Phoenix
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Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 19477
Location: Germany
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 Posted:
10.04.2008 07:57 |
Dec 2007 Interview Cosmo Man Magazine
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RAIN - Life is a Challenge
Thai to English translation by: farmer-sexybi
Sincere Vol 5. No. 54
Article by Lee Dong Seung
[Note:I think this article appeared in the CosmoGirl Magazine (Phoenix note: I think it was Cosmo Man Magazine) where theyfeatured the Calvin Klein fashion shoot. This should be the interviewthat came along with those steamy photos~]
Part I: Life is a Challenge
Q: How do you feel about the new photo shoot?
A:This photo shoot was a lot of fun. It might be due to the fact thatI’ve never thought of work as a duty I have to carry out; instead I seeit as something fun to do. I really like to work. The variouschallenges make work enjoyable for me. But that doesn’t mean that I amnot afraid of anything. In fact, if I have to take up new challenges,it makes me somewhat nervous as well. That makes it exciting.
Q:The fact that you view new challenges as something enjoyable seems tobe the reason to your many achievements and your status as a worldstar. Whatever you do, it seems that you do all of it very well.
A:I’ve never thought of myself as better than anyone else. Even though Imay be doing a lot of things, but I never think that I am better thanothers. Especially working in Hollywood, I have to double my effortsbecause if I don’t I would never achieve anything. The most importantthing is to do your best in the job that has been handed to you.Quality is more important than quantity.
Q: Because ‘SpeedRacer’ is being directed by the Wachowski brothers of the MatrixTrilogy, the movie has already been highlighted and highly anticipated.How do you feel about getting the opportunity to work with Hollywood’sA-listed?
A: I really liked ‘The Matrix’; therefore I alreadyhad an interest in the Wachowski brothers in particular. It’s like adream. They are world-renowned directors. Before I met them, I wonderedhow they were going to be like. When I got to working with them for awhile, there was really nothing to be afraid about. They were bothreally kind and always encouraging towards everybody on the set.
Q:Though the filming process may be tiresome, but you look really happyand pleased with it. What were the times that were most pleasing to you?
A:Times when others placed their trust in me as well as the times when Iwas praised by the directors. Even though I may work hard, but Englishis not my native tongue. I was really worried about being scolded formy accent, but luckily it was never pointed out.
Q: Have you ever felt so tired that you just wanted to stop?
A:The thing is, I have a personality that likes challenges and newadventures. The thought of defeat has never crossed my mind. But havingto live in a foreign country for a period of time was truly lonely forme.
Q: Even when you aren’t doing anything, you are stillthe infamous Rain. So why do you feel the need to tire yourself all thetime? Why do
A: I really liked ‘The Matrix’; therefore I already had aninterest in the Wachowski brothers in particular. It’s like a dream.They are world-renowned directors. Before I met them, I wondered howthey were going to be like. When I got to working with them for awhile, there was really nothing to be afraid about. They were bothreally kind and always encouraging towards everybody on the set.
Q:Though the filming process may be tiresome, but you look really happyand pleased with it. What were the times that were most pleasing to you?
A:Times when others placed their trust in me as well as the times when Iwas praised by the directors. Even though I may work hard, but Englishis not my native tongue. I was really worried about being scolded formy accent, but luckily it was never pointed out.
Q: Have you ever felt so tired that you just wanted to stop?
A:The thing is, I have a personality that likes challenges and newadventures. The thought of defeat has never crossed my mind. But havingto live in a foreign country for a period of time was truly lonely forme.
Q: Even when you aren’t doing anything, you are stillthe infamous Rain. So why do you feel the need to tire yourself all thetime? Why do you always take up new challenges?
A: There reallyisn’t a reason. It’s just that it’s my wanting to do so. Another thingis that it’s like a ‘duty’ so to say, when good opportunities come myway, I feel I should take up the challenge. If I was too scared to takeup new challenges, then surely there would be no ‘Rain’ in the future.I don’t want a plain and simple life; I don’t want to be satisfied withthe status quo when there is clearly an opportunity in front of me. IfI was too busy being scared of hardship, I would surely regret it inthe future. Even if I did it and it failed, I wouldn’t see it as afailure. For me, a life without challenges is a life that has nomeaning. It’s not fun and there is no happiness. Achieve one dream andthen continue to dream bigger. Keep on challenging it…this is me…this is Rain.
Q: You were able to show your acting skills throughmany series and were able to acquire many praises as well as those whothought otherwise. But with the movie ‘I’m a Cyborg, But that’s OK’,your cuteness and ability to draw laughter attracted many praises.Besides your single-eyelid complex, is there any other complex that youhave?
A: Actually, there are many things that I don’t reallylike about myself. For example, less acting experience, amateur acting,many things that make me unsatisfied. Therefore, when I chose myscripts, I will choose roles that I have never played before. With thecharacter Ill-Soon, I think that there is an underlying meaning to hischaracter. Working with Park Chan-Wook has allowed me to learn manythings. The character I play is able to attract the audience. For this,I really must thank the heavens. As for my single-eyelid, I don’t seeit as a complex. Rather, I see it as my charm. It makes me differentfrom the others.
Part II: Personal Life
Q: What do you normally do when you are resting?
A: I like to work out. Also, I’m still studying English and I’m reallydiligently studying it. Even when I’m not ‘working’ it still doesn’treally feel like I am resting. It’s just that I don’t have a schedulefor that day, that’s all. But really, work is always on my mind(laughs). Come to think of it, is there really a time when I’m notworking?
Q: Then surely there mustn’t be any time for you togo out to eat or shop because you keep on working. What would happen ifone day you wanted to go out to eat at a small corner shop? What wouldyou do?
A: If I felt the urge to go out and eat, then I wouldjust do it. If I wanted to go shopping, I would just go. Of course it’snot easy for me to go to places where there are many people, but thatstill doesn’t stop me from doing the things I want to do. No matterwhat, I would never stop doing the things that make me happy.
Q: Is there anything you would never think of giving up?
A:Things like going out for Korean BBQ with my friends (laughs). Is thattoo easy? I really like that type of atmosphere; the feeling of eatingout with friends and happily chatting the night away.
Q:You’re always surrounded by people such as your bodyguards, managers,and personal staff. Have you ever thought of wanting to run away fromthat type of feeling?
A: (laughs) I’m not a person livinginside a box like that. Even with my bodyguards, managers, and staffsurrounding me, I don’t feel as if I’m being trapped from the outsideworld. It’s more like I get to see the world through their eyes. I alsoreceive news from the internet as well. My staff is like my family. Itreat them the same way I treat my family. Actually, I spend more timewith my staff than I do with my family. Therefore I have nothing tohide; I don’t feel the least bit trapped.
Q: How much time do you spend working out to obtain such a perfect body?
A: Actually, I don’t really spend that much time working out. I didn’tintend to train my muscles. The image that I have to present on stageis my dance moves and stamina; not my muscles. I work out to maintainmy physique for dancing. I’ve always liked to dance and will likedancing forever. Therefore I have to workout to sustain my agility whendancing, which is harder than training muscles.
Q: You were also the spokesperson for a famous brand of jeans. Do you have any tips to wear jeans fashionably?
A: First of all, you have to know what your outstanding point is. Forexample, if your hips are small or if your hips aren’t pretty, then youshould wear jeans that have big pockets to divert attention away fromyour hips. Or if you have a small waist, then you could wear low-risejeans. But I don’t think sexiness comes from people’s body types.Rather, it’s more of a sense of style. Confidence in yourself makesothers view you as sexy.
Part III: Rain’s Secrets
Q: What is the scariest thing?
A: Myself
Q: Most memorable event in your life?
A: 2004 KBS Daesung Award (Artist of the Year)
Q: Talents that you don’t want to show?
A: I’ve shown all my talents already
Q: If you received 100 million dollars, what would be the first thing you would do with it?
A: Put it in the bank
Q: What do you want to eat right now?
A: Kimchi soup
Q: Name of the director you would collaborate with without any hesitations?
A: Park Chan-Wook
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Last edited by Phoenix on 10.04.2008 08:33; edited 1 time in total
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