Jung Ho-yeon Was ‘So Happy’ Filming ‘Squid Game’ Death: ‘The Most Comfortable Scene I’ve Ever Had’
When it came time to film the death of Jung Ho-yeon’s “Squid Game” character Kang Sae-byeok, Ho-yeon found herself to be strangely happy.
“Maybe it’s weird to say it, but while I’m shooting my death scene, I was so happy,” Ho-yeon told Sandra Oh during their Variety “Actors on Actors” conversation, presented by Apple TV+. “It was the most comfortable scene I ever had.”
More from Variety
Sandra Oh Reveals 'Grey's Anatomy' Stardom Led to Insomnia and Body Aches
'My Whole Body Was Sick': Sandra Oh and Jung Ho-yeon Get Honest About Fame's Toll on Mental Health
Jennifer Aniston Wants to Return to Rom-Coms, and She's Eyeing Sebastian Stan to Help Her
After immersing herself in the intense world of “Squid Game” for so long, Ho-yeon felt that it was Kang’s time to go, and was at peace with director Hwang Dong-hyuk’s decision.
“It’s because I’ve been living with my character over a few months, and then there is a time that I have to let her go, and I kind of feel like I can happily let her go, because I can understand,” Ho-yeon said. “Maybe not fully, but I’m the one who can understand her most in this world, so I know her stress, and I know how her life was [such a] struggle and hard. So it wasn’t that bad or sad.”
In conversation with Oh, Ho-yeon also opened up about the mental and physical difficulties that came with her sudden global fame due to “Squid Game,” including a recent bout of sickness when returning home to Korea.
“In that moment you realize that ‘Oh. Maybe this was too much,'” Ho-yeon said. “I think I just try all the time to be me, healthy me, but it’s not going to be easy, and then I’m still going to make mistakes. I’m struggling, but trying.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
