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Yoo Ji-tae Says He's Nothing Like His Role in 'Good Wife' Remake

 

Actor Yoo Ji-tae plays an ambitious prosecutor in a remake of the hit U.S. TV series "The Good Wife" on cable channel tvN, which wraps up its 16-episode run this week.

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Yoo plays a man who is unfaithful to his wife but paradoxically devoted to his family, and who keeps his marriage intact to further his social success and recognition.

"In reality, I couldn't be more different from my role in the series", Yoo said. "I tried hard to relate to his way of thinking. I think he becomes a kind of monster, losing his innocence as he is overly obsessed with pursuing his ambitions", he added.

Instead of a stereotyped portrayal of good versus evil, "The Good Wife" has subtle nuance and complex conflicts between characters.

The wife, played by Cannes-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon, has an affair with a colleague after her husband is jailed following a political corruption and sex scandal.

"It is still hard to gauge how the character feels about his wife, but life is not a textbook. Feelings change. People's actions are the result of multiple factors, so we simply justify what we do wrong, or try to cover it up. Viewers responded well to the ambiguity of the series and its complicated storyline", he said.

Yoo agreed to bulk up to add a hint of menace to his already imposing presence. The 188-cm-tall actor built up his back and shoulder muscles, gaining about 5 kg. "Thanks for complimenting my broad shoulders, but now I have to lose weight for my next project", he said.

Yoo, who has written and directed a short film, watches classic movies and studies cinematography in his spare time. "I hope to create a film festival featuring independent films and documentaries in Korea, similar to the Sundance Film Festival", he said.

Asked if he planned to become a full-time director, he said, "I can't give up acting. Each role is an opportunity to show my own style of acting. I think acting helps one to be a good director".

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