Several days before W Korea, she attended the Prada Transformers event and there were many words spoken about her appearance. The image of a star like herself receives quick reaction from the general public. She went to the noisy event and was unable to bring a mindset to have a good time. Because of one photo taken at the event, just as expected responses such as, "She got prettier" and "She got uglier" surfaced. Is this direct assessment fearful or tedious? If she were a newcomer, she would be upset but that is not the case now. In the past, any reply that was not unusual, she thought it to be good. "However, now regardless of whether they are speaking ill of me or giving me praise, since they have interest in me, I am able to accept the responses indifferently."

You were most recently seen as Joo Joon Young in Worlds Within. It tells the story of Joo Joon Young, a woman who is smart and charming but arrogant and who matures in work and love. In the same sense, it was not a drama that could make Song Hye Kyo grow.
I do not think that I chose this project expecting those things for myself. There really are not many situations where the duo of writer Noh Hee Kyeung and director Pyo Min Soo meet up and the ratings are good. But before anticipating what the program rating would be, the project itself was good. Some people consider 30% to be the default audience rating and when Song Hye Kyo suddenly falls to single digits, they expressed "failure." I heard things like "She can't go any further than she has already." However, most of the project was well evaluated. It was the same for Hyun Bin, who is an actor about the same age as me but by thinking we were both given the opportunity to meet on such a good project, it allowed us to immerse ourselves in our characters. We were happy.

Did you know that since both of your acting was so real, there were rumors of you really dating?
We both had a good time. In other dramas of the same nature where there are 16 episodes, there is one kiss scene and if there are two or three, that is considered a lot. However, this project was able to express real love through ordinary, everyday skinship. Moreover, I really felt the love. At that time, it was not Hyun Bin but the man of Jung Ji Oh that I truly liked. When I watch the drama again, I also feel something is missing.

What point has changed most for yourself as you completed Worlds Within?
I am thinking that I was able to break the formula that I lived by. I have always had my own formula. My official method was "My heart hurts, tears are flowing, lay back and cry." (Laughs) Nevertheless, with this drama the method was "My heart hurts. I am smiling. Do not lose strength and smile more brightly." Between actors, when we do a historical drama, our acting ability increases. This project was more than the average historical drama.

In the drama, if Joo Joon Young's desires are not fulfilled to the full extent, she gets frustrated and to her man, she has a way of making him worry. However, I would like to think having a pretty face like Song Hye Kyo makes life a little easier.
It is not all about looks (laughs) People generally think like that. Likewise, if I weren't an actress, I would look at an entertainer and wonder, "Does that person have any worries just as expected?" Of course, I have the same type of thoughts when I look at Hollywood actors. A person may look perfect but no matter how a person looks, people are all the same. My profession may be different but I have the same worries as any other 29 year old woman. Being pretty never makes a difference to man, what makes it not work out is when the personality doesn't match. I also get envious when I see other pretty women. On top of it, when I see another actress get matched with a remarkably attractive role, there are times I get fiercely jealous (laughs).

Actress Gong Hyo Jin also spoke similarly of that topic. Entertainment, such as TV or movie does not allow the mind to enjoy being comfortable.
When that occurs, the most comfortable way to spend time is traveling abroad. People do not see it as being a good thing when entertainers spend their free time abroad. However, if you stay in Korea, you will continue to surf the internet or watch TV. When I see all of that, I cannot help but to fill my head up with many notions. That kind of stress can easily be blocked by going to a comfortable place.

Is that not an implication of wanting to escape from people's gaze or wanting to rest freely?
Naturally, I am able to walk around in Korea without having people's gaze concentrated on me. It's not that I did something bad but because of my profession, my face is known.

Before Worlds Within, you filmed an independent New York film titled, Make Yourself at Home, which was created by a Korean director. How was it?
It was my first independent film. My most favorite city is New York so when I heard it would be filming there, I became interested, read the scenerio, and immediately expressed my intentions of doing it. I wondered to myself, "By what means, did you say your just going to do it without accepting money?" However, I requested lodging for the duration of the filming period as a stipulation. Both the director side and my company were utterly taken aback by my determination (laughs). The majority of the staff were students majoring in film or recent graduates in New York. There was not any special treatment towards the actresses, I was able to fit in with the staff and film comfortably. It was a small movie that didn't have many expenses going in it, I was able to be in front of the camera without any kind of burden and act freely. Even I see my character in Make Yourself at Home as crazy (laughs).

You debuted in your teens becoming an actress and at an early age, you were received as a star. It seems that the filming location of the independent film was like a vacation in itself.
I'm not always necessarily getting the star treatment. I travel overseas alone. I have a side to me that is stubborn.

You said that you're stubborn. That is unexpected. You must naturally have a personality that is fearless?
It's this kind of style. Once writer Noh Hee Kyeung told me, "Many top actors say they would really like to be in one of my projects. However, when I suggest we do one together, there isn't even one actor who says yes." It's because if you appear in one of writer Noh's projects, you have no choice, but to give your all in your acting. Nevertheless, it wasn't that I was confident; truthfully, it's because I didn't know all of this beforehand. It wasn't until after the project started that I sensed the difficulties. I realized my acting capability was awful and when I would go to write Noh, she gave me encouragement.

It's gradually becoming difficult to see you and other top actresses of similar class in screen and TV pictures. Instead, we see them advancing as CF models. When comparing those things, I get the impression that you don't take the easy road.
When it comes to transforming or taking risks, I don't contain myself. I don't want to solely do characters that aren't fun. In my case, rather than a safe role that doesn't spark, I want something that is fresh. Because that is more fun. It's not about 'image making,' but rather for myself, acting has a huge significance.

You really act just for yourself? It isn't for the fans or what the general public wants?
It's possible that up until now, I'd be only doing projects similar to Full House...who knows? It's because people like characters who are cheerful and light, instead of something that is gloomy. However, popularity instantly disappears. It never lasts for a long time. I felt that the most when I was filming Full House. It achieved a lot of success in Korea and even became well known all over Asia, but I don't think it's merely a process that passed for my acting.

You mentioned that popularity can be gone in an instant.
I have a big desire to do a lot of projects. However, if I film several projects, I hear people saying they are bored and have had enough. Then, if I don't film many projects, I hear that I'm being stingy. That is why I'm gradually becoming apprehensive. Acting needs assessment, but in certain circumstances when people in our country find fault in actors, they drag them down to the bottom and it is cruel. So it becomes difficult for actors to attempt this or that venture. Instead of criticism, they should give a lot of enouragement.

You were recently seen at the VIP premier of Thirst.
The actors are the best of the best. Even though it was hard to watch the bloodshed (laughs). After watching the movie, I can't seem to forget Kim Ok Bin sshi's face. She is such a courageous actress for her age.

Hollywood seems to be right around the corner for you. There was recent news about you taking part in Director John Woo's 1949. Afterwards, we heard it dispersed and I'm curious about the circumstance surrounding it.
I will not be appearing in it. The project production itself has been called off. From what I know, the drama and movie production company and Director John Woo were unable to come to a mutual agreement concerning the investors.

Have you ever had thoughts of wanting to live another person's life?
I want to experience living like a Hollywood actress. Rather than the fame and money, I envy their system. I envy them for being able to film the movies that they choose freely and to their hearts' contents.

Pick only one person amongst the actresses.
Kate Winslet. And I also like Natalie Portman. They are intelligent and have courage. When it comes to choosing projects, they don't show any fear. I envy that kind of mind. When I watch Kate Winslet recently in The Leader and Revolutionary Road, I become even more fascinated. Compared to other actresses, she has a nice figure that isn't lean and haggard.

Do you also put a great deal of effort in maintaining your beauty? This is the first time that I'm looking this closely at an actress's face and it's hard to detect any traces of medical treatment.
I'm similar to others. I apply skin lotion, receive regular skin treatment at the dermatologist's, and use the pack at home. Even I have a side to me that gets many breakouts on my face in my everyday life, but as miraculous as it sounds, I'm saved from all that when I'm acting. On the contrary, my skin causes serious trouble when I'm resting.

I'm hearing that when you get married, there is a possible that you will quit working.
What comes first as the priority will change, but it doesn't seem likely that I could ever completely throw away this profession. Once I get married, my family will be most important to me, so, of course, it will be possible to take a break from work. That is why I am working hard until that time comes.

Is it right to presume that you will marry a person who has the same profession as yourself?
There is no telling if the average person would be able to understand us. This is a profession that has an unsteady livelihood, so it could cause many fights to occur. If I were to meet a man who is in the same profession as myself, we would know a lot about one another's work making it possible for us to have a mutual understanding of each other. The problem is this type of profession has a nice amount of people in it (laughs). So I'd like to be with an actor but...at any rate, I just want to meet a person who will be able understand my work.

*To view more photos from this spread, go here and here!

Editor | Choi Sun Yeon
Model | Song Hye Kyo
Stylist | Kang Eun Soo
Hair | Lee Hye Young
Makeup | Lee Hyun Ah
Retouching | Jang Won Seok@99 Digital
Location | Little River Studio
Production | Sooh Hwang, Keith Park@ Nuhana Productions, Yael Knof@Black-Market Productions
Source | www.korea.com