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| Singer-actor Bang Min-ah poses during a press conference for the film "Snowball" in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of At9 Film |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Bang Min-ah, better known as Minah of Girl's Day, said she dredged up her deep-seated trauma to play her big movie role in "Snowball," a thriller teen drama about a complicated friendship between three high school best friends.
Based on the novel of the same title, the film revolves around a shy and angst-ridden teenager Kang-yi (Bang) who wants to break out of her shell. She joins her friends ― self-serving model wannabe So-young (Hang Sung-min) and domestic abuse victim Ah-ram (Shim Dal-gi) ― to run away from home and escape from their problems.
However, their friendship falls apart due to misunderstandings and they return to school. All of a sudden, Kang-yi is ostracized by her friends and she feels alienated. Her growing pain leads her to dire consequences.
"I was intimidated approaching 'Snowball' and having to express my character's poignant yet unsettling emotions. But I took on the role, hoping that a chapter of my life would pass by," Bang said during a press conference for the film, Friday.
Describing Kang-yi as the type of person who is inconspicuous and diffident, Bang recalled that she, herself, had moments when she depended on other people's opinions.
"Like Kang-yi, who is largely influenced by her friends, there were times when I valued other people's opinions above my own. That's why I have a lot of sympathy for her. I tried to bring up memories of my past trauma to more fully portray my character," she said.
The singer-turned-actor recalled the most challenging part was having to understand Kang-yi when she makes a "frightening" decision after feeling pain and alienation at school. "What I loved about the story is that all three characters have their own little journeys and everyone does their best to come to their own self-realization," she said.
Earlier in August, Bang received the Rising Star Asia Award at 2021 New York Asian Film Festival.
On receiving the award, Bang said she wants to keep rising as an actor. "My family and friends were in awe because I won the rising star award 11 years after by debut. But I don't mind. I want to keep rising in the future," she laughed.
Bang, 28, debuted in 2010 as a member of K-pop girl group Girl's Day and has built her acting career since 2011. She has starred in TV dramas such as "Beautiful Gong Shim" (2016), "My Absolute Boyfriend" (2019) and "Check Out the Event" (2021).
"Snowball" will hit local theaters, Sept. 1.
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