Shin Hyun Been And Moon Sang Min Talk About Their Chemistry, Acting Careers, "Cinderella At 2AM," And More

Aug 27, 2024

Shin Hyun Been and Moon Sang Min joined Singles Korea for an interview and pictorial!

During the interview, they were asked about their first meeting. Shin Hyun Been said, “Last summer, I sat close to Sang Min, just like we are now, and we talked. But he didn’t make eye contact while speaking. I wondered if he was shy and jokingly asked if he could work with me. I remember him saying, ‘I can definitely do it.’ Oh, and Sang Min brought a bouquet that day. It’s still funny because there was a card envelope that said, ‘To Hyun Been sunbae.’ But when I opened it, there was nothing inside, which caught me off guard. I wondered what kind of person Sang Min is.”

Moon Sang Min said, “I chose a modest bouquet because a large one would be overwhelming. The card envelope didn’t have any special meaning. I’m just glad it made her laugh. The first meeting was quite awkward for me. I had seen Hyun Been often on screen, so meeting her in person was a bit embarrassing.”

When asked about understanding each other, Shin Hyun Been said, “Moon Sang Min is honest and fun. It’s not easy to be completely genuine at work, but Sang Min is very straightforward. I appreciated that. After filming three or four episodes of the drama, we became close, which was refreshing. Even though he is younger, sometimes he feels like a friend or even an older figure.”

Moon Sang Min said, “Shin Hyun Been is selfless. She genuinely cares about others and is very considerate. I’m impressed by that and try to be the same when I’m around her.”

When asked about Moon Sang Min’s remarkable friendliness, Shin Hyun Been said, “I completely agree. On set, he chats not just with the staff but also with passersby and store clerks during outdoor shoots.”

Moon Sang Min added, “That’s why filming often gets delayed. I just really enjoy interacting with people.”

When asked about today’s photo shoot, which focused on depicting the relationship between a woman with a hyper-realistic attitude and a younger man who is entirely focused on her, Shin Hyun Been said, “We were both very comfortable with each other, so the shoot was enjoyable and went quickly.” Moon Sang Min humorously added, “The chemistry was amazing.”

When asked about the first keyword or phrase that came to mind upon reading the script for “Cinderella at 2AM,” Shin Hyun Been said, “Reality fantasy or cliché-breaking romance. Initially, I wondered what ‘Cinderella at 2AM’ was really about. After finishing the script, I found the title very fitting. The story begins with a junior employee who turns out to be the youngest son of a major shareholder. Yun Seo (Shin Hyun Been) doesn’t want to become Cinderella. The script describes ‘a period of emptiness at 2 a.m. after returning home from a glamorous ball, with no dress or glass heels.’ We all know how discovering an unpleasant truth can make a situation feel even worse. I felt a deep sense of the emptiness Yun Seo would experience when facing reality after living a fantasy.”

Regarding the aspects of their characters they focused on for the project, Shin Hyun Been said, “I concentrated on the emotional nuances. I aimed to convincingly portray the conflicting feelings of love and the need to push someone away. I didn’t want viewers to dislike Yun Seo. Although she truly loves someone, her harsh words toward Ju Won (Moon Sang Min) might make her seem unkind. The dialogue is very cold, so I made subtle adjustments to show the affection between them. I also worked to clearly distinguish between the moments of meeting and parting.”

Moon Sang Min said, “Once my character’s identity as the third-generation heir is revealed, I wanted to emphasize that transition. I focused on highlighting the contrast between the plain junior employee and the glamorous heir through both styling and acting.”

Regarding the idea of reversing the roles with Shin Hyun Been as the third-generation heir and Moon Sang Min as the realist, Shin Hyun Been said, “I’m naturally a ‘Feeling’ type and Sang Min is a ‘Thinking’ type [with regards to MBTI], but our roles are reversed in the show, which led to some confusion. We often struggled to understand each other’s characters and would say things like, ‘Why is this hurtful?’ or ‘No, that’s okay,’ trying to convince each other. It was like our real-life reactions mirrored our on-screen interactions.”

Moon Sang Min said, “It would be really fun. We wouldn’t even need to act; we could just be ourselves, saying things like, ‘Yun Seo, don’t be so emotional.’ But if Yun Seo were straightforward and also a third-generation heir, she would likely be very popular.”

With a 9-year age difference, their views on acting may differ. When asked about their perspectives on being actors, Shin Hyun Been said, “Doing something you love is precious. Acting is unique because it relies on opportunities, so I’m always grateful for work. The job comes with responsibility, and I have to stay involved from start to finish, not just focus on the acting itself. What I value most is the people I meet. Regardless of a project’s outcome, the actors and staff I work with become cherished and valuable parts of my life.”

Moon Sang Min said, “It’s not easy. Even after finishing one project, another one follows, much like moving from one scene to the next in a drama. I approach each step methodically and appreciate the continuous opportunities. Although I strive to do well and feel frustrated when things don’t go as planned, my love for acting helps me overcome these challenges.”

When asked what profession they might have chosen if they weren’t actors, Shin Hyun Been remarked, “I’m not sure. If I weren’t an actor, I might have worked in a film-related field, like at a production or distribution company, since my love for movies led me to acting.”

Moon Sang Min replied, “I would have chosen a job in the service industry because I really enjoy interacting with people. I’ve imagined working at a sports rental shop, such as for ski equipment, where I’d sit at the counter and chat with customers. I like working with people, that’s why acting suits me well.”