Nudity-ready actress wanted in Park’s film
Aspiring actresses can audition to star in a film by “Oldboy” director Park Chanwook, but they’ll have to be ready for an “extreme degree of nudity,” reports said this week.
Hallyu hunk Ha Jung-woo is playing the lead male character in the upcoming film, tentatively titled “Agassi” (young woman), but a female lead has yet to be cast.
Moho Film, the production company behind the project, distributed open audition notices to management companies and art schools in search of a female lead, warning that nudity would be required.
The notice went viral because of the nudity requirements for the lead actress, who plays opposite Ha, one of the hottiest properties in Chungmuro.
Lady is based on a Korean adaption of the Victorian-inspired crime novel ‘Fingersmith’ written by British author Sarah Waters.
“The character must be ready for an extreme degree of nudity,” the audition notice said, according to Munhwa Ilbo. “This is why the production company requires an age of 19 or above.”
Yoon Seok-chan, a production director at Moho, said the casting call may have been slightly exaggerated, but that “the role still requires females who are willing to shoot provocative scenes.”
“Casting for the female lead will be finalized within this year,” Yoon said. “Whoever it’s going to be, we need an actress who will be willing to take on any type of nudity that is required for the film.”
The story takes place during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula (1910-1945).
Moho said that the Korean adaptation of the British novel is to include a romantic relationship between a Japanese aristocrat and a Korean maid. Ha is to play the role of the wealthy Japanese character.
Many fans of Ha showed interest in the casting call online.
One netizen commented, “If it’s for Ha or even for Park, I’m willing to take off anything.”
Another mentioned actress Kang Hye-jung’s audition for Park’s Oldboy, for which she brought in a kitchen knife from a nearby sushi restaurant to show how passionate she was about getting the lead female role.
“Maybe ‘Lady’ is looking for a second Kang Hye-jung, except this time with how much the actresses are willing to take off,” the comment read.
The online audition says, “negotiation over degree of nudity impossible,” raising eyebrows over how much skin might have to be shown.
The shooting for the movie will begin soon after the remaining roles are filled, Moho production