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Actress Kim Su Hyun, aka Claudia Kim, had an interview at a café in Mapo, Seoul, during which she talked about the challenges she faced playing Bok Dong Hee in The Atypical Family, the kind of projects she wants to do next, and more.
Last year, Kim played Maeda Yukiko in the Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature, a role for which the actress learned Japanese. Now, for the JTBC drama The Atypical Family, she wore special makeup and put on a suit to transform into an overweight character.
Talking about trying new things with each project, the actress said, "I enjoy the thrill of doing things that people around me think I can't do," adding, "I guess I'm a bit rebellious to begin with."
She also said, "Going through casting interviews abroad has broken many of my preconceived notions. Confronting things head-on has helped me a lot in both my acting and mindset."
"I was always offered roles of characters that were intellectual and wealthy, and I hated it. I was wondering, 'Why can't I get a role that breaks away from this image?' when a director told me, 'You don't look like someone who'd be working a part-time job.' It didn't make me feel good. I was born with height and looks, but I didn't want to be limited by these factors."
Claudia Kim had a physically demanding role in The Atypical Family, for which she had to sit for 5-8 hours for special makeup before each shoot.
Despite the challenges, the actress decided to turn down a leading role in a Hollywood film to play Dong Hee. She said, "Dong Hee was such a charming character. It was so enjoyable to perform an unexpected role. Despite the hardships, I always went to the set with a light and happy heart."
Kim also talked about the project she had to let go of, stating, "It was difficult, timewise. The Atypical Family was a project I chose to do first, and because it's important to do well and with perfection (I gave up on a Hollywood film)." She revealed, "It was a project featuring a famous actor, and [I was offered] to play the female lead." "I don't regret (rejecting the film)," and, "I think this was meant to be."
The actress also talked extensively about the hardships she faced with the special makeup. Kim expressed, "It was really tough. If I had known, I wouldn’t have been able to do it." She revealed, "There were many people, including the makeup team and my managers, who suffered alongside me."
"If I had a shoot in the morning, I would come during the night and stay up all night getting makeup done. I wore a suit inside, then a cotton suit made to look like muscles on top, another suit on the outside, and then silicone, followed by clothes. There were no vents, so I would be drenched in sweat all day because I couldn't take the makeup off once we started shooting. It felt like hell sometimes because it was so hot."
She further elaborated, "The character was set to weigh plus or minus 30kg, so I anticipated special makeup. But for actors, nothing is really known until you see the setup. I focused on showing the character's emotional changes and her growth as a woman. This part really appealed to me, so I took on the challenge. ... Everyone gave their all, and I felt a sense of duty to do well for them."
She continued, "It took a maximum of 8 hours. 4 and a half hours was when the character's weight was at its lightest. I had to sit still for at least 4 and a half to 8 hours." "Four people would work on me at once. I didn't move or make any facial expressions. After sitting still for 8 hours, there were continuous touch-ups. Even talking slightly would cause the makeup around my mouth to lift. During cuts, the team would rush in for fixes. I did my makeup myself because If I got my makeup done at a studio I would have to put in extra 2 hours, so I just did it at home and started with special makeup."
She added, "They dissolved silicone in acetone and applied it to my face. I ingested a lot of acetone. Unfortunately, I got a little allergy on my skin once, but faced no major issues, thanks to the special makeup team. The makeup was heavy [2kg], and my face would sag after it was removed."
She continued, "Yawning was prohibited. I couldn't eat much. I didn't drink much water also. But despite eating and drinking little, my weight didn't drop."
During the interview, the actress also revealed that she is a pescatarian. Pescatarians don't eat meat but do eat seafood and can eat eggs and dairy products.
Kim said, "During filming, I couldn't go to the bathroom or eat because silicone was attached to my body. However, since I had many eating scenes, I thought about how to eat deliciously. What was amazing during acting was that when I ate meat while playing Dong Hee, it made me dance. When I ate something, I just naturally started dancing."
She continued, "Actually, I've been a pescatarian since I was very young, so I couldn't eat meat in real life and acted it out with my imagination. I can eat seafood though," she said. When all the reporters at the interview were surprised, she confessed, "I've never eaten meat at all, so I don't have the desire to eat it." "My mother is also a vegetarian. I think it's genetic."
Talking about her character Dong Hee, the actress said, "She binge eats as if she is punishing herself and exercises excessively as if she's punishing herself also. She's a character with low self-esteem but a strong desire to return to a healthy state both physically and mentally."
Kim also related to Dong Hee's low self-esteem and inability to be kind to herself. "I also had low self-esteem at many points [in my life]. When I was young, I was not good at English or Korean and felt like I didn't belong anywhere, so I was very timid. Even after becoming an actor, I struggled with confidence for a long time."
Claudia Kim debuted as a model and gradually built her filmography with minor and supporting roles in K-dramas. She made headlines in South Korea for getting cast in Avengers: Age of Ultron and becoming the first Korean actor to land a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Through The Atypical Family, Kim wanted to be recognized for her acting skills in her home country. She said, "I plan to continue to look for challenging roles in the future," and smiled, adding, "I think I will gladly do special effects makeup again if I have to."
"Recently, I received a call from India asking if I would consider working in Bollywood. I don't think there's anything I can't do. I can learn Hindi and dance (laughs)."
