Actress Lee Young-ae smiles during a press event for the play "Hedda Gabler" at LG Art Center in Seoul on April 8. Yonhap News

"It's a work I chose with a mindset of learning. I'm sure Lee Young-ae on stage will be quite different from what you’ve seen in films or TV series."

Actress Lee Young-ae (54) is returning to the stage after 32 years. At a press event for the play “Hedda Gabler” at the LG Arts Center Seoul on April 8, Lee said, "It's hard to perform on stage after such a long time, but it's so fun. Every moment is challenging, but I'm gaining several times more joy than the difficulties.”

“Hedda Gabler” is based on the original work of playwright Henrik Ibsen, known as the father of modern drama. The play explores the psychology of a woman who yearns for freedom amid social constraints and oppression. The protagonist Hedda, portrayed by Lee, is a complex character who is beautiful yet cynical, intellectual yet destructive, and the play is often referred to as a female version of “Hamlet.” This time, the adaptation by British theater director Richard Eyre will be staged.

Lee made her theater debut in 1993 with “Jajangmyeon,” which marked the opening of the Jayu Theater at the Seoul Arts Center. She recalled, “Back then, I used to hand out flyers at subway stations and put up posters myself. The entire process of interacting with the audience remains with me a fond memory, and I think it eventually led me to Hedda.”

The stage she experienced in her 20s was different from the one she returned to in her 50s. "There is a pressure to lead the whole play from Act 1 to Act 4 without leaving the stage. It's physically demanding to be honest,“ she said.” But I also feel a sense of exhilaration when I discover something today about the character that I didn’t know yesterday.”

Around the same time, the National Theater Company of Korea will also be staging “Hedda Gabler,” starring veteran actress Lee Hye-young. “I don’t personally know Lee Hye-young, but I respect her deeply as a fan.” Lee Young-ae said. “I was surprised when I found out we’d be performing the same play around the same time, but I think it’s a good thing because audiences can compare the two works and, as a result, it may bring a new wind to the theater world. I hope both works will turn out well."

Director Jeon In-chul said, “Audiences are already anticipating the similarities and differences between the two performances,” adding, “I think the biggest difference is the size of stages. Since ours is a large-scale theater production, we’re designing elements suitable for a big stage, including a set that is 16 meters wide and 10 meters deep.” He also said, "Lee Young-ae is cute and lovable. I think it would be great to showcase all those aspects of her on stage, so we’re working to find the right balance in expression.” “I think Hedda is an intriguing woman without a clear answer,” said Lee, adding, " She believes that in order to reveal her darker sides, there must also be moments of brightness. I’m doing my best to present a new side of Hedda to the audience.”

Lee Hyun-jung, director of LG Arts Center and executive producer of the play, said, “This is a work that requires conveying very delicate psychological states of the character,” adding, “Lee is an actress who has portrayed a wide range of characters. I believed she was a perfect fit for the role of Hedda, a character with a variety of charms.“

The play features actors and actresses who have met audiences and viewers on various stages. Baek Ji-won, who recently appeared in the Netflix’s original series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” plays Thea Elvsted, a jealous woman who provokes Hedda's jealousy. Kim Jung-ho takes on the role of Gorgen Tesman, Hedda's husband who is not interested in anything but his academic achievements, Ji Hyun-joon plays Commissioner Brack, a judge who exerts psychological pressure on Hedda, and Lee Seung-joo portrays Ejlert Løvborg, Hedda’s former lover who reawakens her dormant desires. The play will be performed from May 7 to June 8.