talking to people. Asked about his interest in entertainment shows, the actor answers:
“I always want to experience them, but I think it would be better to show and visit them as an actor.”
Choosing an entertainment he wishes to appear in, he chooses a show where he can travel and eat different types of food.
“My favorite entertainment is ‘Korean Food Table’. I want to go around and eat healthy food.”
Earning the labels ‘trustworthy’ and ‘rising star’, the actor humbly reacts to it.
“It’s still too much, but I have greed for ‘trustworthy’…I want to be an actor I can trust and watch.”
Adding to what he has said, actor Moon Sang Min wishes to maintain the same motivation and joy he has at present while acting.
“I hope I don’t lose my original intention when I started at the age of 20. I hope I can act as happily as I do now. I want to continue acting while loving myself.”
Receiving a lot of love and attention through Under The Queen’s Umbrella, actor Moon Sang Min expresses his grateful heart to his supporters and promises a better performance in his future projects.
“Thanks to the love and interest of the viewers, I think I’m spending happy days. I want to say thank you so much. I will be an actor Moon Sang Min who can work harder and show better performances so that I don’t disappoint you.”
Watch Under The Queen’s Umbrella on Netflix.
Source: Xportsnews
Photos: Awesome Ent | tvN
