Lee You-mi reveals emotional weight behind Netflix hit ‘As You Stood By’

Actor Lee You-mi talks about her emotional transformation and physical challenges while portraying an abuse survivor in Netflix’s “As You Stood By.” Courtesy of Netflix

Actor Lee You-mi has opened up about her deep emotional journey and physical transformation while filming Netflix’s original series “As You Stood By,” a dark, gripping drama about two women pushed to the edge by violence and survival.

In an interview on Tuesday at a cafe in Seoul, Lee discussed her portrayal of Hui-su, a once-promising children’s book author enduring an abusive marriage. The series follows Hui-su and another woman who, trapped in an inescapable reality of abuse and despair, make a fateful decision that changes their lives forever.

“I rewatched it yesterday because I was too nervous to really take it in the first time,” Lee said, recalling her tension on release day. “During filming, I wasn’t directly experiencing the violence, but once I saw it onscreen, it hit me — the pain and imagination beyond what was shown.”

Lee said she was drawn to the project because of its focus on women who actively shape their own narratives.

“Hui-su and Eun-su (played by Jeon So-nee) are at the center of the story, leading it through their choices,” she said. “Though it deals with sensitive material, I wanted to save Hui-su somehow — to give her happiness through my performance.”

After the show’s premiere, Lee said she read viewers’ reactions and was grateful for the empathy toward her character. “People were furious with Jin-pyo, the husband, and that made me feel comforted,” she said. “It was like people were angry on Hui-su’s behalf — that meant a lot to me.”

To cope with the heavy emotions, Lee said she tried to separate herself from her character whenever possible. “On set, I stayed true to who I am,” she said. “When I felt myself getting drained, I reminded myself to keep some distance — to let Hui-su’s pain exist only during the scenes.”

Her physical transformation mirrored the character’s suffering. Lee said she lost weight from her usual 41 kilograms to about 37 kilograms to capture Hui-su’s frailty.

Actor Lee You-mi as Hui-su in "As You Stood By" / Courtesy of Netflix

“I wanted her pain to be visible — in her thinness, her posture, the way she sat at the dinner table with her husband,” she said. “I naturally ate less and slept more during shooting, so the change came easily. Maybe I was made for this role.”

Having often portrayed emotionally intense characters, Lee said “As You Stood By” felt like a milestone in her acting career.

“It’s the first time I felt like I truly met a character who made me stronger,” she reflected. “Hui-su’s struggles and choices helped me become more resilient and grounded as a person.”

When asked about domestic violence in real life, Lee’s tone turned firm. “I hope abusers face consequences — that their lives are never peaceful,” she said. “They should live every day feeling the pain they caused.”

Released on Dec. 7, “As You Stood By” has gained momentum worldwide. According to streaming analytics site FlixPatrol, the series ranked No. 1 on Netflix’s global TV chart as of Tuesday, topping the list in 21 countries — a reflection of its growing emotional impact and word-of-mouth success.

A scene from "As You Stood By" / Courtesy of Netflix

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.