"The Tyrant" Actor Kim Seon Ho Reveals He Has Been Told He "Can't Act"

Kim Seon Ho sat for an interview with local reporters to talk about his behind-the-scenes process for The Tyrant, his upcoming projects and more. 

The Tyrant is a sci-fi action drama that portrays the chaos that unfolds after the last sample of the Tyrant Program disappears in an accident.

The Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha actor made his return to the small screen with this Disney+ thriller, in which played the role of Director Choe, who gives his all to protect the last sample of the Tyrant Program.

Kim Seon Ho shared his thoughts on the release of The Tyrant: "First of all, I feel really good. I got to work with senior actors whom I admire. ... Before the release, I used to wonder 'How did I perform?' 'What does it look like?' When it finally came out, I felt thrilled and joyful." 

He also revealed he couldn't see the viewers' reactions at first: "Right now, I'm in the middle of filming a drama, and honestly, I didn't see the reactions at first. Isn't it scary [to see the responses]? No matter how much I liked it and how fun it was for us to shoot, it's different when the audience watches. I was worried that if I saw a negative reaction now, [it might mess with my mentality and] affect the project I'm working on right now. So I refrained from seeing the responses. But when the PR team first sent me the compiled reactions, I felt better than expected. I just sat there for two hours just looking up [for reactions] because I was wondering what was going on. Of course, I think I should be humble about the results, but my heart races when I see these [positive] responses."

Talking about the challenges he faced in portraying Director Choe, Kim Seon Ho said, "When I come across a character, I usually think about how the lines should be delivered and roughly sketch out the plan in my mind. But this time, I felt that I should focus more on the inner aspects and emphasize them."

He continued, "Actually, I was scared. Because I often played characters where I had to focus on expressing things outwardly through my characters, I wondered how I could express the aspects I internally manage. How do I challenge myself and transform into this character? I said I would do my best, but I also feared what if I failed." Yet he added, "However, an actor can't just stop there, right? I had to keep trying. Despite the fear, I had to do it. Fortunately, having senior actors and director Park around me was really helpful."

He also mentioned the work he referred to, citing Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. "The director recommended it to me. There's a scene where someone is drinking coffee, and I watched that scene over and over again. I took notes on the calmness [of the character] while firing a gun and the settings of the characters working in intelligence agencies."  

He added, "Although [in the K-drama] Director Choe is set to be the youngest director, he is quite young to be a director. But you can't change the character's age assigned in the story, right? I believe that every actor has certain inherent qualities. Things like appearance, voice, and vocal projection are part of an actor, so what I could do was find the best way to portray Director Choe with my color. I tried to avoid looking too disheveled. I especially focused on how to subtly express [the character's] reactions to his circumstances. While it [my performance] might not have fully conveyed what I intended, I tried to suppress and minimize things like certain glances or hand movements, as much as possible. I thought that was how the character could maintain his gravitas."

It was also revealed that the actor lost weight for his character. "I thought I needed to look drained. So I worked out and went on a diet. The script repeatedly mentioned expressions like 'he looks tired,' 'he looks gaunt' (laughs). Also, I thought that Director Choe was being pushed to the extreme. ... So I went on a diet. I lost about 6 to 7 kg. The director didn't ask me to go on a diet though. I also deliberately created blemishes and drew dark circles under my eyes. On days when I looked really tired, I didn't put on makeup (on some parts of my face)."

Kim Seon Ho is a non-smoker, but he smoked for scenes in the K-drama. He said, "I actually can't smoke. I practiced for about three months for the scenes where Director Choe smokes. The director [who also helmed The Childe] said, 'If you had smoked a bit more naturally in The Childe wouldn't the cut have been longer [in the movie]?' Fortunately, this time, I did well with the smoking scene and then quit it." 

He also talked about the ending scene: "I remember it very clearly. I was quite scared. During the final scene where we have a gunfight, we used blanks. The sound is manageable when shooting outwards, but when shooting inwards it sounds twice as loud. Despite saying 'I'll handle it,' when the gun went 'bang,' I closed my eyes, despite absolutely not wanting to do so, in the first take. When I asked for another chance, the director joked, 'We don't have many blanks left.' I thought about using earplugs, but then I wouldn't be able to hear the other actor's lines or my own, which would affect my acting. So I took them out, and though my ears were ringing [due to the gunshot sound], I managed to endure it," he laughed. Talking about if people would find the ending unsatisfactory, he said, "I think that's the part that makes you remember Director Choe. If there's a season 2, I look forward to some flashback scenes. Since I read the script and knew what to expect, I wasn't disappointed because I planned and acted with that ending in mind. I think it's right to go in with the mindset of 'I have nothing to lose.'"

Kim Seon Ho also confessed he has some regrets about his acting. He said, "(While filming), I thought that if I had three chances, I could do better. Right now, instead of feeling that I'm doing well, I see more of the parts where I'm lacking. Rather than saying I've grown as an actor, I think it's more accurate to say I've realized what's important. Noir has taught me that the moments of silence can be more powerful than the moments when an actor speaks. This kind of silent acting made me realize that I need to study more, develop, and build up as an actor."

When asked if there is any particular genre he would like to try next, he said, "Right now, I'm busy with the work in front of me, so rather than thinking about which genre I want to do [next], I'm focused on whether my shortcomings have improved. ... I have upcoming projects, and I'm currently filming something as well. Rather than having a thirst for different genres, I'm more concerned about why I'm unable to fix my shortcomings. Just yesterday, while shooting a drama, all I could see were my flaws, even though others said it was fine. I insisted, 'Let's do it one more time,' and I ended up pulling an all-nighter."

He also shared, "Acting, I think, is a talent that some people are just born with. Such people probably don't act the way I do. I wasn't born with any innate talent. I've often been told I can't act. ... But what I'm realizing more and more is that you need skills to be an actor. Actually, there's no clear answer to how you can improve in acting. This profession, in a way, is a domain of art, and they say that acting can change just based on your mindset. And that's something I struggle with."

When asked about his goals the actor said, "It's hard to set specific goals as an actor, but I still like the goal of wanting to be an actor people want to work with. Even now, during filming, if things don't go well, I think it's natural for me to get sensitive. I'm a human after all. At those times, that goal helps me stay grounded. I just laugh it off and move on. That's why I try not to lose sight of that goal. I want to be an actor that people want to work with again. It's not just about the acting, but the attitude too. If something I say in jest can lighten the mood on set, then I think that's part of being a good actor, and it motivates me to do my best. Although I might falter sometimes, I intend to keep holding on to that mindset."

He continued, "The people who make these dramas and movies circulate [in the industry], so when I move on to my next project, I often see staff members I worked with years ago. ... But despite how well I do on set, if I'm not charming as an actor, I wonder if they'll call me again," adding, "Honestly, I think the fact that I'm still here is thanks to my fans. I want to make sure to convey my love [and appreciation to them]." 

Sources (1)(2)(3)