Seoul: Yeom Hye-ran believes even a film dealing with historical tragedies should find something, however slight, that is forward-looking. She carried that thought into a scene where she dances, or rather moves deep in sorrow, in a barley field at sunset, with the barley swaying gently in the wind, a scene she described as "the highlight" of the drama film "My Name."

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yeom discussed the complexities of the challenging scene during an interview in Seoul. "It was a very difficult scene, so complex and multilayered, but the bottom line was I wanted to talk about the future," she explained. Yeom emphasized that the scene should not only convey sadness but also provide a sense of direction for the future, a sentiment she shared with director Chung Ji-young during their discussions.

While filming, Yeom quietly spoke to herself to evoke the layered emotions necessary for the scene. She shared phrases such as "I am sorry" and "I wish you rest in peace," hoping to convey a message not of blame, but of moving forward. In "My Name," Yeom portrays Jung-soon, a character with no memory of her life before age 8, set against the backdrop of the 1948 Jeju April 3 uprising, one of the bloodiest state massacres during Korea's ideological conflicts.

Yeom aimed to depict Jung-soon as an ordinary woman and mother who pushes forward through life, confronting painful history head-on. This, she believes, mirrors the resilience of the Korean people. In February, she attended the Berlin International Film Festival, where "My Name" was featured in the Forum section. She was struck by Berlin's aura of "remembrance," drawing parallels between the city and the film's themes of painful memories.

Yeom's acting career began in theater in 2000, transitioning to film with a supporting role in Bong Joon-ho's "Memories of Murder" in 2003. She later landed a prominent role in Park Chan-wook's upcoming thriller "No Other Choice" in 2025. Her television roles include appearances in popular series like tvN's "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," and Netflix's "The Glory" and "When Life Gives You Tangerines."

Despite her stardom, Yeom finds her success surprising and often unbelievable. She strives to maintain her composure, balancing praise and criticism with neutrality and emotional stability. "I always try to stay neutral and emotionally balanced," she concluded.