Uhm Jung-hwa Recalls Her Debut Days Seeing Her Younger Self Played by Jang Da-ah

Actress Uhm Jung-hwa reminisced about her early career after watching Jang Da-ah portray her younger self in the drama ‘Star of My Own’.

In a recent interview following the drama’s conclusion, Uhm Jung-hwa responded to a question about Jang Da-ah, who played her character’s youth, by playfully remarking, “She looked exactly like me back then.”

She highly praised Jang Da-ah’s fresh and charming demeanor, as well as her sincere approach to acting. “I felt a strong connection because both the real actress Jang Da-ah and the younger Im Se-ra in the drama approach acting with genuine seriousness, not as a game,” Uhm Jung-hwa added.

Reflecting on her own younger days, Uhm Jung-hwa honestly shared, “As I went through my 20s, 30s, and 40s, my desire for good projects as an actress has never changed.” However, she noted, “The anxiety and distress I felt during the intervals between projects seem to have faded little by little.”

“When I was young, I never imagined I could be doing such projects at this age. Now, I look forward to what’s next,” she added. “I no longer think, ‘Will there be no more work for me as I get older?’”

Regarding the romantic chemistry between Jang Da-ah and Lee Min-jae, who played opposite her younger self, she commented, “It felt very fresh.” She expressed her satisfaction, saying, “Seeing their past scenes in the epilogues, combined with the adult characters’ stories and emotions, really enriched the narrative.” She concluded, “It felt like they protected each other with pure hearts.”

Uhm Jung-hwa debuted as a singer in 1993 and began her acting career in the 1996 film 'A Petal'. She has starred in numerous hit works such as 'Marriage Story' and 'Dancing Queen', balancing both singing and acting. More recently, she has been actively engaged in dramas and films like 'Drive', 'Miss Wife', and 'Doctor Cha'.