Funny Valentine

Actor Daniel Henney makes women swoon as a suave screen heart-throb in Korea, but he prefers self-assured women who share his cheeky sense of humour in real life



IN the new Korean romantic comedy, Seducing Mr Perfect, Daniel Henney is a player who teaches his stupid-in-love subordinate (played by Uhm Jung Hwa) how to make a man work for her affections.

In real life, the Prince Charming to a nation of weak-kneed Korean women also prefers a challenge when it comes to women.

'I've always wanted what I seemingly can't reach,' says the 27-year-old American, who was once linked to fellow American actress-model Maggie Q, and who gets more public solicitations for hugs in South Korea than any other leading man there.

With just two Korean television dramas, and now a movie, to his name, he has done the near-impossible in his adopted home.

He's become one of the most sought-after - in all senses - actors in the country, all without needing to deliver his lines in Korean (he speaks mostly English).

He's done it on the strength of his pan-Asian good looks - his father is of British descent, his mother Korean - a friendly, easy manner and those impossible-to-miss six-pack abs.

The 1.88m-tall former model from Michigan, who first got hearts a-flutter in a bit role as a radiologist in the hit Korean drama, My Lovely Samsoon, was modelling for a commercial in Korea in 2005 when a talent manager spotted him.

Henney, who is currently single, is now shooting his second Korean movie, My Father.

1. What does your personal seduction routine involve?

Precision and planning. Kidding. To be honest, I really don't have a 'routine'.

If I'm interested in a woman, the first thing I look for is a commonality of humour.

Usually, if we share the same sense of humour, things move along quite naturally after that.

In my opinion, relying on a routine may make things over-robotic and take away the natural fun of the entire situation.

2. And what does a girl need to do to seduce you?

I'm extremely attracted to women who possess a strong sense of who they are. Being comfortable in one's skin is a huge turn-on for me.

I've always been the guy who makes jokes under his breath, the person who finds humour in seemingly humourless situations. I look for someone who can share those moments with me.

3. You've said that you're a man's man. What's the most manly thing you've done?

I was referring to the way I was raised. From an early age, I was expected to pull my own weight at home. My parents both worked blue-collar jobs and were seldom home. So, as an only child, I had to take care of everything from fixing the cars to taking care of our animals.

Being a public figure has been such a wonderful experience for me, but at the same time, it has taken away some of the things I loved so much while growing up back in Michigan.

Like changing the oil in my truck, shovelling snow, working in the fields in the summer heat, helping Dad around the house.

I just don't like to be 'babied'. So when that happens, I sometimes find myself saying to others, 'I know you're trying to help, and thank you very much, but I can take care of it myself.'

4. You and half-Korean American football star Hines Ward have been credited for breaking negative stereotypes about bi-racial people in Korea. How hard was it for you initially?

I was almost a 'no go' on My Lovely Samsoon. It was risky to cast an unknown who also wasn't fully Korean in an important role for mainstream Korean television.

That was a battle that we had to fight for a few weeks. It wasn't until the very last minute that I was officially made part of the cast.

Today, I face next to no prejudice in Korea. However, that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. It's very prominent and in time, I hope to drastically influence the solving of these existing problems.

5. What do you remember most vividly about Singapore when you were modelling?

My experience in Singapore was wonderful. I shot a few commercials there about three or four years ago. To this day, I have so many close friends there, I make it a point to visit a couple of times every year.

Obviously, I love the vast variety of food. I also love Sentosa and the Botanic Gardens. My father was also in Singapore in the 1960s, so he always loves to hear my Singapore stories.

6. Do you hope to make it to Hollywood some day?

I would love to act in the US one day, only because my family and friends could watch me on the big screen.

I was recently interviewed by The New York Times. When it came out, I was a bit disappointed. The headline read, 'Stuck in Asia, dreaming of Hollywood'. I read that and I thought, 'Wow, if I'm stuck in Asia, then it's the most comfortably 'stuck' place I've ever been 'stuck' in.'

I'm not dreaming of Hollywood, I'm dreaming of that one great film.

7. In your wildest dreams, who would you be married to and what kind of life would you have?

Wow, I've never been asked that question before. I guess I'd have to say Sophie Marceau. I'd buy a home on Australia's southern coastline, sip coffee and play guitar.

I'd also have at least five dogs, an immaculate collection of old records, and the cars to match.

8. Tell us something few people know about Daniel Henney.

Hmm. Well, I once weighed well over 200lbs (90kg) and had bleached blond hair. I was registered as a personal trainer at a fitness institution near my hometown.

Seducing Mr Perfect is now in theatres.