Jung Ho-yeon takes on Hollywood in Disclaimer

The drama series marks the Squid Game star's first English-speaking role

- Alison de Souza

LOS ANGELES - South Korean model Jung Ho-yeon had zero acting experience when she appeared in 2021's Squid Game, the South Korean dystopian survival drama that became Netflix's most-watched series of all time.

But her tough-as-nails Player 067, Sae-byeok - a young woman who escapes from North Korea and takes part in a deadly competition so she can afford to reunite her family - became a fan favourite.

And now Jung, 30, is taking on Hollywood with roles in several big projects, the first being the new psychological thriller Disclaimer, in which she shares scenes with Oscar winner Cate Blanchett.

Available on Apple TV+, the series is set in London and follows a respected journalist, Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett), as she receives a novel from an unknown author and realises it could expose a devastating secret.

In her first English-speaking role, Jung plays Catherine's assistant Jisoo - and the actress tells The Straits Times she learnt a lot from her 55-year-old Australian co-star, who won Academy Awards for the comedy-drama Blue Jasmine (2013) and biopic The Aviator (2004).

“For example, I learnt about professionalism,” says Jung through an interpreter over Zoom.