Cover Story: 'Past Lives' Star, Yoo Teo Ends 2023 On A High
German-South Korean actor Yoo Teo is thankful that 'Past Lives' has moved people the way it moved him, and promises to show a more colourful and extroverted variety of his character in the future.
Even with twenty years of acting experience, German-South Korean actor Yoo Teo has been somewhat of an insiders’ favourite — until this year that is, when the universally acclaimed romantic drama, Past Lives got its release. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and hasn’t lost steam since, getting rolled out in the United States in June, and subsequently in the UK in September.
Towards the end of November, days before our cover shoot with Yoo Teo, the star was still busy making his rounds in Europe to promote the movie, which has been labelled by critics as one of the year’s finest films. “I don’t even feel like I have scratched the surface of my potential,” says Yoo when we ask him what he wants to achieve post-Past Lives. “It is always hard to answer this question [of what challenge is coming next] because as an actor, we are not choosing what we want to do. We are getting chosen. So it is hard to tell what comes next. But I can tell you that I want to show a more colourful and extroverted variety of my character in the future.”
You’ve were on the road for most of November to promote Past Lives. How was the experience?
I believe everyone who has ever loved, who understands heartache and who doesn’t want to leave a stone unturned, understands the universal essence about our film. So the last few weeks have been overwhelming and I have been travelling a lot promoting our film Past Lives. People from all walks of life come up to us and want to share their stories, which is wonderful.
The film is both critically acclaimed and a box office hit. In an interview, your co-star Greta Lee likened her experience of preparing for her role to skydiving. How was it playing Hae-sung?
One of the biggest challenges for me was getting the language right. Once I feel comfortable in the language, the cadence of the character, I can build the prior life, his emotional being and his relationships to the other characters. And even though Hae-sung is a very different person from who I am, I do have an understanding of what it means to suppress my emotions due to the cultural destinies I cannot change. I very much embrace the philosophy of inyun.
Does the reaction that the film generated still surprise you, and why do you think the film has been such a success?
Success is relative. All I can say is that I am truthfully thankful that the story seems to move people the way it has moved me and that I could contribute to the way this story was told. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone would pick up this film in 30 years from now, for the first time, and still be moved.
Another production that you were busy with this year is Love to Hate You. How was working on the 10-episode project for you?
I had a lot of fun with the show. It was the first time that I worked on a rom-com. The high tension and the stylised acting made it hard for me in the beginning to adjust to because I am more used to a realistic, slow-paced style of acting. But our director Jeong Kwon Kim and lead actress Okvin Kim are veterans and helped me through my process. I learned a lot from them and hope to work with them again someday.
As the saying goes, there’s a thin line between love and hate. In real life, is there anything you love to hate, even if playfully so?
Ice-cream.
“I HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING A LOT FOR PROMOTING OUR FILM PAST LIVES. PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COME UP TO US AND WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.”
Earlier this year, you were invited to Thom Browne’s first haute couture show in Paris. Among other events, you also attended Prada Mode in Seoul. As an actor, what do you enjoy most about interacting with fashion, art or other creative forms?
Not only as an actor, but also as a human being, everyone wants to look at their best while being comfortable. Finding your way and what ref lects your inner self is an ongoing process of discovery. The superficial side of fashion fascinates me because it is in contrast to my acting. When I find a character from the inside-out in acting, I can find a character from the outside-in in fashion.
We watched you on Amazing Saturday and The Manager this year, and if we may say, you come across as spontaneous, sporting and genuine on variety shows. What do you enjoy most about doing variety?
I think I am comfortable because I just like to be genuine and truthful. People seem to like it.
You’ve been acting for about 20 years now. What’s on the bucket list for the next 20 years, and what would you like to challenge yourself with next?
I don’t even feel like I have scratched the surface of my potential. It is always hard to answer this question because as an actor, we are not choosing what we want to do. We are getting chosen. So it is hard to tell what comes next. But I can tell you that I want to show a more colourful and extroverted variety of my character in the future.
It is well known that you speak multiple languages. At least four, if we’re not mistaken — including Russian, which notably, you had to pick up for Leto in 2018. If you had the choice to pick one more language to master, what would it be?
Well, I don’t really speak Russian. I had to learn it phonetically for the film and a little bit stuck around in my rusty brain. Sanskrit would interest me.
Have you made resolutions of any kind for 2024?
I am not a resolutions type of person. I just do, or don’t do. I am looking forward to a more balanced and hopefully more peaceful 2024.
What’s coming up next for Yoo Teo, and will your plans involve more of Asia or the West?
If I knew the answer to that I’d be more calm. I’m not sure, but I do know that I will be bridging the gap more often between the cultures with projects that will be universally appealing. I am always on the lookout for unique stories that will move me.
Photography JI+DOH
Styling JINO JUN
Hair KIM GUN HYUNG and ESOM
Grooming HONG UM JI
Photography assistant team TETRIS
Styling Assistants YOON SUNG
HYUN and AHN JANG HYUN
Production Manager KIM YOU HAH
