Tiffany Young opens up about her role in 'Uncle Samsik' and how she balances her busy schedule

From her early days as a K-pop sensation with Girls' Generation to her burgeoning career as an actress, Tiffany Young has continuously reinvented herself. Aside from her ongoing appearance in the musical, Chicago, the singer-turned-actress was most recently featured in the new series on Disney+ called Uncle Samsik.

Released in May, the drama was set in the turbulent 1960s in Korea, and follows the ambitious journeys and brotherly bond of Park Doo Chil (played by Song Kang Ho) and Kim San (played by Byun Yo Han).

In the show, Tiffany Young portrays Rachel Jeong, the director of the Albright Foundation. Later on in the series, Rachel meets Kim San, who dreams of a national reconstruction project in Korea, and begins to take an interest in his goals.

She explains, "Putting Rachel together involved a lot of research on the 1960s, understanding why the decade was set up that way." Her dedication to authentically bringing Rachel to life included studying the mannerisms and tones of prominent women from that era.

This is the second acting project Tiffany Young has worked on since the debut of her acting career. Previously, the star made her acting debut in a supporting role, named Rachel as well, in JTBC's Reborn Rich television series, alongside K-drama heartthrob Song Joong-ki.

In an exclusive interview with Her World, the Uncle Samsik star who plays Director Rachel Jeong in the show, shares more about how she prepared for the role, the biggest challenges she faced while acting and how she overcame them.

1. Tell us more about your role as Rachel Jeong in Uncle Samsik and how you prepared for it 

TIFFANY YOUNG: "Rachel Jeong is the director of the Albright Foundation, and the 1960s was a very pro-American climate in terms of politics with Korea.

She is the adopted daughter of the Albright Foundation and goes back to Korea to find purpose and longing and realises her dream is also creating a better Korea, a better world, and giving back what she's learned from the other opportunities that were given to her in her life.

Putting Rachel together, a lot of research on the 1960s, but also before and after just to kind of understand why the 1960s was set up that way. I did a lot of research on both Korean and American culture and the political climate and society, social, etc. But also did a lot of research on the first ladies and the actresses of the 1960s, (from) their tone to their mannerisms, the way they stare and things like that, because I know that there's always going to be a part of Tiffany in whatever I do, but I wanted to kind of strip back a lot of Tiffany from this role, especially cause Director Shin, she was like, “You know, what’s going to be interesting? If you don't smile a lot.” So Rachel doesn't smile too much until she gets what she wants to get. So it was an interesting development, but a lot of research."

2. What was the atmosphere like on the set of "Uncle Samsik"?

TIFFANY YOUNG: "I think because I'm currently in my musical theatre project right now, having the script, it's divided into Act One and Act Two. And both female leads don't really get to see each other, so I don't know too much about what the other atmosphere was like."

She adds, "But there was just so much energy. Everybody was so excited and focused to be on set. And to have a room in a set full of such dedicated, focused people, I think that's what creates magic. And waking up and going to work every day with, and being around such amazing people, I had so much fun. That was definitely the joy."

3. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your acting career so far?

TIFFANY YOUNG: "I have always wanted to act and I have just started. This is my second project, my first principal role. So I think it's just watching the industry unfold as a woman.

It's changed so much over the past five years, actually, because I went back to acting school and studied acting, and I really wanted to focus on this since 2017. But if you think about 2017 to 2024, the stories have changed, diversity, inclusivity, and just the conversations have changed. And I am patiently waiting and dreaming of finding the right stories,

partners, and projects. And I think that's what it is to be an actor. I know that everybody's much more familiar with my music career and that having a pop girl band (allows you) to create the music and the concepts and be upfront but I guess most of the time as an actor it's just really a lot of waiting and making sure you're working at your craft even while you're waiting."

4. What are some of the most valuable lessons from your acting career?

TIFFANY YOUNG: "The best lessons learned from my acting career so far are to really have a strong routine and strong values and a work ethic that is unmatchable because you know set life and schedules get crazy and also, having an open heart and open mind, having the gentleness to really understand that this is who you are today, and it might be terrible today, but you might have a better day tomorrow, and you just keep going at it, and excellence is something you work towards every day."

5. How do you think you've grown as an artist since starting your acting career?

TIFFANY YOUNG: "So much, I'm so different even after this production and luckily I'm always, I've been fortunate enough to go back to theatre acting right now, so having that balance of screen acting and theatre acting, patiently waiting for my next project and ready to take on a new challenge. My acting career is just starting, but the projects that I continue to take on are something people are connecting to and having curiosity towards and I'm just always eager to learn and grow."

Uncle Samsik is now streaming on Disney+