Actor Ryu Jun-yeol has taken on his first dual role in the Netflix series 'The Rat.' He portrays 'Moon-jae,' a writer who loses everything overnight and is pushed to the brink, and an enigmatic entity known as 'The Rat,' showcasing a previously unseen side of himself. Ryu's ability to convincingly portray extreme characters is a testament to his talent.
"When expressing a character, I felt it was necessary to distinguish between the external and internal aspects. I received a lot of help from the makeup team. As time went on, I realized how detail-oriented and dedicated the makeup team was. I prefer a natural integration rather than an overt display. I aimed to subtly convey the differences without making it obvious that I was playing two roles," he said.
Ryu Jun-yeol mentioned that he pursued a 'subtle difference' in the physical portrayal of 'Moon-jae' and 'The Rat.' He meticulously calculated details such as hair texture, eyebrow shape, and even slight variations in eye color to create a distinct gap between the two characters.
"For the hairstyles, 'The Rat' has a straight look, while 'Moon-jae' has a wavy style. I made small adjustments, like changing the shape of the ears. I altered minute details to create a different atmosphere. I also wore lenses with spots, which became noticeable in close-ups. Normally, I keep the moles on my face for all roles, but for 'The Rat,' I tried to erase them to express a subtle difference," he explained.
The voice was also a crucial element in distinguishing the two characters. Ryu chose to manipulate his voice's tone and texture rather than relying on mechanical effects.
"Initially, the director suggested mixing my voice with Yoon-ho's using a machine. We tried different ratios, but I found it unnatural. So, I told the director, 'I think this sounds unnatural; let me do it myself.' After that, I attempted to create a different voice, and it seemed to be well-received. I made an effort to approach it differently overall," he said.
Switching between the pursuer and the pursued in a single frame required meticulous control and calculation. However, Ryu revealed that he experienced a newfound sense of freedom in his acting within this structured setup.
"Since I was in control of all situations while exchanging lines, I felt freer to try what I wanted. I think that helped make it feel more natural and authentic. In the past, I focused on what I could do well, but this time, I aimed to keep trying new things. The thorough calculations led to many detailed moments. I acted as if there were no villains. Every character has their own will and believes in their actions. I attempted to change that complexity by a fine margin. I was worried it might feel excessive, but I was glad it was received just right," he said.
Working alongside actor Seol Kyung-gu, who played the role of No-ja, provided Ryu with another source of growth. Although they had known each other for over a decade, this was their first time collaborating on a project, which he described as a valuable learning opportunity.
"I had several chances to work with Kyung-gu over the past ten years, but they never materialized. I was disappointed to meet him through this project, but I also felt fortunate. If I had met him in my early 30s, I don't think I would have learned even a fraction of what I can now. The chemistry was excellent. Among actors, there is an unspoken rule about not easily telling each other how to act. It's almost impossible for a junior to tell a senior, but I shared my thoughts in almost every scene. That was possible because he was open to listening. Sometimes he would happily accept my input, and other times he would say, 'No, you idiot,' which made me very happy," he said.
Ryu also worked hard to synchronize his performance with actor Park Yoon-ho, who played 'The Rat.' They exchanged breaths continuously to ensure their dialogue and gestures mirrored each other in certain scenes.
"There were times when I repeated lines that Yoon-ho had delivered and vice versa. I called Yoon-ho the night before his shoot, and he would come to ask me questions while filming. For example, there’s a line, 'Is that okay?' and I aimed to synchronize it with the delivery he had with senior actor Kim Sung-oh, while also matching my delivery with the senior. We tried to make it slightly different to avoid it feeling forced, but we discussed a lot to ensure we could express ourselves on our respective shooting days," he said.
The film 'The Rat' explores the confusion of a person who has lost all social codes to prove themselves. Ryu sought answers to the question, 'What truly validates me?' within his most personal relationships.
"Through this project, I realized that ultimately, it is others who validate me. I believe close friends can do that. I can show my true self to my friends without reservation. I can share my bad thoughts or actions with them, and they understand. When there’s no way to prove anything, I feel like I can show up in front of my friends, and they will recognize me with just a few words," he said.
As Ryu Jun-yeol marks his 11th year since his debut, he noted that his perspective has broadened beyond just being a 'leading actor.' He emphasized the importance of being engaged in the overall production process.
"After more than ten years, directors and producers naturally ask me about the attitude and thoughts they have toward this project. I’ve come to realize that we need to start working with a clear understanding of the underlying narrative. If we don’t align perfectly, we might revise the script or adjust character actions. This has led to a better understanding of the overall production, and I find myself contributing more. I believe that as a main role, it’s essential to be interested in the message the work conveys and the working environment, beyond just acting well," he said.
This expanded interest has led Ryu to explore new areas, including film distribution. He expressed a genuine passion for sharing films he loves and resonates with others in theaters.
"As my interest in the overall production has grown, I find the process of making a film incredibly enjoyable, and I still feel so happy watching movies in theaters. Collecting films that are hard to find may not be financially rewarding, but I want to share the films I want to see with others. Since last year, I’ve been attending film festivals, meeting people in the market, and learning about film distribution. While I don’t have specific plans to announce yet, there are already projects in progress that I hope to share gradually," he said.
With the meticulous character design and bold acting variations in 'The Rat,' Ryu Jun-yeol hopes that the unfamiliar faces he has created will provide viewers with an immersive experience akin to watching a film.
"I think the dramas coming out on Netflix feel like watching a long movie. The quality of Netflix productions is high, and they contain a lot of good content in a compact form. I hope viewers can think of this work as a long movie. Just as time flies when watching a lengthy film, I believe this work can be enjoyed just as satisfyingly," he concluded.
"When expressing a character, I felt it was necessary to distinguish between the external and internal aspects. I received a lot of help from the makeup team. As time went on, I realized how detail-oriented and dedicated the makeup team was. I prefer a natural integration rather than an overt display. I aimed to subtly convey the differences without making it obvious that I was playing two roles," he said.
Ryu Jun-yeol mentioned that he pursued a 'subtle difference' in the physical portrayal of 'Moon-jae' and 'The Rat.' He meticulously calculated details such as hair texture, eyebrow shape, and even slight variations in eye color to create a distinct gap between the two characters.
"For the hairstyles, 'The Rat' has a straight look, while 'Moon-jae' has a wavy style. I made small adjustments, like changing the shape of the ears. I altered minute details to create a different atmosphere. I also wore lenses with spots, which became noticeable in close-ups. Normally, I keep the moles on my face for all roles, but for 'The Rat,' I tried to erase them to express a subtle difference," he explained.
The voice was also a crucial element in distinguishing the two characters. Ryu chose to manipulate his voice's tone and texture rather than relying on mechanical effects.
"Initially, the director suggested mixing my voice with Yoon-ho's using a machine. We tried different ratios, but I found it unnatural. So, I told the director, 'I think this sounds unnatural; let me do it myself.' After that, I attempted to create a different voice, and it seemed to be well-received. I made an effort to approach it differently overall," he said.
Switching between the pursuer and the pursued in a single frame required meticulous control and calculation. However, Ryu revealed that he experienced a newfound sense of freedom in his acting within this structured setup.
"Since I was in control of all situations while exchanging lines, I felt freer to try what I wanted. I think that helped make it feel more natural and authentic. In the past, I focused on what I could do well, but this time, I aimed to keep trying new things. The thorough calculations led to many detailed moments. I acted as if there were no villains. Every character has their own will and believes in their actions. I attempted to change that complexity by a fine margin. I was worried it might feel excessive, but I was glad it was received just right," he said.
Working alongside actor Seol Kyung-gu, who played the role of No-ja, provided Ryu with another source of growth. Although they had known each other for over a decade, this was their first time collaborating on a project, which he described as a valuable learning opportunity.
"I had several chances to work with Kyung-gu over the past ten years, but they never materialized. I was disappointed to meet him through this project, but I also felt fortunate. If I had met him in my early 30s, I don't think I would have learned even a fraction of what I can now. The chemistry was excellent. Among actors, there is an unspoken rule about not easily telling each other how to act. It's almost impossible for a junior to tell a senior, but I shared my thoughts in almost every scene. That was possible because he was open to listening. Sometimes he would happily accept my input, and other times he would say, 'No, you idiot,' which made me very happy," he said.
Ryu also worked hard to synchronize his performance with actor Park Yoon-ho, who played 'The Rat.' They exchanged breaths continuously to ensure their dialogue and gestures mirrored each other in certain scenes.
"There were times when I repeated lines that Yoon-ho had delivered and vice versa. I called Yoon-ho the night before his shoot, and he would come to ask me questions while filming. For example, there’s a line, 'Is that okay?' and I aimed to synchronize it with the delivery he had with senior actor Kim Sung-oh, while also matching my delivery with the senior. We tried to make it slightly different to avoid it feeling forced, but we discussed a lot to ensure we could express ourselves on our respective shooting days," he said.
The film 'The Rat' explores the confusion of a person who has lost all social codes to prove themselves. Ryu sought answers to the question, 'What truly validates me?' within his most personal relationships.
"Through this project, I realized that ultimately, it is others who validate me. I believe close friends can do that. I can show my true self to my friends without reservation. I can share my bad thoughts or actions with them, and they understand. When there’s no way to prove anything, I feel like I can show up in front of my friends, and they will recognize me with just a few words," he said.
As Ryu Jun-yeol marks his 11th year since his debut, he noted that his perspective has broadened beyond just being a 'leading actor.' He emphasized the importance of being engaged in the overall production process.
"After more than ten years, directors and producers naturally ask me about the attitude and thoughts they have toward this project. I’ve come to realize that we need to start working with a clear understanding of the underlying narrative. If we don’t align perfectly, we might revise the script or adjust character actions. This has led to a better understanding of the overall production, and I find myself contributing more. I believe that as a main role, it’s essential to be interested in the message the work conveys and the working environment, beyond just acting well," he said.
This expanded interest has led Ryu to explore new areas, including film distribution. He expressed a genuine passion for sharing films he loves and resonates with others in theaters.
"As my interest in the overall production has grown, I find the process of making a film incredibly enjoyable, and I still feel so happy watching movies in theaters. Collecting films that are hard to find may not be financially rewarding, but I want to share the films I want to see with others. Since last year, I’ve been attending film festivals, meeting people in the market, and learning about film distribution. While I don’t have specific plans to announce yet, there are already projects in progress that I hope to share gradually," he said.
With the meticulous character design and bold acting variations in 'The Rat,' Ryu Jun-yeol hopes that the unfamiliar faces he has created will provide viewers with an immersive experience akin to watching a film.
"I think the dramas coming out on Netflix feel like watching a long movie. The quality of Netflix productions is high, and they contain a lot of good content in a compact form. I hope viewers can think of this work as a long movie. Just as time flies when watching a lengthy film, I believe this work can be enjoyed just as satisfyingly," he concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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