Sandara Park Ready for Mature Roles in First Filipino Movie in 20 Years

 

Korean singer-actress Sandara Park is looking forward to returning to Philippine cinema, expressing interest in taking on more mature characters as she considers making her first Filipino movie in nearly 20 years.

In an interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, the former 2NE1 member reflected on her career journey, including the decision to leave the Philippines in 2007 at the height of her local popularity to pursue opportunities in South Korea.

Sandara recalled being surprised during a vacation to Korea when she realized that people in her birth country did not recognize her. The experience motivated her to establish herself in the Korean entertainment industry, even though she already enjoyed considerable success among Filipino audiences.

She acknowledged that leaving the Philippines was a major gamble, particularly because several people, including fans and former ABS-CBN executives, advised her against the move. She also admitted that she was uncertain whether her career would survive the transition.

However, her willingness to embrace unfamiliar challenges eventually paid off. A few years after relocating, she gained international recognition as a member of 2NE1 alongside CL, Minzy and Park Bom.

Looking back, Sandara said she might approach such a significant career decision differently today, given her age and greater awareness of the risks involved. At the time, however, her curiosity and courage pushed her to take the opportunity.

The conversation also revisited her early acting career in the Philippines, which began after she finished as runner-up to Hero Angeles in Star Circle Quest. The two later became a popular screen tandem, appearing in films such as Bcuz of You and Can This Be Love, as well as the television series Krystala.

Although she continued acting in South Korea after leaving the Philippines, her appearances in local productions became limited. She made a brief appearance as herself in the 2017 film My Ex and Whys.

Now 42, Sandara sees an opportunity to return to Filipino entertainment, particularly with streaming platforms and limited-series productions creating more room for different types of storytelling.

She expressed enthusiasm about starring in another Filipino film, joking about how many of her earlier characters were exchange students or individuals who struggled to speak Tagalog.

This time, she hopes to explore roles that reflect a more mature stage of life, including deeper romantic stories and characters with greater emotional complexity.

Her possible return would mark a new chapter in a Philippine acting career that helped introduce her to audiences before she became one of South Korea's internationally recognized K-pop stars.