Lee You-mi has a rare talent for portraying characters who are imperfect yet deeply human. Even in bright roles, she leaves behind a subtle ache — a lingering emotion that feels real.

Netflix's You Killed (written by Kim Hyo-jeong, directed by Lee Jeong-rim) captures that strength. Lee You-mi plays Hee-su, a woman enduring hellish violence from her husband.

To embody the character, she lost weight down to 36kg. She stripped away color and expression to complete Hee-su's drained, monochrome appearance — from her fading past to the gradual return of color in her future.

"My director said Hee-su feels fragile, but there's a strong core inside her — something similar to me. I wanted to show how she finds her lost colors again and becomes stronger," she said.

"Why couldn't Hee-su escape?"

Hee-su was once a promising children's book author. After marriage, she becomes trapped under the abuse of her husband, No Jin-pyo (played by Jang Seung-jo). With her friend Eun-su (Jeon So-ni), she plans to kill him to escape a life of control.

Every part of Hee-su's life is dictated — her outfit, mealtime, outings, even how she moves inside the home. Her fragile body is constantly bruised.

As the violence becomes more explicit, one question arises: Why didn't she run away? Lee You-mi said she felt the same when she first read the script.

"I was very cautious. Real victims exist, so I wondered whether I could portray this with sincerity. I questioned if I understood enough."

She researched the couple's past — the happy days before their marriage fell apart — to understand how their relationship cracked. She even shot wedding photos and couple portraits to feel what Hee-su once felt.

"At first, the violence probably happened once or twice. She must have believed the apologies. But as it repeated, confusion set in. I think she tried to escape but eventually became powerless inside the prison that was Jin-pyo."

"I dropped to 36kg for the role"

Hee-su follows the rules Jin-pyo imposes — even aligning her spoon and cup perfectly at mealtime.

"I felt Hee-su wouldn't cling to food or appearance. So I lost weight. I went from 42kg to 36kg before filming. I wore dry, muted makeup and even avoided lip balm. I wanted her to look washed-out."

Her approach was subtractive — removing weight, color, and liveliness.

"From the outside she looks weak, but there's strength inside her," she said. "Her past was vibrant, her married life was monochrome, and her future slowly regains color."

Feeling the space as Hee-su

Many scenes were emotionally brutal, especially the moment Hee-su strikes Jin-pyo with a snow globe — the revenge she longed for.

"Reading it, I thought it would feel cathartic. But when I actually did it, I felt no freedom. Only a scream remained. That scene drained me the most."

She immersed herself completely, treating Jin-pyo's house as Hee-su's prison. Much of the performance relied on expression rather than dialogue.

"I wanted every gesture to be truthful. Being Hee-su in that space was important," she said.

A therapist remained on set throughout filming. "Feeling safe helped me act more freely," she said. "It made a big difference."

Hee-su's quiet strength

Lee You-mi and Jang Seung-jo created intense chemistry through their extreme roles. "He approached me first and shared many ideas. I just had to receive them well," she said.

Jeon So-ni felt like Eun-su in real life — warm and honest. "Talking with her feels cozy. I felt trust between us on set."

Through Hee-su, Lee You-mi also felt she grew. "Eun-su finds new colors in herself, and I think I did too. I feel stronger now. Even if I lose everything at some moment, I can rebuild. I gained trust in myself."

A career built on curiosity

Since 2021, Lee You-mi delivered back-to-back global hits with Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead. As a lead actress today, she continues to explore new shades of emotion.

"What pulls me in is curiosity about each character. I think I've always met roles that needed me at the moment."

Debuting in middle school, she has shown countless new faces. Asked what's next, she said, "It changes every day. But today… I'd like to play a character my age, someone ordinary. I hope I get the chance."

After spending more than half her life acting, she still finds joy in the craft.

"It's fun, but the pressure grows as you take on more lead roles. The fun and the pressure feel equal."

"But that pressure motivates me. It drives me to do well — in a good way. It's the engine that helps me grow."

She concluded, "I'm proud I never gave up along this long path. I want to be an actress who always sparks curiosity. I hope people stay curious about my work."