IN CONVERSATION WITH YERIN HA

Yerin Ha will star in the highly anticipated Season 4 of Netflix’s global hit show ‘Bridgerton’, and will mark the first East Asian lead in the history of the series. Additionally, she is set to star in Netflix’s new series ‘The Survivors’, an adaptation of Jane Harper’s bestselling novel. Yerin’s most recent role was in HBO’s ‘Dune: Prophecy’, which was released in December. Prior and on stage, Yerin was also part of Sydney Theatre Company’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ alongside Mia Wasikowska.

full look SHUSHU/TONG

Congratulations on joining ‘Bridgerton’. How does it feel to be the first East Asian lead in the history of the series?

When people put it like that, I always feel so overwhelmed, and for some reason I don’t see myself or feel as though I am the ‘first’ East Asian lead, purely because ‘Bridgerton’ has been such an inclusive show from the get go with a Black and South Asian lead in previous seasons and so many other characters too. But it truly is exciting, and I feel so much gratitude. I’m glad I can represent and shine more light for the East Asian community this season, although with that comes a lot of pressure. You always want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward and doing good work because I know how important this story is to so many people and what this means. It’s been a true gift, but I honestly could not have been in the position I am in today if it was not for all the BIPOC actors and actresses that came before me that fought hard to make changes in this industry.

full look CELINE
tights FALKE
rings CARTIER

Were you a fan of the series or Julia Quinn’s books before joining the cast, and what does joining this global hit series mean to you personally and professionally?

I was a big fan of the series before joining the family, especially considering what the show has Done, but also the storytelling is so magnificent. Modernising it so more audiences feel seen yet still setting it in the Regency Era and telling beautiful stories about love is kind of genius. To be honest, I always have this fear that whatever show I’m working on will be my last and who knows when the next job will come around because a lot of things are out of my control in a way. So personally, I was just so happy to book more work and that I can do the thing that I love to do, which is act. Obviously, it was such a bonus that it happened to be ‘Bridgerton’. 

But professionally, I’ve never done a romantic drama before, and frankly, never believed that I could be a female romantic lead for such a show so it’s been mentally challenging, but in the most positive way. It was a bit of a wake up call because I have a little, yet often loud insecure voice in my head saying certain things weren’t possible for me in my career. But booking this role proved that I too can play and deserve these roles, and that I should continue to keep dreaming big of the work that I want to do in the future. I am of the mindset that no growth can happen with staying comfortable. But I do hope this is just the beginning of a long career because as my Mum always used to say to me, this career is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and I hope it will be a springboard for me to be able to continue telling stories about the human experience.

jumper and briefs SIMONE ROCHA
shoes LOUIS VUITTON
tights FALKE
rings CARTIER

We’ll also be seeing you in Netflix’s ‘The Survivors’. What drew you to this moody coastal crime drama?

I think a big reason for me was that I got to work on my home soil and do an Australian drama. It’s so funny, for the past few years I’ve rarely gotten to act in my own accent and it’s important for me and my soul to every now and then come back home and connect with the land, the people I grew up with and get to act and work alongside other Australian actors.


The series is set in Tasmania, which has such a unique atmosphere. How does the setting play into the story and your character?

I want to acknowledge that it is Indigenous land so there is something so magical and powerful about the Australian landscape. And Tasmania is extraordinarily beautiful. It is its own character in a way. The setting plays a lot in the story, in the sense that it shows you how beautiful it is, yet how much you cannot underestimate and control Mother nature. It exudes a certain energy and although it is a murder mystery drama, at the same time, I believe it is also a story that talks about connecting back with home. Home, taking on many meanings from the actual location you grew up in to the people that you love.

Can you share anything about your role in ‘The Survivors’ and what we can expect from the show?

You can expect a story that explores how different people process grief and how it can manifest in many ways, some being more internal, some being more messy, but that there is no right or wrong way in how you deal with that. My character Mia is the pillar to Kieran, who has never gotten over the guilt of the death of his brother. But after a certain incident, she also realises she may never have properly grieved the death of her own best friend, Gabby, and she starts to puzzle certain pieces of the puzzle together.

You were recently seen in ‘Dune: Prophecy’, which dives into the origins of the Bene Gesserit. What was it like stepping into the ‘Dune’ universe?

I have been so fortunate that I’ve gotten to dip my toes in a few, yet quite massive universes. The ‘Dune’ universe is so loved, and I feel honoured I got to be a part of that. It was so much fun unpacking the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisters and work alongside such talented actresses. The costumes, the set design, the props, the writing, all of it was done to such a high standard, I truly had a blast on that project.

dress JACQUEMUS
shoes LOUIS VUITTON
tights FALKE
earrings and bracelet TIFFANY & CO.

You’ve worked across a range of genres, from sci-fi, to period drama, to crime thrillers. Do you have a favorite genre to work in?

They each have their own unique merits. Sci-fi I find to be incredibly hard, purely because you have to use so much of your imagination with the use of a lot of blue screens, but at the same time, that’s also the super exciting and fun. It’s not an easy feat, but when you see it all come together with the VFX, it’s so rewarding. Crime thrillers have their own quirk and when it’s a really good script, it’s fun to leave the audiences constantly guessing and keep them on their toes, which I love. However, I do have to say, I have had the most fun working on a period drama. But I do think that’s because it’s a love story at the end of the day and I am a sucker for those.

dress DAVID KOMA
coat LOEWE
shoes LOUBOUTIN
tights FALKE

Having grown up in Australia, how does your background influence your approach to acting?

Where you grow up, the culture you’re accustomed to, your family, the friends that you surround yourself with are all an influence and an amalgamation of who you are. To be honest, I never thought about how that necessarily influences my ‘approach’ to acting, but more that I think, those things ground me as a person. And that in and of itself I think is incredibly important when you’re on a job, especially if you are away from home a lot of the time travelling.

Coming back home to Australia, spending time with friends and family, laughing, it fills my heart in a certain way that I think is hard to describe and to know that will always be there I think is the key thing for me and to keep me sane when I’m on a project.

coat and shoes CAMILLA AND MARC
tights FALKE

When you’re not on set or on stage, how do you enjoy spending your days off?

I’m not going to lie, I am such an introvert and a Hermit crab so unless the sun is out, I love staying at home, being horizontal, watching films or reading books on my days off of work. That’s how I recharge. But being in London, the amount of theatre shows they have on at one time is incredible. I can’t say it’s quite the same back home in Sydney. So, I have also loved watching as much theatre as possible and seeing as many art exhibitions that I can, but that’s more of a therapeutic thing for me as I constantly love to surround myself with art in whatever shape or form.

Looking back at your journey from Sydney Theatre Company’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ to now starring in major global productions, what’s a dream role or project you’d love to be a part of in the future?

This question I always find so difficult because part of me just wants to say “My dream is just to keep working for as long as I possibly can”. I don’t know if I have a dream role or project per se, and who knows if that is still in the form of a cell in someone’s brain and it’s still yet to be written. I just want to tell stories that I truly connect with or one that will push and challenge me as an Actor, and that role can look or come in so many unexpected ways that will surprise me, I guess. Though, there are a lot of directors I dream of working with, one being Bong Joon Ho. So maybe that, I’ll manifest that for myself.

look WOOYOUNGMI
hat JANE TAYLOR LONDON
shoes LOUBOUTIN

full look SHUSHU/TONG

TEAM CREDITS:

talent YERIN HA
photography LEE MALONE
styling HOLLY WHITE
makeup NEIL YOUNG at A-FRAME AGENCY
hair LUKE PLUCKROSE at A-FRAME AGENCY
studio DROP STUDIOS
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN