Actress Sa Mi-ja overcomes life-threatening health crises through acting
Actress Sa Mi-ja opens up about her battles with heart disease, stroke, and depression, and how she found healing through her passion for acting.
On the 13th, actress Sa Mi-ja recalled the moments she hovered between life and death due to severe health issues on MBN's official channel. The comments came via a preview video for 'While You Were Sick,' which will air on the 19th featuring Sa as a guest.
During her prime, Sa was celebrated as the 'Audrey Hepburn of Korea' for her stunning beauty. After debuting as a first-generation voice actress for Dong-A Broadcasting in 1963, she transitioned into acting and earned immense popularity through appearances in numerous works, including 'Toji,' 'Winter Rainbow,' 'Looking and Looking Again,' 'Mermaid Lady,' 'Birth of a Rich Man,' and 'Standby.' However, as she aged, she has faced several health crises.
Having recently caused concern among fans due to a fall, she appeared significantly healthier during the broadcast. She revealed the urgency of her medical situation, stating, "The doctor told me that if it had been even a little bit later, my life would have been in danger. All three arteries leading to my heart were blocked, and I was in a situation where I couldn't breathe."
She then heightened curiosity regarding her future by declaring, "I made a decision to change my life."
Following a myocardial infarction in 2005 and a diagnosis of cerebral infarction in 2018, she has battled illness for many years. On TV CHOSUN's 'Perfect Life' in 2022, she confessed that even amidst her pain, her bond with her husband was most precious, saying, "I woke up after surgery, but my body wouldn't move and my husband wasn't by my side. When I said I missed him so much, the nurse specially let him in. Seeing my husband ask, 'Did you miss me that much?' made me decide to love this man for the rest of my life."
She also shared a story truly worthy of an actress, noting that she suffered from depression during her recovery: "I cried a lot, wondering why no one was looking for me even though I was alive. My chest felt incredibly heavy. Unable to watch me suffer, my husband asked me what I wanted to do, and I said I wanted to act. I started doing plays like that, and my depression vanished as if it had never been there."
