Park Han Byul is earning praise as being the first Korean actress to play the lead in a successful Chinese film. She stars in the Chinese horror film "Bi Xian II" or "Bunshinsaba 2."
Since its premiere last week, the film broke box office records for Chinese horror films, earning almost two million dollars. One of about 20 films currently being shown in China, "Bi Xian II" is playing in about 2,000 theaters and within the week took the number one spot. The story focuses on a group of friends who must deal with a suicide and other horrible events.
The Chinese media has credited the director Ahn Byung Ki and actress Park Han Byul as being responsible for setting this record. The actress, who appeared in the dramas "My Fair Lady" and "Oh My Lady," already spoke some Chinese before she started in the film but she still had to put considerable effort into acting in Chinese.
Preparing for roles that require you to speak another language can take extra time.
According to her entertainment agency, she was so worried about having to act in Chinese that she carefully considered the casting call she got from Ahn Byung Ki.
"Since she had to speak Chinese perfectly in the film, she even slept with her Chinese lines playing in the background," said an agency representative. "She put a lot of effort into her role."
Fortunately, the actress already had experience acting in a horror film. In 2012, she co-starred with Kim Ji Suk in "Two Moons." She played So Hee, a horror fiction novelist with a secret. She also had a part in the horror film, "The Infection O: origins."
Park made her acting debut in the 2003 horror film, "Wishing Stairs." For that part she studied ballet for two months. In between her first horror film and her current successful horror film, she also appeared in a succession of dramas.
In many of those dramas, she played what she described as cold characters.
"I took on many roles that don't show much emotion and I would like to try warmer ones," said Park.
She also made the news recently because of her association with singer Se7en when he was involved in a celebrity recruit scandal. Four years ago, the couple acknowledged that they had been dating for seven years. They were previously high school sweethearts. While promoting her new film, she declined to answer any questions about her boyfriend.
