Despite being in the entertainment industry for almost 20 years, actor Claudia Kim says that “now is just the beginning” as her first Korean film “A Normal Family” is set to be released on Oct. 16.

“I’ve filmed my first Korean film after 20 years, and I feel truly proud,” Kim said during an interview with reporters on Monday at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul. “I had a huge desire to become a part of the Korean film industry. And honestly, even with the Avengers, I did participate as a Korean, but now, after actually appearing in a Korean film, I'm the proudest I've ever been.”


The upcoming suspense thriller “A Normal Family” is the fourth adaptation of Dutch author Herman Koch’s novel “The Dinner” (2009). Versions have been previously made in the Netherlands, the United States and Italy.

Directed by Hur Jin-ho, who also took the helm of some classic Korean melodramatic films, such as “Christmas in August” (1998) and “One Fine Spring Day” (2001), “A Normal Family” follows the choices of four parents after witnessing surveillance footage of a crime involving their children. It features actors Claudia Kim and Sul Kyung-gu, as well as Kim Hee-ae and Jang Dong-gun.

Claudia Kim, who debuted in 2005 as a model in Korea, said the film's director and her role as an "everyday person" were what made her interested in joining the cast. The actor is well-known for her Hollywood appearances in films such as “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015) and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” (2018).

“The director was the biggest reason why I participated in the film, but I also liked the unexpected aspects my character had,” Kim said. “I really wanted to play a character that was an everyday character, and I liked that part about it. Additionally, when I looked at the role, I felt like it was a good fit for me. Everything came together perfectly.”

The actor, who has had numerous shooting experiences in overseas productions, also recalled her experiences on set and with the director as being most similar to her international experiences, in terms of communication and discussions, as director Hur is well-known for engaging in extensive conversations with actors about the film and their roles.

“I think it’s due to the director's style. While there were certainly similarities because it’s a film, what stood out the most was the significant amount of time invested in rehearsals,” she said.

“One thing I noticed while I was abroad was that the actors had very strong opinions,” she added. “[There’s a tendency] to appear thoughtless if you don't express your views or opinions. In this film, it felt completely natural for everyone to share their thoughts and make their voices heard.”

She also revealed that the first meeting with the director took seven hours, which was also attended by Sul, who plays her husband. She added that Sul was one of the driving forces behind her being cast for the role, referring to him as her “savior.”

“We didn’t actually read the script. Instead, we discussed things like 'what do you think [the characters] would call each other?' for the entire seven hours,” she said. “But it wasn’t boring at all, and I could really feel how deeply the director considers even the smallest details.”

While the actor showed appreciation for being able to participate in "A Normal Family," she also said she didn't want the film to be overshadowed by her own personal issues, referring to her recent divorce news. Claudia Kim said she “just went with the flow” after announcing that she had ended her five-year marriage with former WeWork Korea General Manager Matthew Shampine, last month.

“For me, this opportunity is making me very happy right now, and I believe it would be the same for the other cast members,” she said. “So, I believe that there’s no need for my personal issue to negatively affect anyone or to dampen their spirits.”

Kicking off her first Korean film, the actor showed her enthusiasm for expanding her acting spectrum, saying, “I'm an ambitious person, so if opportunities come my way, I will take them all.”

She also aims to achieve inspiring accomplishments for women.

“I place great importance on the presence and self-esteem of women, which is something that I want to showcase the most,” Kim said. “Every system has areas where it can improve, and I don’t want to be a quiet, passive female actor. So, if there are aspects I can change or challenge, I want to actively pursue doing so.”


BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]