Yoona Draws On Her Own Experiences To Play Paparazzi

As a member of the group Girls Generation, an actress and a model, Im Yoona has had plenty of experience with paparazzi. She has been the subject of a few embarrassing photos herself and some that she would rather erase but can't.

Its one thing to be photographed with your makeup on and posing for the cameras but it's another to be snapped during awkward moments.

Recently photos were taken of the actress while she was on a plane.

"I was watching a movie and eating rice balls at the same time," said Yoona. "When I opened my mouth wide to take a bite, I was photographed at that moment. And then after eating, I fell asleep with my mouth open. The photos were published in a Hong Kong magazine. Those photos are images that I want to forever erase."

She could have been angrier about the incident but the irony is not lost on her since she is playing Nam Da Jung, a dedicated and occasionally unethical reporter in her new drama "The Prime Minister and I." In that drama, she will do anything to get a scoop on the prime minister, including shifting through his garbage and getting a job working in his home.

Her character doesn't even feel bad that people consider her a third-rate reporter and low-life member of the paparazzi. All she is interested in is finding out who the Prime Minister is dating.

At one point she also gets a job cleaning the building he works in, so she can sneak into his office. Dressing up as a cleaner is not the most glamorous look but it's realistic.

"In order to portray the true life of reporter Nam Da Jung, who basically stays up all night trying to find big news, she wears no makeup and goes with a natural hairstyle," said a member of the production company staff.

But she will probably clean up nicely once she starts working inside the prime minister's home as the drama's storyline calls for him to fall in love with her. Lee Beom Soo plays the prime minister. He last appeared in "Iris II" and can be seen in the film "God's Trick" next year.

Despite being a dedicated reporter, Nam Da Jung is also clumsy and accident-prone.

"Compared to the other characters I've played, this one will be the clumsiest of them all. Da Jung's personality is very similar to my own, so it was comfortable for me to play this role," said Yoona, who was last seen in "Love Rain."

"The Prime Minister and I" starts Jan. 9. It also stars Yoon Si Yoon, who appeared recently in "Flower Boy Next Door."