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| Actress Lee Ha-nee / Courtesy of CJ ENM |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Lee Ha-nee proves she is a certifiable action star through solid action sequences in spy thriller "Phantom."
Set in 1933 during the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea, "Phantom" follows five people suspected of being spies for an anti-Japanese resistance group. Trapped inside an isolated hotel, the five characters must use their wits to survive and escape while suspecting one another. The star-studded cast includes actors Seol Kyung-gu, Park Hae-soo, Park So-dam and Seo Hyun-woo.
"Three years ago, I read the script for 'Phantom' and I loved it. As an actor, it was an intriguing project and I was overjoyed to be offered a role that has a lot of weight," she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.
Lee described her character, Park Cha-kyung, a communications department employee and from an upper-class family, as "a person who lives in order to die."
"I was drawn to the whirlwind of fate Park finds herself in and the strong presence of the character. There is a scene where Park tells Yuriko (played by Park So-dam), 'You can die when it's time for you to die, so live.' This particular line of dialogue shows that independence fighters had nothing to fear, not even death," she said.
"Honestly, it was hard to empathize with Park. During the filming of 'Phantom,' I was on the verge of depression because I had to carry the sorrow and pain of the independence fighters with me," she added.
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| Actress Lee Ha-nee in a scene from the film, "Phantom" / Courtesy of CJ ENM |
For her role, Lee had to train to fight, use weapons and drive a getaway car. The average weight of a prop gun was 7 kilograms, according to Lee.
"I have done a lot of strengthening work over a decade, but the gun was very heavy. My hands were shaking, so I had to build more muscle," she said.
The film features hand-to-hand combat scenes with Seol Kyung-gu, who plays the role of Japanese police officer Murayama Junji. To go up against a guy who is taller and heavier than her, Lee underwent eight months of strength training.
"I wasn't afraid of getting big and bulky. All I wanted was to work out like a warrior to be equally well-matched in the fist fight scenes," she said.
She talked about her bond with the co-stars, especially her chemistry with Park. "We all just blended together, and everybody was so willing to befriend one another. I admire and respect So-dam for being so bold and brave, although she was in poor health," she said.
Lee opened up about motherhood, saying that her whole life has changed after giving birth to her daughter in June 2022.
"It's the greatest joy of my life. Now that I have become a mother, time is about 10 times more precious. I ask myself, 'What are good, worthwhile projects that I want to be a part of? It better be good if I am going to leave my baby at home and devote six entire months to it,'" she said.
"Phantom" will hit local theaters Jan. 18.
