'Family Matters' actor Bae Doona says challenging roles made her 'fearless'

By KTimes

Bae Doona has built a reputation for versatility, portraying unique characters across her career. From an inflatable doll with human emotions in "Air Doll" (2009) to a left-handed ping pong player in "As One," she has developed the resilience needed to tackle complex roles.

This skillset helped her naturally embody the layered character of Young-soo in the Coupang Play series "Family Matters."

In a recent interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Bae discussed her experience filming the series.

"Family Matters" follows a mother with the ability to edit memories who joins forces with her family to exact revenge on villains. Bae plays Young-soo, a character gifted with brain-hacking abilities.

The actor says she was drawn to the refreshing and cathartic appeal of the series.

“I felt like there was something I could contribute,” she said. She also enjoyed the dark comedy elements. “I love quirky things that don’t force laughter but make you chuckle. I found those moments delightful,” Bae added, noting her preference for roles that address social issues with levity.

Portraying an emotionally detached character like Young-soo was not without challenges. “Young-soo is almost emotionless, and showing an empty state wasn’t easy. At the same time, she couldn’t be completely devoid of feelings, as she focuses on her kids and wants to be a good mother,” Bae said.

Filming scenes involving blood was also tough for Bae. “While Young-soo doesn’t react, Bae Doona, the actor, struggled. I’d rather take hits than dish them out — it’s hard for me to deal with the sight of blood,” she said.

Taking on challenges fearless

Despite Young-soo’s clumsiness as a mother, Bae felt less pressure performing maternal scenes. “She’s awkward at everything, even as a mom,” Bae said, sharing a moment when Young-soo tries to cook an omelet but ends up serving instant rice with seaweed and canned tuna. “I approached the role with the thought, ‘All this character knows is how to torture people,’” she added with a laugh.

Bae also praised her co-star Ryu Seung-bum, who plays her husband Baek Cheol-hee, describing their chemistry as excellent. “Although it wasn’t an easy project, he brought great energy. He’s a pure soul. I relied on him as Cheol-hee and as Ryu Seung-bum, the actor,” she said.

Bae credits her career for building her resilience as an actor. Reflecting on previous challenging roles, such as playing a non-human in "Air Doll," she noted, “These experiences made me fearless.”

She recalled using the phrase “I played ping pong left-handed; I can do this too” to motivate herself when tackling new challenges, including foreign-language performances.

Released on Friday on Coupang Play, "Family Matters" is a testament to Bae's ability to take on unique and demanding roles.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.