Shin Hyun-been undergoes transformation for 'Revelations'

Shin Hyun-been / Courtesy of Netflix

Shin Hyun-been greets viewers with a new look in Netflix’s "Revelations," cutting her hair short and adding freckles to her face — an appearance that surprised many viewers. The actor explained that the visual transformation was her way of embodying a character who is "living because she cannot die."

In a recent interview held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman in downtown Seoul, Shin discussed her role in "Revelations," a film that follows a pastor, who believes punishing the perpetrator of a missing person case is God's will, and a detective haunted by the ghost of her dead sister. Shin plays detective Lee Yeon-hee, the lead investigator of the case.

Shin Hyun-been / Courtesy of Netflix

Shin said she was drawn to the theme of faith, one of the film's central motifs, from the moment she read the script. “As I was reading, I thought about how people tend to only see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe,” she said. “I thought, ‘I probably have that side, too. How do I protect myself from it?’” She added, however, “That doesn’t mean I want to deny all the beliefs I hold.”

The introspective questions she wrestled with were deeply embedded in her portrayal of the character. To enhance the realism, she made significant external changes. “The original webtoon character had a short haircut. I first tested it with a wig, then cut my hair. Surprisingly, it gave me a more feminine look,” Shin said.

She added that she collaborated with the makeup team to create a naturally messy haircut through subtle trims and perms. The freckles, dark circles and chapped lips were also deliberate choices to show a character clinging to life. “Thanks to the new look, I could focus better on the role,” she said.

Shin stars in the film alongside Ryu Jun-yeol and Shin Min-jae, who helped lead the narrative. “Ryu Jun-yeol is someone who keeps pushing until the very end. Even when the difference is small, he keeps trying, and that brings out better performances,” she said. “He may be strict with himself, but he expresses a lot of positivity toward others. He’s the kind of actor who influences his colleagues in a good way.”

As for Shin Min-jae, she said, “In real life, he’s gentle and adorable. Though his role was challenging, he accepted it with humor and made working together easy.”

Shin Hyun-been / Courtesy of Netflix

Shin is known for her close collaborations with director Yeon Sang-ho, having appeared in the 2022 series "Monstrous" and now "Revelations." Shin is also set to star in Yeon's upcoming projects "Gunche," which means colony, and "The Face." Some have even called her Yeon's “persona.”

“I’m grateful that he keeps trusting me with his projects,” she said. “It makes me want to repay that trust with hard work.” Despite all being Yeon’s works, she emphasized that each one feels distinct. “The character in ‘Gunche' will probably be a bit brighter than in 'Revelations,'” she added.

When asked about her personal beliefs, Shin said, “When I work on a project, I want to give it everything I have. I also try to believe that I’m surrounded by people who can enrich me.”

As a person, she aims to live by the belief of “making choices that feel true to myself” and always strives to be honest with herself. Audiences can look forward to more of Shin’s evolving presence on screen.

"Revelations" was released on Netflix, March 21.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.