The lead actors of Netflix’s Pavane, Moon Sang Min and Go Ah Sung, recently took part in a pictorial and interview with ELLE Korea, where they opened up about their characters, on-screen chemistry, and the emotional depth of the film.
Based on the best-selling novel “Pavane for a Dead Princess,” Pavane follows three emotionally guarded young adults who gradually learn to confront life and love as they find comfort in one another’s presence. The film explores themes of self-acceptance and emotional healing through quiet yet powerful storytelling.
Reflecting on her role as Mi Jung, a woman who keeps her heart firmly closed, Go Ah Sung described the character as someone whose emotions are controlled by an internal switch. She explained that Mi Jung instinctively shuts herself off depending on the situation and even after falling in love, she feels fear before happiness. Go Ah Sung also shared that passages from the original novel played a crucial role in shaping her performance. Even sentences that were not directly included in Pavane influenced her expressions and emotional energy on set.
For Moon Sang Min, Pavane marked his first leading role in a film. He recalled that his initial reaction to the script was that it was a project he did not want to miss. Portraying Gyeong Rok, a young man who dreams of becoming a dancer, Moon Sang Min focused more on subtle facial expressions and physical presence than dialogue. He emphasized that although Gyeong Rok may appear listless on the surface, he should never seem emotionally empty. Maintaining that delicate balance became a key aspect of his performance in Pavane.
Both actors spoke highly of each other’s immersion in their roles. Go Ah Sung remarked that Moon Sang Min already embodied Gyeong Rok the moment he arrived on set, while Moon Sang Min stated that Go Ah Sung was Mi Jung from the very beginning. They explained that the natural distance they maintained during filming was intentionally reflected in their characters’ evolving relationship.
As the narrative of Pavane progresses, the emotional intensity deepens significantly. Moon Sang Min recalled a scene in which Gyeong Rok expresses overwhelming emotion after Mi Jung’s disappearance, describing how all his feelings poured out at once during filming. Go Ah Sung, meanwhile, admitted that letting go of Mi Jung after production ended left a lingering sense of attachment. Both actors agreed that Pavane is a film that stays with them long after the cameras stop rolling.
