Jiyoung, a former member of Korean girl group Kara, will make her movie debut in Eiichiro Hasumi¡¯s ¡°Ansatsu Kyoshitsu¡± (¡°Assassination Classroom¡°), which opens in local theaters March 21.
Based on Yusei Matsui¡¯s popular manga series of the same name, the film is a bizarre, humorous story about a skillful octopus-like teacher who trains students to kill him in order to save the world. Jiyoung (real name Kang Ji-young) plays Irina ¡°Bitch-sensei¡± Jelavic ¡ª a Russian assassin working undercover as an English teacher.
¡°It was a lot of fun playing such a sexy character,¡± Jiyoung tells The Japan Times. ¡°You could say I had that kind of role before when I was singing on stage, but it¡¯s my first time as an actress so I felt a lot of pressure going into it. Once the cameras start rolling, though, you forget the nerves and just perform to the best of your ability,¡± she says.
¡°It¡¯s the kind of part I¡¯ve always wanted: someone really strong and seductive. I just wish she had some fighting scenes, as I¡¯ve been taking action-stunt lessons and that is something I would love to do more of in the future.¡±
Jiyoung is determined to step out of Kara¡¯s shadow and become a well-respected actress in her own right. She has already appeared in two Japanese TV dramas and last year traveled to London to study at an acting school.
¡°It¡¯s not easy doing this job in a foreign language, but I enjoy a challenge,¡± she says with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been working really hard to improve my Japanese. I¡¯m also learning English because I want to work in Hollywood in the future. It¡¯s a big dream, but I think it¡¯s possible.¡±
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