When IU first started her acting career, she received many mixed reactions because her acting was deemed stiff and lacking emotions. In "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo", IU faced negative comments from the viewers for constantly rolling her eyes. It was not until the drama "My Mister" that IU got rid of the prejudices against her acting and was recognized as a capable actress.
In My Mister, IU plays Lee Ji An, a melancholy young woman who struggles in the midst of a life full of injustices and difficulties. She has complicated relationships with 3 older men. This emotionally challenging role brought IU’s position as an actress to a whole different level, but also caused her to worry a lot when she first received the offer.
Back in 2015, many people felt that the photos in the album jacket for “CHAT-SHIRE” were inappropriate because they were reminiscent of a lolita concept.
Due to the past controversy, IU felt that starring in the drama would not be a good idea because her character is in a relationship with a much older man.
“I am aware of the controversy about an album I released. I knew that if my delivery as a singer and producer was not smooth, someone could get offended. I thought about it a lot, and knew I had to be alert.” — IU
She felt that taking on the role could bring unwanted controversy to the drama, and didn’t want to hurt her costars.
“During our first meeting, I asked the director if he knew about the controversy. I was afraid that I could have a negative impact on the drama, so I wanted to let them know.” — IU
After reading the script and talking to the director, however, IU was convinced.
During that time, IU’s fans were also against her taking on the role, fearing that she would have the Lolita image in the drama .IU’s initial concerns were not groundless because once "My Mister" got broadcast, the first episodes stumbled into controversy.
However, later on, "My Mister" managed to prove that it was not a drama about inappropriate romance. The emotional stories with realistic and vivid characters of My Mister successfully draw empathy from the viewers. IU also delivered an impressive performance. Her portrayal of the character Lee Ji An is so flawless that many viewers cannot imagine any other actress taking on the role.
Source[1]
