For rising actress Shin Si-ah, Resident Playbook wasn’t just another role it was a transformative experience, both personally and professionally.
In a recent interview marking the end of the tvN medical spin-off drama, Shin Si-ah opened up about her heartfelt journey portraying Pyo Nam-kyung, a candid and fashion-forward OB-GYN first-year resident navigating emotional ups and downs. Her dynamic chemistry with fellow rookies Go Youn-jung, Kang Yoo-seok, and Han Ye-ji captured attention for its realism and warmth.
“We’re all similar in age, so it genuinely felt like we were real colleagues,” Shin Si-ah shared. “We ate together, talked about everything, and built a friendship that felt very real like we were actually growing into our roles on and off screen.”
The camaraderie was so strong, Shin Si-ah recalled, that the cast often had to be reminded by the director to get back to filming amidst their laughter. “I would think, ‘Is it okay to be this happy on set?’ It felt like a truly warm and joyful time.”
She added, “This project was a gift to all of us. We gave it our all not just as actors, but as people who really connected heart-to-heart.”
A Healing Drama with a Message
Resident Playbook achieved high ratings, with the finale surpassing 8% viewership, and Shin Si-ah believes it’s because the drama offered viewers something deeper.
“There’s a comforting warmth in our show,” she said. “In today’s fast-paced world, I think people needed a story that could pause life for a moment and offer emotional rest.”
Shin Si-ah also fulfilled a longtime dream by participating in the drama’s OST. Alongside her co-stars, she recorded a cover of Run, saying the lyrics reflect the show’s core message: “There is an end to waiting, and there is hope.”
Rising Again After Doubt
Shin Si-ah made her breakout debut in The Witch: Part 2 (2022) after beating out over 1,400 candidates. But after that, she faced a quiet period filled with personal doubt.
“I started blaming myself, thinking something was wrong with me,” she admitted. “My self-esteem dropped, and I felt like I’d never be able to return unless I was reborn.”
But it was a book quote “You are waiting to be reborn” that gave her the courage to keep going. She calls Resident Playbook her “rebirth project”, even referring to it as her own “Re:Born Project.” She added, “When I met director Shin Won-ho again after that process, he said, ‘Who are you?’ I had changed.”
A Career Without a Map, But Full of Love
Recently, Shin Si-ah also took on her first regular variety role in Edward Lee’s Country Cook. Though initially worried that her TV appearances might interfere with audience immersion in her acting, she said she wanted to show she was doing well.
When asked about her goals, Shin Si-ah replied with grounded humility, “Nothing has gone according to plan since my debut, and my parents said, ‘That’s just life.’ I don’t have a set bucket list. I just want to keep loving what I do and go with the flow like floating freely, not rigidly.”
With a blend of introspection and sincere passion, Shin Si-ah is proving she’s not just a rising actress but one with the heart and depth to shine for years to come.
