IU's '21st Century Empress' Role Revealed

Singer and actress IU will showcase a new acting transformation in MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama "​The Grand Princess of the 21st Century," taking on the role of Seong Hee-ju, the second daughter of a chaebol family and CEO of Castle Beauty. The drama is set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea and tells the story of a destined romance where a woman who has everything but is frustrated by her commoner status and a prince who is sad because he can have nothing, break through their social classes. Seong Hee-ju, played by IU, is a chaebol heiress who possesses beauty, talent, and wealth, but is limited by her 'commoner' status. She chooses a contract marriage with Prince Ian to gain a status she lacks, leading the narrative.

IU described Seong Hee-ju in three words: "greed, temper, and cuteness," explaining that while her uncontrollable greed and eccentric personality are prominent at first, as the drama progresses and her deficiencies are filled, she will also show a cute and admirable side. At the press conference, she added that the character was so charming that she chose the project without hesitation, and that the elaborate costumes and accessories gave her an influencer-like feel.

IU has established herself as a "trustworthy actress" by proving the box office success and artistic merit of each of her works, including 'Dream High,' 'The Producers,' 'My Mister,' 'Hotel Del Luna,' and 'You Have Done Well.' She received immense love for her perfect portrayal of a dual role in the Netflix series 'You Have Done Well,' winning six awards, including Best Actress and the Grand Prize, at multiple award ceremonies. This project marks IU's first MBC drama and her return to acting after approximately a year, raising high expectations for her new appearance as Seong Hee-ju.

MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama "The Grand Princess of the 21st Century" will premiere today (10th) at 9:40 PM and will also be available on the online video service (OTT) Disney+.

The press conference for "The Grand Princess of the 21st Century," held on the 6th, was attended by actors IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Soo-bin, Lee Yeon, and director Park Joon-hwa. Regarding the character Seong Hee-ju, IU stated, "She is a three-dimensional character who is often annoyed and greedy, but also possesses cuteness," and revealed that she was drawn to the script's charm and immediately decided to participate. When asked about playing a character completely different from her previous work, 'You Have Done Well,' IU honestly shared, "Actually, I felt more at ease choosing a very different project."