IN CONVERSATION WITH GIA KIM

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actress Gia Kim is quickly emerging as a global talent to watch. She made her television debut in XO, Kitty, which became a global hit and landed in Netflix’s Top 10 across more than 60 countries, rapidly expanding her worldwide fanbase. Since then, she has continued to build momentum, recently wrapping production on an upcoming K-pop–inspired feature film from Paramount Pictures and HYBE America. With roots in theater, journalism, and international storytelling, Gia brings a distinctive global perspective to her work as she continues to shape her evolving career in film and television.

blazer AFTER HOURS
top ENTIRE STUDIOS
shorts I.AM.GIA
shoes LIFESTRIDE SHOES
tights TARGET
broach PHARAOUN BY SERGIO ANDRES
earrings HILLBERG AND BERK

XO, Kitty became a global hit almost instantly. What was it like seeing the show resonate with audiences around the world?

I am still in awe of this. I can’t believe something that I’m a part of has been viewed by so many people around this globe. Also knowing that a lot of that are young girls or kids in general makes it all the more meaningful that I can be a part of something that could shape their world in some, hopefully positive, way.

Your fan base grew dramatically after the show’s release. How has that sudden visibility changed your day-to-day life?

It hasn’t really changed my day-to-day life, in the sense that I’m not getting chased around by paparazzis or anything to that degree. But of course, sometimes I do get recognized in the streets while I’m out grocery shopping or eating out. It was very uncomfortable at first and I found myself wanting to hide. And even now, I still feel this to a degree. But visibility comes with my work so it’s something I’ve had to force myself to adapt to, being seen for myself, not just as a character on screen. They are two very different things and evoke very different responses, which I don’t think many people realize. I myself didn’t know that until recently. I’m a lot more comfortable being seen as a character than as myself.

Looking back at your debut role, what did the experience teach you about working in television?

It taught me that acting on television involves so much more than acting. There are a million other technical aspects, like you have to start at one spot and stop exactly at this other spot otherwise the light won’t be on your face or I’ll be half out of frame, etc.. There are so many other things to consider while also trying to live truthfully in this imaginary scenario, as if that isn’t hard enough already. Also, there are a million other people wearing different hats that have to all come together to make a world complete. And I love that so much. It is so beautiful. I love seeing credits role at the end of a movie for that reason. 

Growing up between Seoul and Hong Kong, how did those multicultural experiences shape who you are today?

Seoul and Hong Kong shaped me very differently. Yes, they are both metropolitan, notoriously fast-paced Asian cities, so they have that in common. Korea is also known for its intense education system where high school kids have mandatory studying till 10pm and any time outside of school is spent in cram schools. It taught me discipline and tenacity, which I think is engrained in all Koreans for this reason. For that I’m thankful because it made everything else seem much easier. In Hong Kong, I attended international schools so I got to experience Canadian, British, and American education systems, which I felt were more well-rounded and also emphasized extra-curricular activities as well as good grades. Honestly, after attending Korean schools, it felt so much less intense and I could also focus on building myself in clubs like the debate team, yearbook photography, swimming, dance, etc.

Obviously, meeting kids from all over the world is a huge learning and cultural experience in itself. And because I moved back and forth a bit between worlds, I was always the new kid, which was honestly really hard. But it also made me very resilient and adaptive, as well as hopeful because I knew in time I would make friends and adjust to the environment again. I really gained so much from both worlds. 

How has your international upbringing helped you connect with audiences across different cultures?

I think because I’ve grown up being around different people from all over the world, being around “differences” in general became normalized in my life and that informed how I navigate the world. It made me less afraid to put myself in new environments, talk to strangers, and mingle with locals when I travel. And funnily enough, because my character Yuri is a kid who attends an international school in Korea, she’s fluent in both Korean and English like me. And I wouldn’t have been able to portray her fully if it weren’t for my upbringing. I believe it’s the multi-cultural mix of people we see in this world of XO, Kitty and the universal human experiences the characters have that resonate with so many people around the world.

You originally studied journalism and worked in a newsroom. What sparked the shift toward acting?

I’ve always been an artistically inclined person, but pursuing art seriously was never an option as a kid. And when I was financially dependent on my parents, I didn’t feel I had much say. But once I started making my own money, I felt more empowered to be like, “Wait a minute. I do have free will.” I had chosen TV journalism because I loved visual storytelling and film school was too expensive. I still love the essence of journalism because I am curious about the world. But I just needed a more creative outlet, so my desire to be a filmmaker, mixed with my love for performing, brought me here as an actor today. But I’m excited to try on different creative hats going forward, starting this year.

dress KWAME ADUSEI
broach HILLBERG & BERK from Michele Marie PR

You also co-founded the theater group Sunsoo in Korea. What inspired you to create that platform for independent theater?

Desperation really. When I had just quit my job as a journalist to pursue acting full time, I was taking acting classes and met a group of like-minded people starting out a bit later in life. We decided we weren’t going to wait around for someone to give us roles, so we just made a theater company and put up plays with our own money. 

You’ve recently wrapped production on a K-pop–themed feature film. What excites you most about audiences eventually seeing this project?

It’s a feel good movie about a girl pursuing her dreams. I mean, I think that alone is already inspirational to watch. But also, I think a lot of fans who like XO, Kitty are going to like this film too because it’s a heartwarming movie about dreams, friendship, family, and also K-pop. I’m excited to share more about it when I can.

What challenges or new experiences did this film bring compared to working on your previous projects?

Honestly, it wasn’t that different. I thought being on a TV set and film set would be drastically different, but it wasn’t. Everything at the end of the day is more about the people. Meeting new castmates in a different world building was very fun and interesting. I made unexpected friendships with awesome actors and I loved that.

Outside of acting, you enjoy traveling, yoga, and exploring new hobbies. How do these experiences help you recharge creatively?

They keep me sane. They keep my world moving outside of work because let’s face it, unless you’re Tom Cruise constantly pumping out projects, a lot of our lives as actors involve very quiet periods until the next job comes along, which we can’t predict. So while it is easy to just fall into “waiting mode” for the next job, we have to live our lives. I have to make sure I’m living a full life when I’m not an actor on set. So these classes, hobbies, and exploring keep me human and keep my feet on the ground and head on straight outside of this industry.

What kinds of roles or genres are you most excited to explore in the future?

I am excited to explore characters that are very different from me, living very different realities because that’s one of the reasons I became an actor. I am a multi-passionate and would love to be everything and everywhere, all at once. I’d love to play characters like an astronaut in space, a being with supernatural powers, or roles that make me shave my hair off like Charlize Theron in Mad Max or Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta. But obviously aside from these, I’d also love to portray people we see day-to-day, doing more common things like falling in love, having a breakdown, making mistakes, and being flawed.

As your career grows internationally, how do you hope to represent your background and experiences through your work?

I would hope that regardless of the role that I portray, just being the person that I am would be enough to step into most roles and represent everything that I am, even if my story or identity of the character doesn’t necessarily revolve around a certain aspect of me, like “being Asian” or “being a woman.” Hopefully just being myself is enough for someone to see me and also feel seen.

dress MAISON COMMON
cape AWAKE MODE

TEAM CREDITS:

talent GIA KIM
photography NATALIE SOMEKH
styling JAY HINES
makeup SUZIE K
hair MIKA FOWLER at EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS using SILK THE RICH
photography assistant COLIN TRIEDLER
styling assistants AMIAH JOY & SYLVER
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA