We sit down with Woo Do-hwan to talk about his role in the new seriesMr. Plankton.
“I want to live,” is one of the first and last lines that actor Woo Do-hwan says in Mr. Plankton. It’s a delivery filled with earnest emotions that truly lured in viewers. But in some ways, it’s also a showcase of the actor’s acting prowess. Now, the world is tuned in. If they didn’t know Woo Do-hwan, they do now. And they’re seated for more. In our interview with Woo Do-hwan, he takes us behind the scenes of filming the Netflix series and gives more insights into his character.
Taking on the role of Heo-jo is the latest addition to the actor’s colourful portfolio. His versatility has been eye-catching from the get-go: with the scene-stealer Seok Dong-cheol in Save Me, the charismatic Kim Min-joon in Mad Dog, and the dual nature of Jo-young and Jo Eun-sup in The King: Eternal Monarch. Beyond Woo Do-hwan’s emotional Korean dramas, his acting chops extend to saeguk and action as seen in My Country: The New Age and Bloodhounds. And, most recently, the 32-year-old star accepted the challenge of portraying a terminally ill character, Hae-jo (his chosen name)/Chae Seung-hyeok (his birth name). The character’s bold nature and sort of “tsundere” persona stretch his acting abilities. It’s a test to see how the actor can balance the toughness yet carefree nature of the role. But he has certainly made his case and praises have come for his incredible performance.
Following Mr. Plankton’s premiere on Netflix and riding on the acclaim he’s receiving, Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong got to sit down with Woo Do-hwan for an interview. It’s a conversation without the flashy cameras and jam-packed conference room. Just like the free-spirited Hae-jo, the heartthrob gets candid, taking us through the complex DNA of his character. He also touches upon his natural chemistry with his co-stars and his newfound appreciation for the beauty of South Korea, and gives a heartfelt message to his character. Find out more in our interview with Woo Do-hwan below.
Woo Do-hwan gives insights into his character in Mr. Plankton
What attracted you to the project and made you want to be a part of it?
I loved the message that the show embodied and I wanted to share that message with a wider audience. I think Hae-jo’s free-spirited side was something that I’ve always wanted to express and try out.
In terms of playing Hae-jo, what are some aspects that you focused on and want the viewers to take note of?
I want viewers to look out for how he really doesn’t care about what other people think. He really likes to lay it bare and has no problem adapting to the situation. Sometimes, the way he speaks can come off as tough and makes him seem like a self-centred person. But I just want people to recognise that he’s on this journey of personal growth.
In your previous role for another Netflix show, you had to work out and be on a diet. Were there any similar preparations for this drama?
I didn’t really work out this time since my character is terminally ill. So to me, it seemed like he would skip meals very easily so it made sense to keep him skinny.
What about in terms of the dramatic scenes? Did you have to prepare anything to portray the emotions of a terminally ill person?
I wanted to show how his condition was worsening as the show progressed. But at the same time, his condition is not something that exists in real life. It’s not an official illness. So, I just wanted to portray a character that was heading to the end of his life. But I didn’t want to depict him in the stereotypical way that we often see. Instead, I expressed it in a way that his body wasn’t really moving or acting in the way that he would tell it to act.
What was it like working with your cast members to build your chemistry?
All three of us — Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, and myself — met up in advance. We did table reads before filming began and spent a lot of time together so that we could get close. Plus, we all shared the same love for the show, like everybody was so equally hooked and involved. So, naturally, we got really close just talking about the series.
When it comes to Yoo-mi, since we were playing lovers in the show, we really wanted to express the chemistry that we had. Luckily, we had natural chemistry on set so everything worked perfectly. In general, the chemistry among the cast couldn’t been better. We really got along at a deep level to the extent that we would understand what the other person was thinking without them having to say it out loud.
You previously said that the most enjoyable moment in acting is the spontaneity on set. Were there any moments during the filming of this series that you felt that?
Yes, definitely, there were a lot of those moments. It was especially true in the scenes with Yoo-mi this time around. We didn’t really want to stick to the lines in the script so we improvised a lot and went with the flow. Also, since this show is like a road trip, there were a lot of montage scenes so we left it up to how things would turn out or unfold on set. It was an exciting experience to have.
Speaking of road trips, the drama takes viewers through various locations in South Korea. What were some of the memorable locations for you? Did you get a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the country?
While we were filming, I was able to learn how we had such beautiful four seasons in South Korea. That was one of the best parts of the filming experience especially when there was the rice paddy scene in episode two. There were scenes on the asphalt where you could really feel the heat exuding from the screen. Then, there’s the snowfield scene that we filmed among the mountains and even the ones overlooking the ocean on Jeju Island. We had everything from mountains to oceans. So, I was really blown away by the wide variety of seasons and backdrops that we have. And just to add, my favourite backdrop was the snow field at the end.
What universal themes in Mr. Plankton will appeal to the audience?
Just like the title, the plankton is a microorganism that is very tiny but the show highlights that they still matter and that they’re valuable to the ecosystem. So likewise, I want to send out the message to everyone that no matter how rough life may be for them, they still matter. Life may be lonely but they are still valuable.
What message would you, Woo Do-hwan, like to give to Hae-jo?
He might already know this but I know that he’s going on a search for a family. But he already has one. Instead, he should just look around the people next to him. He also shouldn’t think that he’s alone or that he’s been abandoned by his family because he already has the people who love him the most around him.
Watch the trailer for Mr. Plankton below.
‘Mr. Plankton’ is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
