Released on January 16, Can This Love Be Translated? is an unpredictable romantic comedy centered on multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin (played by Kim Seon-ho) and global top star Cha Mu-hee (played by Go Youn-jung). Hyunri takes on the role of Nanami, the manager of Japanese “melodrama prince” Kurosawa Hiro (played by Sota Fukushi), bringing balance to the story with her calm demeanor and razor-sharp judgment.
Nanami is portrayed as a composed, chic career woman who prioritizes logic over emotion in every situation. Hyunri enhances the character’s credibility through her restrained yet detailed performance, complemented by a sleek blunt bob haircut and sophisticated styling that completes Nanami’s urban, professional image.
Within the narrative, Nanami plays a crucial role in reading the flow of relationships between characters, using her quick instincts and analytical mindset to keep situations grounded. While her rational approach could easily come across as cold, Hyunri subtly infuses warmth and humanity through controlled expressions, giving the character emotional depth.
This convincing portrayal draws from Hyunri’s strong acting foundation, built through acclaimed projects such as Apple TV+’s Pachinko and the film Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Having won Best New Actress at the Takasaki Film Festival in 2014 and the Asia Star Award at the Seoul Drama Awards in 2017, Hyunri has long been recognized for both her artistic sensibility and presence. With this series, she is once again praised for elevating the overall quality of the production with her steady performance.
Viewer responses reflect this sentiment, with many praising the manager character for naturally guiding the story forward and highlighting Hyunri’s understated acting tone for enhancing immersion without overpowering the narrative.
Sharing her thoughts through her agency HB Entertainment, Hyunri said she is grateful for the positive reception and thankful to the cast and crew for the strong on-set chemistry. She described Nanami as a character who leads situations through emotional restraint and noted that, while adapting to a new environment for her first Korean project was a challenge, it made the experience all the more meaningful. She also expressed her desire to continue meeting Korean audiences through diverse future projects.
Looking ahead, Hyunri is set to appear in the Disney+ original series A Shop for Killers Season 2, where she will play Babylon East Asia branch team leader “Q”. Promising another powerful transformation, she is expected to build on her growing global recognition and continue expanding her range across international productions.
Sources: Daum