Park Hae-soo: A decade as a stage assistant director behind his Joker-like, manic performance

As actress Park Hae-soo continues her Jumokbatneun (noteworthy) acting trajectory in the global market, she shared candid reflections on her various transformations and the ups and downs of her career. With her most recent work entering the global top 10 in 35 countries—earning her praise as a "Park Hae-soo acting festival"—she spoke openly about the gap between her characters' madness and her true personality.

The Arrogance of Dreaming of Joker: The Root of Her Characters

Park Hae-soo's performance in her most recent work can be summarized by a "manic smile." The emotional volatility and unpredictable shifts of her character left a powerful impression on viewers. Reflecting on her interpretation of the role, she confessed to being so immersed that her phone wallpaper was even the "Joker." She defined the core of the character as an "arrogance that brushes everything off playfully," analyzing that an unfounded confidence in being able to handle anything was what connected to the character's madness.

Specific settings on set also added depth to her performance. In a scene set in a cathedral, a suggestion from the director led to a moment where she drank holy water (Arisu), and the psychological weight of filming in an actual cathedral helped build the character's gravity. These details served as visual elements that supported the character's unstable psychological state.

From Santa to Stage Assistant Director: A Decade of Perseverance

The journey to building her current solid filmography was by no means smooth. Since her debut on the theater stage in 2007, she spent the next 10 years working behind the scenes. Before walking the path of an actress, she earned a living through various part-time jobs to gain field experience. She did not shy away from survival-oriented work, such as playing Santa Claus visiting children during the Christmas season or working as a clown blowing balloons.

Particularly noteworthy is her experience working as an assistant stage director for singer Lee Moon-sae's concerts. She learned the mechanics of the stage from the front lines, from setting up and tearing down stages to operating lights and waving fabric in sync with cue signs. This decade of stage experience appears to have served as the foundation for building characters in front of the camera later on. The expertise built on the theater stage has finally blossomed on the screen and television after ten years.

A Shy 'Attention Seeker': Honest Desires as an Actress

Contrary to the manic persona in her acting, Park Hae-soo revealed that she is actually quite shy. However, she showed a surprising charm by defining herself as someone with a "tendency to crave attention." She admitted that while she is shy, the desire to be recognized by someone, or the joy of being greeted by fans in restaurants or shops, is a natural desire for an actress.

While she advises her colleagues to be cautious when being recognized on the street, she herself expressed gratitude when people do recognize her. This honest confession stands in stark contrast to the chilling personas of her characters, revealing the multi-dimensional nature of the human Park Hae-soo. Her leap to becoming a global actress after ten years of perseverance on stage proves that her progress is not mere luck, but the product of intense, hands-on experience.