Kim Tae Ri is set to make her highly anticipated return to the small screen as Yoon Jeong-nyeon in the new tvN weekend drama Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, premiering on October 12th at 9:20 PM.
Set in the 1950s, the Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born follows Jeong-nyeon, a “natural voice genius,” as she pursues her dream of becoming a top national theater actor in post-war Korea. The show, directed by Jung Ji-in of The Red Sleeve fame, explores the themes of competition, solidarity, and growth in the world of women’s national theater, a topic that is both unique and eye-catching.
In her role as Yoon Jeong-nyeon, Kim Tae Ri plays a gifted performer who moves from Mokpo to Seoul on her own to chase her dream of acting on the national stage. Her portrayal will encompass a wide range of performing arts, including singing, dancing, and acting.
Speaking in a written interview ahead of the show’s premiere, Kim Tae-ri expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m nervous but thrilled because this drama feels like something completely new. I can’t wait for audiences to see it on TV.”
Kim Tae Ri reflected on the first time she encountered the script for Jeongnyeon, noting the distinct charms of both the drama and the original webtoon it’s based on. She shared, “The webtoon had this powerful silence within the pages, but in the script, I felt the beauty of expanding that world into reality by filling in the gaps between each scene.”
Discussing her process of bringing the character of Yoon Jeong-nyeon to life, Kim Tae Ri compared the transformation to “acting out the journey of a dirt potato becoming a person.”
She added, “Although most characters I’ve portrayed undergo growth, Jeong-nyeon’s transformation is especially profound, going from nothing to something.” A key focus for her preparation was embodying Jeong-nyeon’s innate musical talent, particularly in singing. Kim revealed she spent three years, from April 2021 to June 2024, honing her skills in singing, dancing, dialect, and traditional Korean music in preparation for the role. The intense practice continued throughout filming, and she wasn’t alone—her co-stars were equally dedicated, working on speech and movement to fully immerse themselves in the roles. For the dance scenes, Kim Tae-ri found a personal parallel, saying, “Jeong-nyeon starts out knowing nothing about dance, and I was the same, so I’m excited to see how that raw energy translates on screen.”
After the release of the first teaser for Jeongnyeon, Kim Tae-ri’s visual transformation and her flawless delivery of traditional Korean music garnered significant attention. Reflecting on this, Kim shared a humorous moment: “A friend who hadn’t read the webtoon said I looked like a dirt potato in the stills, which honestly made me feel relieved because Jeong-nyeon really is like that in the beginning.” Kim also revealed that since Jeong-nyeon takes on male roles in the theater, she focused on maintaining a neutral vocal tone in both her stage and every day acting to keep the character consistent. While she originally wanted to use a fully rough voice, she ultimately settled on a balanced approach after discussing it with the team.
Speaking about her collaboration with director Jung Ji-in, Kim Tae-ri shared how the set was filled with laughter and how they navigated the challenge of filming large-scale stage performances. She recalled, “We filmed these big performances 4-5 times, and it was a challenge for everyone since it was our first attempt. Each time, we reviewed the scenes with the director and prepared for the next stage, constantly thinking ahead.”
When asked about a particular scene she would recommend, Kim Tae-ri highlighted a special beach scene with co-star Moon So-ri, who plays her character’s mother. “It’s the most important scene in the mother-daughter relationship,” she said, though she hesitated to reveal too much for fear of spoilers. The scene, filmed at sunrise, was not easy to shoot, but the beauty of the moment left a lasting impression on Kim, and she’s eager to see how it comes across on screen.
In closing, Kim Tae Ri teased the numerous transformations her character will go through in Jeongnyeon, saying, “Jeong-nyeon grows through her experiences on the national theater stage, singing, dancing, and acting. I hope viewers will look forward to watching her journey unfold. Since the drama was filmed over a long period, we as actors grew alongside our characters, and I think audiences will enjoy witnessing that real-time growth on screen.”
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