[Warning: Spoilers Ahead]

Netflix's series 'Mask Girl' is a work that breaks the stereotype about Go Hyun Jung. 

Just the fact that she became Kim Mo Mi has led to responses and directed focus on the actress taking on a genre that might be unfamiliar.

On August 24, Go Hyun Jung sat down for an interview to delve deeper into her role in the drama and share what made her decide to appear in 'Mask Girl.'

She answered the interview questions confidently. She explained, "The work itself was appealing, and I got to taste the joy of acting with people..."

As the timid Kim Mo Mi gradually became a more mature character, Go Hyun Jung also freely unfolded her own story. Regarding her personal narrative, she also said, "You all know my story..."

The middle-aged Kim Mo Mi that she portrayed in the drama is a character who meets her daughter for the first time after living apart from her. They were only able to reunite after Kim Mo Mi escaped from prison. Through 'Mask Girl,' viewers have grown more fond of Go Hyun Jung, both as an actress and as a person,  and she was given an opportunity to share various stories.

- Some were surprised when it was reported that Go Hyun Jung would play the role of middle-aged Kim Mo Mi for only two episodes.

"I was just happy to receive the offer for this genre. The work was attractive. There were many incidents in the story, so I kept wondering if there would be a work where I could focus solely on acting. It was during this time that I encountered 'Mask Girl.' I liked the fact that it's not just me taking the lead but also working together with others and having things explained. Within this structure, I thought a lot about not standing out and smoothly becoming a part of the puzzle."

- Wasn't it challenging for three actors to portray the same character?

"I thought it would be much more realistic that way and not feel forced for viewers. In life (laughs), I've gone through my teens, twenties, thirties, forties, and now I'm in my fifties, it's like that for everyone. I may seem unchanging to myself, but if you happen to meet a friend you knew in your teens when you're in your forties, suddenly they feel different. I could be like that to someone else. Also, it was fortunate that I was playing the last Kim Mo Mi, who is around my age."

- When watching the drama, some viewers found that the actor's narrative was similar to that of the character in the drama. Were you worried about this when you decided to play Kim Mo Mi?

"I didn't worry about it, but I did try not to overdo things when playing Kim Mo Mi because of that. I've worn many different hats in the past, so I felt that if I deliberately tried to set something up or add something, it might appear like I was trying too hard."

- So, perhaps that's why there were many memorable expressions when you portrayed maternal love, like the moment when Kim Mo Mi saw her daughter for the first time in the cave inside Kim Kyung Ja's house.

"I put a lot of thought into Kim Mo Mi's expressions and lines. There's a scene where they first see each other in the cave. I thought, 'Should we extend that scene a bit more?' Originally, there were lines, but I thought, 'Wouldn't it be better not to say anything? Would Kim Mo Mi immediately feel a sense of reality when she sees her daughter?' I thought she was a very tough character, so she wouldn't quickly immerse herself in her own emotions. Since she broke out (of prison) to rescue her daughter, her strongest desire would be to save her quickly, so I tried to convey that through actions."

- What about the moment when Kim Mo Mi saves her daughter and gets shot in return, and she smiles slightly?

"We originally had lines for that scene, and I discussed it with the director. I thought any words spoken in that situation would feel forced. It wasn't that she didn't want to say anything, but rather that she wanted to say so much but felt there was nothing to say, no choice but to give up. That was the thought behind it."

- Maternal love in 'Mask Girl' seems different from the maternal love often seen in family dramas.

"Kim Mo Mi might have envied Kim Kyung Ja (played by actress Yeom Hye Ran). Regardless of right or wrong, Kim Kyung Ja had a sense of purpose. She had this feeling that she didn't want the judgment of anyone other than God. That's the kind of determination she had. Kim Mo Mi may have felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to protect her, but she didn't have a way to show it. So, while playing Kim Mo Mi, I felt both maternal and paternal feelings. Paternal love often focuses on protection, while maternal love includes concerns about whether the child is okay, and whether they've suffered. Kim Mo Mi considered it important to protect her daughter after escaping prison and had little time to check on her daughter's well-being, but she did her best to protect her."

- The director was reportedly surprised by your physical action scenes during the process.

"I tried to do everything I had to do myself. Like crashing into a car and falling. Especially the scene where Kim Kyung Ja and I have a confrontation at the end was challenging. There's a scene where I strangle Kim Kyung Ja and say, 'Let's end this.' I really wanted to stop for real (laughs). The cave was a film set that had no exit. We had only the minimum number of people inside for shooting. It was hot and stuffy, and I didn't want to repeatedly shoot scenes of falling and colliding against the walls. If we made a mistake in the middle, we had to reshoot from the beginning. So, I really wanted to get out (laughs)."

- Did you later regret not doing more?

"In the early stages of the drama, I was shocked when I saw actors like Yeom Hye Ran and Ahn Jae Hong. I thought, 'Did I not do enough?' (laughs) I knew that male actors, like female actors, pay attention to their appearance, but Ahn Jae Hong even used a balding wig, and when he said 'Aishiteru,' I really thought, 'Does he really have this side to him?' (laughs). That's what actors should do when they take on new roles. I felt like I hadn't done enough and that I should have done more, like I should have overdone something, or maybe even exaggerated my lips making it look like the side effects of plastic surgery. It stimulated my ambition to realize that I was still far from being an actor."

- The confrontation between Kim Kyung Ja and Kim Mo Mi seems to symbolize various aspects of motherhood.

"I don't think 'Mask Girl' is just about motherhood and the fight between mothers. It's about a lack of love. It's about the duality that everyone can experience, worries that can't be openly expressed, the ambiguity within oneself, self-justification, self-esteem, and so on. I think it was an attempt to express all of these."

- You've given the impression of being very candid as an actress, even acknowledging your flaws. You used the term 'Eoltaegi' (face + the stage of ennui) during the production presentation.

"I often wonder how it would have been if that face was my face. I ponder about these things these days. I don't have a particularly sparkling face. Also, I wonder if I had some Pathos in my looks, then I might have been given more dynamic roles. While I was thinking about these things, I came across this project. I think I am very lucky. No one knew I wanted to try this type of genre so I was fascinated by how (the director) thought of me. I don't have many opportunities to share about my personal self, such as what I like or what I do in my free time. So I always thought I would be given a role for this type of genre. So this is a very fair casting."

- What did this work bring to Go Hyun-jung?

"Through 'Mask Girl,' I felt the joy of acting that comes from working together. I often spend a lot of time at home, so I thought I wanted to play a bright role before I got too old. Do I not have that brightness within me? I have a lot of it!"


- For Kim Mo Mi, her appearance took her life in an unexpected direction. What does appearance mean to Go Hyun Jung, who was once a standard of beauty and a beauty icon?

"I used to think I was okay looking back in the day (laughs). Then at some point, I disappeared, then reappeared, and well... you know when that was, right? No need for explanations (laughs). I feel like I've almost shared my life with all of you. Because you all know (laughs). Anyway, when I reappeared, many people complimented my appearance. People welcomed me back warmly given how I left so abruptly and rudely. I thought, 'Is this all because of my appearance?' (laughs). However, as I faced various rumors and obstacles, I realized that looks are something everyone has; it's not that different. Still, looks have been quite helpful for me as an actress. However, I made an effort not to be an empty shell. 'Mask Girl' is a work that reminded me of the importance of making real efforts, of whether I'm striving sincerely for something, whether I have a strong desire. It's a work that reaffirmed that looks aren't important for an actor."