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| Actress Kim Da-mi / Courtesy of United Artists Agency |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actress Kim Da-mi said she was looking for a relatable, down-to-earth character after taking on strong roles in the 2018 sci-fi thriller "The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion" and 2020 hit series "Itaewon Class."
In "Soulmate," a coming-of-age film about a lifelong friendship between girls, Kim stars as Mi-so who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
"I shot this film in 2020 after 'The Witch' and 'Itaewon Class.' At that time, I wanted to play a more conventional character. When reading the script for the first time, the climactic fight scene between Mi-so and Ha-eun (played by Jeon So-nee) moved me to tears," she said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday.
Kim went on to talk about her similarities with Mi-so. "I'm usually shy and quiet around strangers, but talkative around my friends. On set, I'm outspoken and exuberant. I love discussing scenes with directors and my co-stars," she said.
She also discussed developing an off-screen friendship with Jeon to better portray Mi-so and Ha-eun as inseparable soulmates. "We became close friends during the shooting of the film. Jeon invited me over to her place, and we talked for 10 hours straight," she said.
The 28-year-old actress said she didn't wear much makeup when portraying Mi-so in her teens. "I wanted Mi-so to look tanned because she is a country girl. She often wears red and orange in fashion whereas Ha-eun wears soft pastel tones," she said.
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| Actress Kim Da-mi in a scene from the film, 'Soulmate' / Courtesy of United Artists Agency |
Kim learned how to ride a scooter and make cocktails for the film. Asked about her hobbies in real life, Kim said she spends most of her free time lying in bed and looking at her phone.
"I travel sometimes, but I prefer to stay at home. I don't have a specific hobby. I just love to lie in bed with my phone," she laughed.
Kim shared that she actually enjoyed filming close-up shots because she was confident that they would engage audiences emotionally. "I believed that the camera would reflect the conflicted feelings of the characters," she said.
The actress explained that Mi-so's relationship with Ha-eun takes so many dramatic turns over time, but in the end, they reconcile. "I think friendship is a different kind of love. Mi-so knows that nobody in the world will ever love her the way Ha-eun loved her. The relationship between Mi-so and Ha-eun is that of a soulmate," she said.
Kim also talked about her process of picking projects and landing lead roles pretty much as soon as she entered the entertainment industry.
"When I take on a bright character, I look for a darker role afterward, and vice versa. I have been very lucky so far. Thanks to my fans who have always supported and loved my work, as well as everyone I've worked with, I was able to improve as an actor," she said.
The actress revealed the roles she hopes to play in the future. "In terms of movie genres, I would like to star in family dramas, comedies, thrillers and disaster movies," she said.
