Shin Hye-sun calls Lady Dua a new acting challenge

Feb 23, 2026, 07:54 am

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Actress Shin Hye-sun poses for Netflix’s drama Lady Dua. /Netflix

Actress Shin Hye-sun described Netflix’s latest series Lady Dua as “a completely new acting experience,” reflecting on the creative challenges behind the psychological thriller.

Released on Feb. 13, Lady Dua follows Sara Kim (Shin), a woman who aspires to become a luxury brand icon — even if it means living a lie — and detective Moo-kyung, played by Lee Jun-hyuk, who tracks her ambitions and hidden truths. Sara is introduced as the Asia branch chief of the elite brand “Budoir,” though her true identity remains elusive.

Within three days of its release, the series entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows.

“I didn’t have huge expectations,” Shin said in a recent interview. “I think it’s the result of every member of the production team doing their best in their respective roles.”

Since her debut, Shin has gravitated toward roles defined less by commercial formulas and more by emotional complexity. In Lady Dua, she portrays multiple personas — including Sara Kim, Kim Eun-jae and Mok Ga-hee — characters that blur the boundaries of identity.

“When I first read the script, I was intrigued by the case itself and the relationships between the characters,” she said. “Usually, when I read a script, I can quickly calculate a character’s tone, personality or speech style. But with Lady Dua, I couldn’t. I had no clear plan for how to express her, and that made me want to take on the challenge.”

The series employs a non-linear narrative structure, with filming carried out regardless of chronological order. Shin explained that this required her to establish a consistent emotional anchor for the character.

“Although she shifts between different personas, I saw her as ultimately one person,” she said. “Even if the situations and relationships change, I tried not to lose sight of the idea that it’s the same individual on a continuous path.”

Visual elements such as space, costumes and makeup also played a key role in shaping the character. “You can’t complete the tone of a performance alone,” she noted. “The art team created the atmosphere, and I naturally adjusted my performance within it. Each look helped explain the character’s state.”

For Shin, the project was meaningful not only for its outcome but also for the process. Rather than emphasizing outward transformation, she focused on subtle internal shifts and gradually building emotional depth.

“I think it was a very different experience for me as an actor,” she said. “It’s something only I can truly feel, but the process of unraveling the performance was new to me. Since Lady Dua is such a deep and intense work, I’d like my next project to be lighter and more cheerful.”

#Shin Hye-sun #Lady Dua #Netflix #Lee Jun-hyuk