By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Many actors may be merely remembered as anonymous characters who stand in the shadow of big stars in popular movies. But it is also true that some actors have a chance to step out of the shadow and sparkle by themselves.
In the upcoming local comedy films, veteran actors who have long taken supporting roles and spiced up their movies with their hilarious jokes and acting are now ready to show off their charms taking their first main role.
"Considering that I had experiences like old ladies confusing me as a comedian in the past, this is definitely a good chance for me to star in this film as a main character", actor
Lee Moon-sik said Thursday during a news conference at a wedding hall in Seoul where he shot his upcoming film "
Detective Mr. Gong".
"But as an actor, I don't see any big difference between main and supporting roles, and as we're all working hard without distinguishing between main and supporting roles, I believe that we can have a satisfying result", Lee said.
Having debuted as a film actor in 1996, he has appeared in about 30 films, playing minor supporting roles. For a long time, Lee was known only as the funny characters he played, without many moviegoers knowing his real name.
But a series of hit movies such as the 2004 comedy "
Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul" and "
Mapado" garnered him a huge reputation as a supporting actor.
In his upcoming film slated for this spring, he plays a detective in his 40s, who has no interest and talent in his job. But as he is falsely accused of being a corrupt detective, he tries to do his best to arrest a criminal who can only prove his innocence.
Other actors who have recently taken their first main starring roles include
Choi Seong-gook and
Shin-ee.
They have already worked together in previous movies playing quirky characters such as the 2002 adult comedy "
Sex Is Zero" and the 2003 historical comedy "Romantic Assassin". But this time they aim to double their wackiness and fun by playing a couple in the film "
Oh! My God".
The film revolves around playboy Jung-hwan (played by Choi), who finds himself in trouble after he saves ugly girl Eun-joo (played by Shin) when she is about to be drowned. She develops a big crush on him afterwards, and she tries her best to get him. One day, she shows up with two kids, claiming that they are Jung-hwan's sons.
What the successful supporting actors who have turned into main actors have in common are their efforts and strong passion for what they do, regardless of whether it is a main character or not.
"Actually, I don't like people playing up the fact that I got a chance to do my first main role",
Kim Soo-ro said Thursday during a news conference after the preview screening of "
Vampire Cop Ricky" at Seoul Theater in Chongro, downtown Seoul. "Since I debuted, I have always been nervous when I act, whether it is a main role or really minor supporting role".
He debuted in the 1993 comedy movie "Two Cops" as a policeman on guard-duty at a police station who appeared for few minutes, and has since shown up in about 20 films playing various comic characters.
In his upcoming film, he plays a vampire detective who falls in love with a beautiful lady and fights evil to save her.
