[Warning, some spoilers ahead]
Yoona has been impressing with not only her incredible good looks, but also with her portrayal of two different characters in “Love Rain”. Now a third of the way through just her third drama, Yoona’s improved acting skills have been catching the eyes of critics.
Kim Yoonhee, the 70s college student, and Jung Hana, the bright and quirky present day girl, are polar opposites. The former is calm and deliberate, the latter cute and cheerful. As Yoon Ga-ee of OSEN writes of Yoona’s acting, “She doesn’t just put her pretty visuals forth. She has been capturing the screen with rich emotions and polished expressions. Viewers’ eyes can only be kind towards this ‘actress’ Yoona.” In her scenes as Kim Yoonhee, Yoona plays her character very calmly and exhibits her feelings with subtle facial expressions and movement that draw the audience into the serene setting that director Yoon Sukho has created.
The transition to the present day allowed Yoona to showcase her skills even more with the younger character, Jung Hana. Yoona’s natural exuberance flows freely through Hana, but her ability to effectively portray a wide range of emotions has improved dramatically. Choi Inkyung of Review Star says of Yoona, “Her laughing and crying, which was only pretty before, has certainly changed. She drew tears from viewers when she cried giving up on her first love, senior Taesung (Kim Youngkwang), and made viewers laugh with her awkward and funny body movements in front of the camera.” Indeed, Yoona is able to take the audience on an emotional roller coaster through her nuanced portrayal of Hana. She makes sure that a fully developed and deep character with many sides is shown. In the latest episode, Choi Inkyung says Yoona was prettier than ever, continuing, “Of course, it could have been her pretty clothes and makeup, but more than anything, her facial expressions and ever improving acting were the biggest reasons behind it. After always having carried the ‘idol origin’ label, Yoona is completely immersed in her character and has now become ‘Hana’ herself.”
“Love Rain” is Yoona’s third drama after “You Are My Destiny” and “Cinderella Man”. Even though she is a veteran singer in Girls’ Generation, she is still considered a rookie as an actress. Yoona’s improvement has come as a bit of a surprise for critics, not because it wasn’t possible, but because she improved in her acting while at the same time performing all around the world in Girls’ Generation. She has taken the criticism from her previous acting experiences and used it to become even better, practicing hard at every opportunity. Yoon Ga-ee writes, “The speed at which her acting is improving is blinding. She has matured to the point where you want to ask, ‘When did her acting get so good?’ The criticism that trailed behind her during ‘Cinderella Man’ is now nowhere to be found.”
Yoona has met the challenge of playing two different roles in the same drama. Perhaps the most impressive part of Yoona’s acting is the fact that she is breaking free of the “idol-actor” stereotype and showing that she can be considered simply as an actress rather than as an idol who also acts. The future is bright for actress Yoona.
Sources: OSEN via Nate, Review Star, KBS
Written by: MoonSoshi9@soshified
Edited by: SeraphKY@soshified
Contributor: ch0sshi@soshified
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I watch Love Rain on this site where you can post/read comments real time as you watch, and I always get so proud when there are nothing but praises and compliments. In fact, “Girls’ Generation Yoona” nor “SNSD’s Yoona” is ever mentioned, just “Im Yoona” :’D
I’m happy for Yoona. <3 :)
Yoona’s acting is great in Love Rain.
I think it’s intricate and multifaceted. I seriously don’t think Yoona, I think Ha Na. She’s very talented~
Congratulation to Yoona unnie. I am soooo proud. Those first episodes have low rating but I think it is changing. Anyway, there’s the old saying practice makes perfect. I don’t think it’s hard to know why her acting skill improve so much. Keep walking confidently, sone will be behind you and support you.
man yoona is getting better in every drama she acts in. keep it up yoona. :D
Love Her so Much!!
I actually found myself tearing during episode 4
i think she is doing really great with her drama and her acting
yoona’s progression in acting is apparent. there has never been,
and will never be, a time when the girls have not progessed. when
you have the work ethic that the girls have, there is always means
of improving. her roles are drastically different within the same
drama, but i am more impressed with 1970’s yoona. it is much more
difficult to effectively portray a less extroverted person. when you
are asked to be outrageous, it is simpler. it is harder to pull of the
subtle movements and undertones of an introvert. that is the part
of yoona’s acting i am most impressed with. she had natural beauty
from birth, but she now has natural acting from her hard work!!!
Agreed with the review, I thought the part where Hana was talking/giving up on her senior was one of the best scene of Yoona. Really good acting…
Yoona as Jung Hana is really good. I think she’s more at ease with this character than Kim Yonhee. I have to say though that her as Kim Yonhee was rather convincing for me. That’s why I was quite upset when my friend said she didn’t act well as Yonhee. Her calm and composed act as Yonhee was very apt and it fitted the character well. Anyway, it’s really good that critics are praising her. Yoona fighting! Love rain fighting!
Yonna daebak <3
Daebak!! Congrats Yoona!
Love ‘Love Rain’ so much ;____;
Yoona hwaiting ^_^
YOONGIE kissing scene T_____________________________T………
I’m a Yoonaddict and I’ve been watching her drama since YAMD. And i must say, Cinderella Man was her worst drama. I mean, i don’t like the story line in CM. And it’s boring drama but i still watched it because of Yoona. My sister and I keep on skipping the scene where no Yoona in it. My sister also a Yoonaddict and she also waiting for Yoona’s drama too. And i can’t wait to show her Yoona’s new drama.
This ‘Love Rain’ totally different from CM. I although i’m not a fan for episode 1-4 but i really like it when Yoona didn’t awkward anymore. Actress Im already improved herself and i’m so proud of her…heheheh…and i wonder why this drama have low rating in korea?? This drama is so good~~aiiggoo…
Kim Yoonhee, Jung Hana and IM YOONA HWAITING!!!!!
This is great I myself love this drama!!
I fell in love with it since the beginning
of it and all I can say is that I m really proud of Yoong and everything in the drama fits
perfectly from the acotrs to the scenarios to the songs its amazing!!!
love rain ftw!!!
yoong ftw!!
jang geun suk oppa ftw!! hehehe
Nice drama and Tiffany OST!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. her acting skills nowadays is no joke. It’s fantastic. I have only watch the first two episodes of love rain, it made me cry sooo much whenever i see her portray different emotions. She’s doing really well. YoonA hwaiting! :) Lots of love from your fans.
seriously, i can say that i love love rain, it is soo good, and yoona is soo funny in her unique way. I came to love snsd/kpop solely because of Yoona’ when she played Saebyuk in YAMD and serously, cinderealla man was abit of a diasppointment (in terms of everything, the story was going no where). But Love rain is absolutely amazing, the first four episodes made me question why i cant live in the innocent 70’s era and the 21’s century is just outright helarious
YoonA is the bomb!
I was impressed with her acting. She had to portray two different characters with opposite personalities and I love her growth as an actress. We can say that she has blossomed to become not only an idol, but also a budding actress destined for great things. As expected of Yoona! So proud of her! :)
It’s actually quite impressive that she can play 2 different characters so closely after each other! It’s obvious she takes her active very seriously. As expected from a snsd member, they are all known to be very hard workers!
wow this is great that she’s drawing attention at her^^ i’m so happy for her! and she really deserved it. her acting as hana is really good, i couldn’t believe it myself :3
can’t wait for the next episodes~
yoona fighting!
yoonhee is pretty,calm
hana is cute, energetic
YOONA is WOW!!!
Just keeps getting better and better!
Well done Yoona!
Yoona’s acting has improved a lot.
It may not be as obvious if one just observe Yoona acting as 70s Yoonhee but comparing that with the 2012 Hana, I’m very impressed.