Ahn Eun-jin on acting in first period drama 'My Dearest'

Actress Ahn Eun-jin plays the role of Yoo Gil-chae in the new MBC series “My Dearest.” Courtesy of MBC

By Lee Gyu-lee

Actress Ahn Eun-jin shared her experience of working on her first period series with MBC's melodrama “My Dearest,” playing the lead character, Yoo Gil-chae.

“It was really difficult to approach period genre series. To portray Yoo Gil-chae, I always questioned myself if this is the right way,” Ahn said through the network. “I started with getting myself used to the dialect first. So I had to study the script more than I did with previous ones.”

The new period series, set to release on Aug. 4, follows a romance story of a couple during a wartime period of the Joseon Dynasty.

Ahn plays Yoo who comes from a noble family. She has a lovely personality, growing up in a powerful and wealthy family. When she crosses paths with an enigmatic nobleman, Lee Jang-hyun (Namkoong Min), she gets entangled in his life, which changes her world.

Lee is a mysterious man who makes his way into the community out of nowhere. Although he appears to be lighthearted on the surface, he keeps a deep secret that he can't share with anyone else. The two unlikely people find love and endure the struggles of the Qing Dynasty invasion in the 1630s.

The series is led by Kim Sung-yong, who directed Namkoong's previous action series "The Veil" (2021), and is scripted by writer Hwang Jin-young, who wrote the 2017 period drama "The Rebel."

A poster for the series “My Dearest” / Courtesy of MBC

The actress explained that the story will follow her character's coming-of-age.

“(Yoo) grew up wealthy so she has to have everything her way. But as she meets Lee, and goes through the war, she becomes a real adult. When you follow her story, you will be able to resonate and understand her pain, and find yourself rooting for her,” she said.

“As I read the script, I kept thinking 'How can you not love Gil-chae?' I could feel the writer's affection for the character. So I'm sure the viewers will also fall in love with her like I did.”

She shared that although it took time to put her into the character, she managed to come around.

“Towards the beginning of the production, I focused on getting used (to the genre), and now I've come to be more comfortable around the set and found more room to express what I want. It might not be perfect, but as you see from Yoo's perspective, you will be able to follow her (story). So I ask for much love,” she said.

“My Dearest" will air Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 p.m.