Exclusive: Claudia Kim on her role in 'The Atypical Family', working in Indian films
Exclusive: Claudia Kim on her role in 'The Atypical Family', working in Indian films
Claudia Kim, also known as Kim Soo-hyun, recently featured in the K-drama 'The Atypical Family'. Having gained international recognition through roles in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' 'The Dark Tower,' and 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,' she starred in Korean dramas like 'Gyeongseong Creature' which have proved to be global successes.
Claudia Kim [Kim Soo-hyun] plays Bok Dong-hee, a character she describes as naturally lovable and self-reflective in 'The Atypical Family'. In an exclusive chat with India Today, the actor spoke at length about transitioning from her role in 'Gyeongseong Creature,' and taking new challenges with this show where she features alongside Jang Ki-yong and Chun Woo-hee. Claudia also talked about how she aspires to explore various genres, including action, romance, and art films. She reiterated that she is open to roles in Hindi/Indian cinema, recognising its rich cultural heritage.
Excerpts from the interview:
Claudia, it's wonderful to see you tackle diverse roles in Korean films and dramas. In 'The Atypical Family,' you remind us of your versatility with lighter roles alongside action-oriented ones. How did you approach the role of Bok Dong-hee?
Having come out of the role of Maeda in the Netflix period series, 'Gyeongseong Creature,' I wanted to take on a completely different challenge. While the genre was appealing, it wasn't an easy choice. It was clear that Dong-hee was going to present a whole new set of challenges both physically and artistically, but more than anything, it felt like a completely new territory which made it exciting. I also liked that once you take away the superficial aspect of it, the focus of Dong Hee's journey lies in finding and building self-confidence.
I didn't particularly think of anyone when envisioning Dong-hee. She just stood out to me as a very lovable person. That was my keyword. Someone who is naturally lovable, witty, humorous, has a big heart, is self-reflective and fiercely protective of her family. I was also allowed a lot of freedom to change the lines and add my creative reactions on set. That whole process added a lot of fun to playing the character.
Your roles often transcend traditional stereotypes. Is it important for you to pick up roles that test and challenge you as an artist? In that way, where did 'The Atypical Family' fit?
Personally, I try to stay away from roles that are stereotypical, mostly because I don't feel motivated by them. I feel inspired when I can add my interpretation to roles and create dimension by finding aspects that make the character relatable to people today.
'The Atypical Family' is attractive for the same reason. Underneath the superpower fantasy that this story is set on, if you look closely, they are all relatable characters who face struggles for reasons that are so common to us now. Also, the family dynamic and chemistry amongst both male and female characters is another added element that draws viewers in.
As someone who has worked in several Western films, including Marvel's 'Avengers' and 'Fantastic Beasts', is there a difference in the way you approach your roles or processes any differently when working on a project back home and one in America? If yes, in what ways?
I feel so fortunate to have worked on big productions like 'Marco Polo,' 'The Avengers,' and 'Fantastic Beasts.' They've surely opened my eyes to a bigger world and have each been a huge learning experience for me. On a more personal scale too, the preparation process, action training, hours of rehearsals, attention to detail in acting, the on-set environment, and various other factors have stretched me in ways I never could have learned otherwise.
Then there's Korea. Korea has changed and is ever so changing. I can't say though that the US productions are superior in comparison because Korea has been and still is so unique. Throughout my career, I've never seen people so devoted to the craft. A lot of times I hear from people that Korean films just carry a certain sentiment that is beautiful yet dark and emotionally intense. It's so true to our system and culture. I have so much respect for it. My personal upbringing has been an interesting mix of both these cultures, and it's more so that way now because I have been working in both industries professionally. When I approach acting, a lot of "thought" is stripped away, and I go back to the basics, but ultimately, being able to embody both cultures is what makes me unique and maybe sometimes my acting, a little more unexpected.
With your diverse career, what are your future aspirations, and are there specific roles or genres you're eager to explore?
I'm open to all different roles. I want to put more of my action training to use by taking on another strong female character, like Khutulun from 'Marco Polo.' I also want to take on a romantic role in the near future. I'm a lover of Wes Anderson films, so maybe an unpredictable and theatrical character like the ones in his films would be nice. I also love art films. Hopefully, I'll get to take on an ultra-realistic, subtle character in one.
Do you see yourself working in any Hindi/Indian cinema as well? I hear '3 Idiots' and 'RRR ' are popular in Korea?
Some of my friends in Hollywood have worked on Indian films and, our talented stunt coordinator of 'Marco Polo,' Todor Lazarov, has been the stunt director on many, including 'RRR', so I'm well aware. I've always been fascinated by Hindi/Indian cinema and the rich cultural aspects of it. There's a lot of beauty in them, so if ever the opportunity presents itself, of course, I would love to immerse myself in that world too.
Meanwhile, 'The Atypical Family' has 12 episodes and is available on Netflix. The show is co-produced by SLL, a prominent South Korean production house, that has created several acclaimed shows, such as 'Hellbound,' 'D.P.,' 'All of Us Are Dead,' 'Destined With You,' 'Narco-Saints,' 'Welcome To Samdalri,' and 'Doctor Slump.'