Jang Gyuri Discusses Why She Chose To Star In “When The Phone Rings,” Her Character, Co-Stars, And More

Nov 12, 2024

Jang Gyuri has shared her thoughts on her upcoming drama “When the Phone Rings”!

Based on a web novel, “When the Phone Rings” depicts the romance of a couple that married for convenience as they receive a threatening phone call. The series boasts a strong cast including Yoo Yeon Seok, Chae Soo Bin, and Heo Nam Jun.

Jang Gyuri plays Na Yu Ri, a popular television anchor known for her beauty and natural charm. Yu Ri looks up to Baek Sa Eon (Yoo Yeon Seok), a senior anchor at the broadcast station, and admires him openly with both respect and affection. However, she is unaware that Sa Eon’s wife Hong Hee Joo (Chae Soo Bin), who works as a sign language interpreter on the news, is also her colleague.

Jang Gyuri explained her decision to take on the role, saying, “I really enjoyed reading the original web novel, and this role and genre are new to me, so I wanted to take on the challenge. The director showed great confidence in me to play Na Yu Ri, which gave me the courage to accept the role.”

Describing her character, Jang Gyuri said, “Yu Ri is open and expressive. She shows her emotions and thoughts clearly—if she’s happy, she’s happy, and if she’s sad, she’s sad. While she may seem outwardly bright, she’s actually deep and able to share love and think of others first.” She added, “Her biggest charm is how professional and impressive she is as an anchor. I’m gaining a lot of positive energy from playing Yu Ri.”

Jang Gyuri also shared how she prepared for the role: “I took speech lessons from a real anchor and practiced a lot. I focused not only on speaking but also on gestures, posture, clothing, and makeup. I also researched how anchors typically present themselves.”

She described her character using three key words: “anchor,” “lovely,” and “Maltese.” She explained, “Yu Ri is an anchor with a lovable personality. While preparing for the role, I was inspired by the traits of a Maltese dog.”

Jang Gyuri also reflected on her experience working with her fellow co-stars. She shared, “Yoo Yeon Seok is the mood maker on set. To prepare for playing Yu Ri, who fangirls over Sa Eon, I watched his performance in ‘Hedwig,’ and he was amazing.” She continued, “Chae Soo Bin and Heo Nam Jun are always kind and give great acting advice. We’ve been having fun on set, sharing ideas and working together. I’m really grateful.”