On August 4th, actor Yoo Seung Ho, who is marking his 25th year since debut, appeared on JTBC's "Newsroom" where he discussed his feelings on taking on the challenge of playing an LGBTQ+ character in his first theater production, Angels in America.
Yoo Seung-ho stated, "I'm wearing a lot of accessories. Right now, I'm only wearing rings, but I also wear bracelets and necklaces." He went on to explain that he lost 6kg and even painted his nails himself to fully immerse himself in the role.
Regarding his character, Prior Walter, he said, "He's a flamboyant person, so outward appearance is important. I used things I normally wouldn't to portray this." When asked if he painted his nails himself, Yoo Seung-ho replied, "I did a messy job. The polish is chipped, so I'll repaint them neatly before the actual performance."
He also mentioned that he chose black nail polish because, after trying various colors, he felt it was the only one he could pull off. Yoo Seung-ho revealed that he lost 5-6kg to convey that his character is suffering from AIDS.
Discussing the most challenging part of the role, he said, "The physical affection scenes were difficult at first. I had to love my boyfriend and look at my co-star with genuine affection, which wasn't easy initially." He added, "However, my co-star worked hard too, and I tried to accept it. It became easier when I focused on loving the person rather than thinking about gender."
The play Angels in America, which runs from August 6th to September 28th, is set in 1980s America and addresses the discrimination and confusion faced by various social minorities, including those based on race, politics, religion, and sexual orientation. Yoo Seung-ho plays the role of Prior Walter, a white WASP gay man and AIDS patient, alongside co-stars Son Jun-ho, Go Jun-hee, and Jung Hye-in.
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