Ahn Eun Jin (안은진), who played the role of Lee Mi-ju in the recently concluded JTBC drama ‘The Good Bad Mother’ (나쁜엄마) (written by Bae Se-young and directed by Shim Na-yeon), shared her thoughts on her portrayal of Mi-ju and the overall experience.
‘The Good Bad Mother’ depicted the heartwarming journey of Jin Young-soon (played by Ra Mi-ran), a mother who had to become wicked for the sake of her children, and her son, Choi Kang-ho (played by Lee Do-hyun (임동현)), who becomes a child and seeks the happiness he has lost. The drama started with a viewership rating of 3.6% (based on Nielsen Korea) and consistently rose, eventually reaching its highest rating of 12.0% before concluding.
Ahn Eun-jin portrayed the character of Mi-ju in the drama. Mi-ju is Kang-ho’s longtime friend and his only place of solace. With her profound depth, Mi-ju is an assertive character who cannot tolerate injustice. Sacrificing everything, including love and honor, she becomes destitute before returning to her hometown. Reuniting with the child version of Kang-ho, she undergoes a transformation. Ahn Eun-jin’s remarkable acting skills and unique personality once again highlighted her unwavering popularity among the audience.
Speaking about her chemistry with Lee Do-hyun, Ahn Eun-jin expressed her admiration, saying, “I really enjoyed watching Do-hyun’s performance. I was a fan of ‘Youth of May,’ and I thought he acted brilliantly and looked cool. Rather than just emanating energy from the screen, I felt that we were constantly engaged in a conversation. He is an actor who consistently gives something to his co-stars, and I could sense that. It felt like he approached scenes with the same energy, regardless of what we were shooting. This quality made him an actor who could elevate the energy of his co-stars. We had many conversations and shared numerous stories while breathing together. When we discussed challenging scenes, we became each other’s sources of inspiration. That’s how we approached the filming. We made an effort to shoot the past scenes beautifully by discussing and planning. We wanted the past to be portrayed as lovely and charming, as we believed it would garner support for the couple. The past scenes were limited, but we pitched many ideas to make them visually appealing. The intimacy depicted in those scenes received support, and when it transitioned to reality, the couple received even more encouragement.”
She continued, “While ‘The Glory’ had its own storyline, ‘The Good Bad Mother’ had its own unique narrative. We pondered how we could express it in a more beautiful way. I received an abundance of unexpected love, and it gave me strength. I believe it’s the chemistry between Do-hyun and me that ignites everywhere.”
Regarding the numerous kissing scenes, Ahn Eun-jin explained, “There were indeed many kissing scenes. I think it’s something that naturally occurs between couples. We followed the script, and there were also improvisations. Given our long-standing relationship and shared life experiences, there was an intimacy that made us feel comfortable. Rather than focusing on the awkward and cute aspects of a developing relationship, we aimed to depict natural and genuine skinship, such as touches and hugs.”
When asked about Lee Do-hyun, who is not only her co-star but also her real-life girlfriend and senior at her school, Lim Ji-yeon, Ahn Eun-jin laughed and said, “(Despite the many kissing scenes and skinship) I didn’t receive any calls from her.”
