Where would Lee Min Ho be if he didn't play Gu Jun Pyo in the national hit "Boys over Flowers?"
Lee Min Ho is both an actor and a star. The two roles don't always coincide - not all stars are actors, and not all actors are stars. The world puts a thin veil between the two - and if one dare cross over to become the other, it is seen as a risky endeavor. Lee Min Ho has been tightrope walking between the two designations for over five years.
Not all roads lead to fame and pleasure, but Lee Min Ho's path crossed with the role of Gu Jun Pyo and created the life that he has now - famous, rich, and a job that he loves. Is it a stretch to think that without his role in "Boys Over Flowers" he would never be where he is? Would he be the actor and star that he is now?
How did Gu Jun Pyo make Lee Min Ho a star? How did Gu Jun Pyo change Lee Min Ho's acting career?
Gu Jun Pyo Makes Lee Min Ho the Star
Lee Min Ho has undeniable star power. The stardom began when "Flowers Over Boys" hit an amazing 30% viewership. The role of Gu Jun Pyo was what propelled Lee Min Ho into stardom.
Gu Jun Pyo was what the people wanted at the time. He was rich, ridiculously good looking, had the harsh-but-sensitive-on-the-inside personality that girls like, and was fiercely loyal to one girl. It was the ideal boy that the girls wanted. He was a fictional comic character, ideal but unlikely to even exist.
Lee Min Ho, a relatively unknown actor at the time, succeeded in bringing this character to life. It's not an easy task to try to fulfill the mold of a character like Gu Jun Pyo, to be sure.
Make no mistakes about it. Lee Min Ho's good looks played a part in his success of bring Gu Jun Pyo to life. He has chiseled good lucks, but not without a babyish cheekiness that makes him also adorable. His looks make him appear sensitive and manly at the same time. It's an uncommon kind of handsome.
The kind of roles that he played afterwards was also influenced by his looks. They were all similar roles, indeed - Lee Min Ho is always cast as the knight who comes to save the princess. Not to say that he's not a good actor, of course. The fact that he can repeat similar roles without overplaying it is a testament to his star power.
How does he continue to be a star for five years? He is always growing. He always stays humble. His attitude never changes. Everyone he befriends loves him to death. People adore Lee Min Ho for who he is, not only for the characters that he plays. That, perhaps more than anything, is what makes a true star.
Gu Jun Pyo Changes Lee Min Ho the Actor
All that star talk out of the way, let's call it like we know it - Lee Min Ho is an actor. He's the kind of actor you'd like to see play the protagonist in your favorite play. He's a good actor, but at the time of his casting as Gu Jun Pyo in "Boys Over Flowers," no one knew who he was. Many idols were lined up to play the role, but the program director decided that Gu Jun Pyo's role needed someone who can actually act and sought Lee Min Ho for the role.
Lee Min Ho received the spotlight in 2009 playing Gu Jun Pyo. He debuted as a professional actor in 2006. His first roles were in 2002.
His seven years of experience put him in the best position to play that role. He himself said, "I've been in shows that ended prematurely because of a lack of interest. I've played in so many different small roles and gained experience. Without those hardships, I would never have been able to play Gu Jun Pyo effectively."
Lee Min Ho doesn't change as an actor between TV and movie roles. This is a good thing. Let's be clear on this: it's not a bad thing to have one unique style of acting if it's a perfected form of it. For example, Lee Min Ho doesn't need to express excessively (something most actors do for the TV) because his method acting alone can capture the necessary emotions and tone for a scene.
Consider his roles in other TV Dramas, such as "City Hunter" and "Personal Preferences." His roles are always similar, but they've been through different eras and locations. He's found a way to continue growing as an actor without losing the great way he acts.
He is set to appear on next month's SBS Drama "Heavy Hangs the Crown, The Inheritors". Following that, he will act in "Gangnam Blues."
"The Inheritors" will bring Lee Min Ho back to high school. Lee Min Ho will be in familiar elements. However, star writer Kim Eun Sook is expected to give Lee Min Ho a role that can redefine him as an actor again. Much anticipation is built upon that role. "Gangnam Blues" is a film noir style movie that will showcase Lee Min Ho in yet another light.
Lee Min Ho has all the makeup of a 'comet' type of star. He exploded onto the scene amid expectations for him to burn out bright. Contrary to that, he has been 5 years strong in his stardom and look to stay that way. His many years as an unknown actor give him the firm foundation to gain new grounds as an actor.
He met Gu Jun Pyo and progressed this much. It's exciting to imagine what role he will meet in the future and how he will grow with that role.
Photo credit: SBS, KBS, Starhaus
Source: KpopStarz
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