SHE first played a wicked ballerina who sabotages her friend in the horror flick Wishing Stairs.

Then she was the ambitious teenager vying for the crown prince's affections in the romantic drama serial Princess Hours.

Now, Korean actress Song Ji Hyo is putting such roles behind her as she takes on more appealing ones.

In an e-mail interview with The New Paper, the 27-year-old wrote that her screen image so far has leaned more towards 'the arrogant side' and she felt 'many people may not warm up' to her because of that image.

That was why she agreed to take on her role in Sex Is Zero 2, the R21 movie which opens here today.

In it, she plays a bubbly, college-going swimming champion, who goes to great lengths to stop her boyfriend (Im Chang Jung) from jumping into bed with her.

A comedy of errors ensues when she remains stubbornly virginal.

Ji Hyo said: 'Through Sex is Zero 2, I am hoping I can project an image that is friendlier, warmer and sweeter.

'Yes, this movie may be a sex comedy, but my character Kyung Ah is the young and innocent foil, which is closer to my real self.'

She added: 'Making this film has definitely allowed me to grow as an actress.'

Compared to the last time we did an e-mail interview with her in 2003 for her screen debut Wishing Stairs, Ji Hyo has also become more open with the media, offering plenty of anecdotes in her replies.

Previously, her replies were so bland and brief that we could use only two quotes.

When asked how she would deflect the sexual advances of a boyfriend in real life, Ji Hyo gamely offered some tips.

'I believe there is a need for us to share a heart-to-heart talk and to discuss ways to find more meaningful activities we can engage in as a couple.

'For example, we can both take part in sports or outdoor activities or indulge in the same hobby. If we have fun as a couple, there is definitely a higher chance of relieving the pressure faced (in a sexless relationship).'

When asked what's the most daring thing she has ever done, she recalled how she and her close friends once took an impromptu trip to 'see the ocean' on a whim.

'I have very good memories of that trip. I don't think I would ever have the opportunity to do something this unplanned and crazy again.'

She also recalled her 'ordinary but fulfilling' university days, how she never thought of becoming an actress and led a 'quiet and peaceful' life as an accounting major.

Her acting career is her priority now, judging by her e-mail replies.

She wrote: 'I hope to be responsible to my fans and also live up to the compliments and goodwill given me by the media.

'I will continue to work hard, accept any new challenges and learn new things to hone my craft as an actress.

'I want do more, I want to do better.'

CRITICISED

But, like all good-looking actresses before her, Ji Hyo has been criticised for not being a good actress.

She lamented that the beauties often get 'lesser acknowledgement' despite their best efforts, and no matter how hard they work, the audience is 'more interested in their looks than their works'.

'I accept that this is a natural reaction, but I also believe that on top of the gift of looks, if an actress hones her acting skills and is hardworking throughout her career, she can definitely gain the eventual respect of the audience and critics as a fine and accomplished actress. I am striving for this goal.'

She certainly did not take Sex Is Zero 2 lightly.

Ji Hyo underwent two months of intensive training in swimming and pushed her physical limits to deliver a memorable underwater scene.

In that scene, she dives into a 6m-deep pool and sits at the bottom, brooding over her relationship woes.

She said director Yoon Tae Yun was worried about her safety and wanted to use a stunt double, but she convinced him to let her do it herself because she felt that 'the scene is integral to the emotional development of my character'.

She ended up reshooting the scene 10 times.

'It was exhausting but when I got it done, I felt really satisfied.'

Of course, Ji Hyo got to be in numerous bikinis, in the film, which drew more than two million admissions in South Korea last December.

One striking movie poster shows her clad in an orange bikini top and playing a game of tug of war with four co-stars using the strings of her bikini.

Recalling the poster shoot, she said that it was the photographer who came up with the 'naughty concept' and it turned out to be a 'really fun affair' among the actors.

And no, she wasn't worried about snapping the strings of her bikini.

'It may look like the strings could be easily undone, but there was actually a safety feature added to the costume to stop any 'accidents' from happening,' she said.

Ji Hyo is next slated to play a king's concubine in the upcoming gay-themed period film Frozen Flower, which co-stars Joo Jin Mo and Cho In Sung.

This marks the third time she is taking up a role related to royalty, after TV dramas Princess Hours and Jumong - Prince Of The Legend, in which she plays the first wife of the king.

But Ji Hyo said this was a 'sheer coincidence' and not that she is especially interested in such roles.

Given a good script, she would consider revisiting the horror genre which shot her to fame in the first place.

'I believe there is a lot of dramatic potential and audience reception to the horror genre, which explains its general popularity with Asian audiences.

'For me, the basis for my consideration always boils down to a good director and script.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Apr 10, 2008.