(Elle)

Elle fashion magazine has released photos and interview segments with singer-actor Lee Joon, who recently starred in the TV drama “Heard It Through the Grapevine.”

Lee was member of K-pop male group MBLAQ, but left the group when his contract expired last October. He has since been focusing on his acting career.

He recalled his schoolteacher saying, “If you become a Theater and Film student, I’ll eat my hat.” Despite the disapproval, he resolved to take up dance in order to become an actor.

After enrolling as a dance major at Seoul Arts High School and later Korea National University of Arts, he met K-pop singer Rain “by chance” and flew to Hollywood -- where he acted as the younger version of Rain’s character in the martial arts film “Ninja Assassin” (2009).

Lee went through six rounds of auditions before landing the role.

“Even though I wasn’t very good at English, my pronunciation is fair. I think they thought if I just took up some rote-learning, I could (take on the role),” he said.

(Elle)

“You never know if you’ll do well in this profession, so you have to really pay attention in order to survive,” said Lee, adding that he wants to convey his “sincerity to viewers” through acting.

Although he has lots of ambitions there is one thing he is certain of -- he wants to be a better actor than he was in his last project. “At the very least, I don’t want to become any worse,” said Lee.

Lee’s next appearance will be the horror film “The Guest” (literal translation) in July.

The complete Korean interview has been published in Elle Korea’s July issue.

By Yoon Sarah (sarah356@heraldcorp.com)

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