Actor Nam Bo-ra / Courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment

By Pyo Kyung-min

Nam Bo-ra, an actor renowned for supporting her family as the eldest daughter among 12 siblings, recently shared her perspective on bringing laughter to audiences through her performance in the recently concluded drama, "Live Your Own Life."

Following her appearance on MBC's entertainment program "Sunday Sunday Night" in 2005, Nam began her acting career in 2006, receiving debut offers from more than 10 domestic agencies.

Steadily advancing in her career, Nam earned acclaim for her emotionally resonant acting prowess in films including "Sunny" (2011), "Don't Cry Mommy" (2012), and the mega-hit series, "The Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012).

Her latest role was in the KBS 2TV weekend drama "Live Your Own Life," which follows the story of Lee Hyo-sim (Uee), who sacrifices her own dreams for her family's sake, but sets out on a journey to reclaim her identity and pursue independence.

Portraying Jeong Mi-rim in the show, who relinquishes her career as a lawyer to pursue her aspirations as an actor, Nam embodies a character with grand aspirations but lacking in proficiency. Her role played a significant part in eliciting laughter from viewers with her character's typical quirkiness, and awkwardness in acting.

Contrary to her on-screen persona, Nam clarified that her real-life demeanor is far from comedic during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Gangnam District, Seoul, Thursday.

"My natural disposition isn't particularly humorous. However, when I started my journey with this weekend drama, my primary goal was to bring joy to viewers," explained the actor.

"Once, I witnessed an elderly woman thoroughly enjoying a classic weekend drama from over 30 years ago. That was when it hit me: entertainment transcends time. So, throughout this project, I frequently asked for feedback from people around me, asking, 'Does my performance bring laughter?' 'Is it engaging?'"

Nam further reflected on the role of actors as purveyors of enjoyment for audiences.

"I firmly believe that actors serve as conduits of joy for viewers. My goal as an actor is to ensure that viewers find value and fun in the time they invest in watching the programs I'm part of," the 34-year-old affirmed.

Actor Nam Bo-ra in the role of Jeong Mi-rim in the recently concluded TV series, "Live Your Own Life" / Courtesy of KBS

Being the eldest sister among a brood of 12, Nam explained that she empathized deeply with the character of Lee, burdened by familial responsibilities that impede her pursuit of personal dreams.

As the 2nd eldest and the eldest daughter in a large family, Nam's appearance on the KBS' documentary program "Screening Humanity" back in 2008 highlighted her real-life struggles of nurturing her siblings, solidifying her image as sacrificial and caring.

"Observing Lee's sacrifices for her younger brother who aspired to pursue law, and ultimately deciding to undergo a liver donation upon learning of her father's acute liver failure, made me contemplate on the essence of life," she reflected.

"Most of Lee's decisions revolved around her family, and while it was frustrating, I also realized, 'This might be how others perceive me... As I delved into the script, I found myself having internal conversations with Lee. 'You don't need to push yourself so hard. You deserve to chase your dreams.' Those were words I wanted to impart to myself as well."

Despite being known for her kind, supportive image, Nam believes that this perception doesn't necessarily serve her acting career.

"Whenever my name comes up, people have a preconceived image. But as an actor, I harbor ambitions and yearn to showcase different facets of myself," she expressed.

"Now that this drama has concluded, I aim to redefine my image through fashion. I'm contemplating experimenting with styles I haven't explored before. I'm exploring various looks, including those seen in IU's latest song 'Holssi' and BLACKPINK's Jennie's chic style."

Actor Nam Bo-ra / Courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment

Beyond her acting career, Nam has also ventured into entrepreneurship. She discussed her experience as a self-employed individual, having launched a seasonal fruit distribution business.

"As a matter of fact, my childhood dream was to become a CEO. However, I hesitated to take the plunge out of fear. Then, one day, it came to me, 'If I don't pursue this by my 30s, I'll regret it even in my 40s.' So, I summoned the courage to embark on this journey," she disclosed.

"Initially, I made numerous blunders due to feeling overwhelmed, but each mistake taught me valuable lessons. Despite being in the entertainment world since youth, my foray into business has broadened my horizons and enabled me to interact with diverse individuals. Without this experience, I might have remained stagnant and failed to mature," she noted.

As the eldest daughter among 12, an actor with an illustrious 18-year tenure, and the CEO of a fruit distribution enterprise, Nam asserted that she has evolved from the anxious individual she once was.

"I've grappled with anxiety since childhood in the entertainment sphere. In hindsight, it was unwarranted. I wish I had afforded myself more ease," Nam admitted.

Looking ahead, she expressed confidence in embracing even more audacious ventures as she approaches her 40s.

"As I near my 40s, I guess I'll still be immersed in business. I envision delving into the realm of F&B. At 40, I aspire to delve into brand management," she concluded.