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Han Groo Enjoying "Just Like Today"

Teen singer and actress Han Groo has landed several major roles in TV dramas just 11 months after her debut. The 19-year-old played a heroine in the popular cable drama "Little Girl K" and is now appearing in MBC's "Just Like Today".

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She said that she already feels the burden of celebrity and the weight of responsibility in having to carry such major roles despite her short career in show business. But her love of acting overrides any sense of stage fright.

"I feel more attached [to my role in the MBC drama] as I can find similarities between myself and the character", she said, explaining that she had to live by herself for eight years after heading to the U.S. as a fourth-grader and then moving to China.

Instead of feeling lonely or sorry for herself in a foreign land, she tried everything she could to expand her life experience. As she spent four years in the U.S. and another four years in China, she became fluent in both English and Mandarin, while engaging in various activities such as dancing, horse riding, martial arts and golf.

She also excelled at her academic studies -- to the extent that she won a U.S. presidential award for her achievements.

"I have never dreamed of becoming anything but an actress", said Han, whose father made his name as a director of TV commercials and whose mother used to be a professional model. The talented young teen became familiar with show business from a very early age and felt naturally drawn to the industry.

Han aspired to become an actress but debuted as a singer early this year by releasing a short album. "It was not my first choice", she admitted frankly, explaining that she wanted to start out as an actress but was suggested to try her hand at singing by her management agency.

"I thought it made sense to grab whatever opportunities I could while they were available to me", she said, adding that it was difficult to stand out given the huge level of competition in Korea's music industry, especially among girl groups riding the coattails of the K-pop revolution.

In contrast to her fledgling career in the entertainment industry, Han is now preparing for her university entrance examination for a third time. As she debuted in show business shortly after returning to Korea, she failed the exam for a second year -- a mistake she does not intend to repeat after finishing shooting the MBC drama.

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