Yoon So-ah discusses her role in 'The Tyrant's Chef' and her chemistry with co-star YoonA, reflecting on their shared experiences.

Actress Yoon So-ah revealed her thoughts on co-starring with Girls' Generation's YoonA in tvN's weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef.' Based on the popular web novel 'Surviving as the Chef of Yonsangun,' the story unfolds as a survival fantasy romance where a chef time-travels to the past and meets a tyrant king with absolute taste. In this work, Yoon So-ah plays the role of Gilgeum, an apprentice court lady in the water kitchen (Surrakan) with an excellent sense of smell that allows her to find necessary ingredients by scent alone. Since the work revolves around cooking, Yoon So-ah underwent cooking training beforehand. She shared, 'When I met the director before filming, he asked if I had seen Netflix's 'Black and White Spoon - Cooking Class War.' I love cooking content and watch it regularly. I was told to learn what position I should be in while assisting, and I kept that in mind while preparing.' She also recalled, 'Before filming the black-boned chicken hot pot, I went to cooking school to learn how to hold a knife. The way to cut ingredients varies. I remember cutting a lot of green onions and bringing them home.' In the drama, Yoon So-ah showcased her chemistry with YoonA, who plays Yong Ji-yong, as a reliable supporter. She said, 'In the first half, there were many scenes with YoonA, so we wanted to show good chemistry. We practiced the script and prepared ad-libs, and YoonA acted accordingly. We shared opinions and aimed to create many good scenes together.' She added, 'On the first day of filming, I was told, 'Your chemistry is so good; it doesn't feel like it's your first time co-starring.' I was glad to hear that. Just by looking at each other, we understood how to act.' Growing up watching Girls' Generation, Yoon So-ah described her co-starring with YoonA as a dream. She said, 'She's truly a star among stars. When I first met YoonA before the script reading, I couldn't believe it because I grew up watching 'Gee' and 'Genie.' I told her several times, 'I'm really a fan.' When YoonA asked for my phone number, I thought, 'Does this mean I know Girls' Generation's number?' and I was very happy. You can feel her warm heart in the drama, and in reality, she was like a big tree that generously gives everything, just like her nickname, Yoon Prodyte (Yoon + Aphrodite). I became an even bigger fan of hers.' Yoon So-ah also shared episodes of relying on each other during the cold winter shoots. She said, 'YoonA and I shared a lot of information. The hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) is very thin, so we thought about what to layer underneath. I wore 3-4 layers of heat tech and found a way to wear lightweight down to avoid looking bulky, finishing with heat tech. Wearing many leggings was painful during acting because they squeezed my stomach. YoonA found down pants for me, which were very warm. I also tried various hot packs. YoonA was very considerate. Just being able to act together was comforting, and we deepened our bond while overcoming the cold.' Through this work, she also reunited with Kang Hanna, with whom she co-starred in 'My Beloved Enemy - The Fate of Kings.' 'When it was decided that I would join 'The Tyrant's Chef,' I immediately contacted Hanna, saying, 'I will be participating too,' and she congratulated me, saying, 'That's really good.' We didn't see each other much on set, but every time we met, she always cared for me, making sure I could get some wind when it was very hot and preparing an umbrella for me.' Yoon So-ah has shown excellent chemistry with actresses through her works, including JTBC's 'Nevertheless,' 'My Beloved Enemy,' 'Mrs. Ok,' and 'The Tyrant's Chef.' Regarding the secret to this chemistry, she said, 'I really love the older sisters. The older actresses I co-starred with cared for me like a real younger sister, which allowed me to interact without hesitation. Since we became friends in private, I think synergy was created while acting. I have a lot of charm, so the older sisters treated me with a lot of affection. I think that chemistry made it look like we were relaxed from the viewer's perspective.'