With the male lead for the drama adaptation of the popular Japanese manga "Nodame Cantible" announced, fans were waiting for word on who would play the female lead.

Shim Eun Kyung seemed a fan favorite for the role but the actress has opted to do a film instead. Song Byung Joon, CEO of the drama's production company, Group 8, recently announced that Shim Eun Kyung declined to play the drama's romantic lead opposite Joo Won.

"It is true that we were thinking of Shim Eun Kyung but as she's planning to appear in a film it would be difficult for her to star in "Nodame Cantible.' The female lead is still up in the air. We are considering a couple of actresses."

Shim Eun Kyung recently won praise for her first leading role as an adult in the film "Miss Granny." In that film she played a 70-year-old whose personality lands in the body of a 20-year-old. The film was a hit, selling more than 20 million tickets in a month.

Thinking like a 70-year-old is not the kind of role an almost 20-year-old usually covets but Shim very much wanted to do the film.

"I will do a lot of pretty roles from now on, but I picked this movie because the story was very meaningful to me and I thought I would learn a lot from this movie."

Shim Eun Kyung has already signed on to appear in the film "Guest," which begins filming at the end of this month.

"Guest" will also star MBLAQ's Lee Joon, currently appearing in the drama "Gap Dong," and actors Ryu Seung Ryong, who appears this year in the film "The Target," Chun Woo Hee, last seen in the film "Han Gong Ju" and Lee Sung Min, whose last drama was "Miss Korea."

The film takes place shortly after the Korean War. Ryu Seung Seung Ryong plays a man who moves to a remote mountain village. He takes along his son, played by Lee Joon and then mysterious things start to happen.

There is no word yet on what role Shim Eun Kyung will play in the film.

Shim Eun Kyung was considered one of the best child actresses of her generation. She appeared in three dramas when she was nine, including an appearance in "The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry." Her most recent drama roles were in "Merchant Kim Man Deok" and "Bad Guy." "Guest" will be her twelfth film role.