Kim Ha-neul says seeing was biggest hurdle to new movie

Actress Kim Ha-neul at the press conference for upcoming film "Blind" held in Seoul, South Korea on June 1, 2011. [NEW]

Korean actress Kim Ha-neul has said being able to see was the biggest obstacle she faced in filming her new movie "Blind."

She made the remark on Wednesday during a press conference for the upcoming action pic as she spoke to reporters about the difficulties that she faced in playing a visually impaired character for the first time.

"I felt that the greatest hurdle was that I could actually see when I wasn't supposed to be able see anything all the time," Kim said talking about her role as Min Soo-a who lost her vision from an accident.

"Acting with your eyes having focus and not having focus are very different. For example, when I felt that I had expressed my emotions a lot, it didn't show on my face because my eyes wouldn't be focused."

She then explained the various ways in which she prepared for her role such as putting herself in Soo-a's shoes. "I imagined myself as Soo-a whenever I turned off the lights...... But not being able to see made me feel extreme fear so I slept fitfully for a week."

"I even met with a number of visually impaired people and asked them questions and monitored their expressions to help with my role. I also practiced my walking using the cane which they use to help guide them."

"Blind," helmed by director Ahn Sang-hoon, tells the story of Min Soo-a, played by Kim, a student at a police academy that becomes the prime witness of a hit-and-run. She tries to figure out the killer with the help of Kwon Ki-sup, taken on by actor Yoo Seung-ho, who actually saw the whole accident happen.

The two are then faced with various life threatening situations as they begin the chase to solve who the killer is for the horrendous crime. The movie is scheduled to open in local theaters on August 11.

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Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@