Kim Ok-bin, her work and her love

It looks like this year has been an unforgettable one forKim Ok-bin. She's been in a 50-episode drama for eight months since spring to winter. "Yuna's Street" changed her and it also made her fall in love. News about her relationship withLee Hee-joonat the end of the drama became an trending topic. She debuted in 2005 as young girl and over time, she's grown to be a mature woman. Now, heading for thirty, she said, "I think I can play ordinary roles". She's not the charming type but feels happy when she's doing things with other people. She seems to be much more relaxed than before.

Q: "Yuna's Street" was on air from April to November.

"I am glad it's over but I can't help feeling sad that it is. All of us in the drama gathered one day to watch a musical, drink and talk about thing. I have another appointment with them after this interview".

Q: Was it a pressuring drama for an actress to lead all by herself?

Ok-bin: "Looking at quantity it wasn't that bad but there was a lot of work to be done. Chang-man (Lee Hee-joon) did more work".

Q: The loyalty between the women stood out. It was chic and charismatic.

"It was fun. Yuna is not a lady-like character and she doesn't know how to express her feelings. I thought she was a very different character from me but later it got me thinking, "Are we really different?""

Q: Did this role became a turning point for the name,Kim Ok-bin?

"It was definitely something new for me. I was happy that I could be normal in the drama. I enviedJo Hee-bongandLee Hee-joonfor being controlled over their acting. They give me energy in my work and boring scenes are brought back to life thanks to them. I need to learn those techniques".

Q: Yuna's styling was as great as the acting.

"The director didn't let me wear 'nice' clothes. He didn't even let me wear a jacket like the one everyone wears. He said they looked too good on me. He didn't let me put on false lashes either and nothing branded was allowed. I had nothing to wear towards the end".

Q: Did you get restrictions on make-up, too?

"For example, if we were in a bathhouse, we stayed there. The director said it was too much of a hassle if we did anything else after the bathhouse so we just filmed the bathhouse scene all day with the temperatures down. He then changed his mind and turned up the heat because he wanted it to look more real.

Q: Realistic scenes were everywhere in the drama.

"It was good to know that we didn't have to fancy up the drama. We could wear anything andLee Hee-joonsurvived on just a suit and a tracksuit".

Q: Did you reflect your views on the drama to make it more realistic?

"I say something if I feel like I can't do something for sure. There are a couple of scenes where I said it's not realistic at all and changed. The director asked for me to be pushed against a wall during the kiss scene but I told him no one does that anymore".

Q: It seems like you andLee Hee-joonworked well together.

"He is a great actor. He's got lots of ideas, he's bright and knows how to work everyone. He was adored by everyone on site. He talked happily with his co-workers and became charming in front of the elder casts. Maybe he gets that from theater".

Q: Chang-man is someone who changes another person. How would you like this guy if he was real?

"Chang-man has a healthy mind because he loves himself so much. He is nice to people and knows how to give to people without expecting something else in return. He is full of love and believes he can change someone. I like this guy. However, if he was family, I would say, "Mind your own business"".

Q: It looks like you learned a lot from this experience.

"I like it when everyone is considerate of each other. I don't think we should keep things from each other because he's older or she's younger. When everyone puts their heads together, we can get better ideas and work to improve certain scenes. It's fun that way. There was only one waiting room anyway so we have to interact with each other and it encouraged us even more".

Q: Are you interested in theater?

"I am. I asked some people thinking that I was in this life too long and living the same pattern every day. They said they always say the same lines but in a different way. The audience responds differently every time. They said, nothing can be expected on stage so in the end, all there's left is integrity. Hearing that, I want to try out theater when I get the chance".

Q: How do you analyze your act?

"I quit theater at school. I don't know how to analyze my roles. So when I see my sister Kim Go-eun going to Korean Arts School, it's weird. She is always practicing and walking around with a book in her hands. I think she's doing a good job. She started off with regular dramas and then spread out to various genres. I am proud of her".

Q: Is there a reason you quit school?

"I paid for my sister instead of my own. I wasn't making a lot of money then so I decided my sister should get to go to school".

Q: There's sister-love there.

"I debuted when I was 19 and my sister followed me to Seoul later. My second sister was in university and the youngest was just a middle school student. I became their mother and took care of them which helped me as well. I feel more attached to my family".

Q: It's been 10 years since you got to Seoul. How does that feel?

"I can't believe it. I feel like it was yesterday I came here. I hope I'm matured. I am headed for thirty and I am nervous although I ask myself why. However, I try to think about what's ahead of me right now".

Q: You must have had your downs but you seem to be doing alright.

"Everyone has something to think about. However, I enjoy right now rather than look into the future. If something ends, I keep that as a memory".

Q: How are you when it comes to love?

"I think there's no meaning in the words that there's no friendship in love. I don't understand it when someone breaks up and writes aggressive words about the world. That person is not bad because he or she broke up with me. It had to end at some point. It doesn't change the fact that you were once in love with the person".

Q: You won an award this year.

"It was a first since the movie"Thirst". I wasn't expecting it but I was happy. I am far from getting an award but it felt good getting one".

Q: How do you plan on spending your New Year's Eve?

"I am going on vacation first and then I'm going to be with my family. My family moved while I was on the drama and I haven't been to the new house yet. They want me to come right now. I hope for a better piece of work next".