Daniel Dae Kim on starring in Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender, landing his first lead role on TV as an FBI agent and fighting anti-Asian hate – interview
- The Asian-American actor landed his first lead role in TV series and September 11 drama The Hot Zone: Anthrax – a goal he’s harboured for 30 years
- Kim notes K-pop, Squid Game and Marvel’s Eternals director Chloé Zhao have all positively influenced sentiment toward Asian actors in Hollywood
How does he manage to juggle it all?
“It can be challenging,” acknowledged Kim. “I’ve put my fair share of frequent flyer miles on this body and I have the bags under my eyes to prove it! But it’s rewarding, ultimately.”
But Kim said he “can’t complain” about his success because he knows how privileged he is to get a variety of quality roles.
“I’m lucky to be able to do these things; these are good projects that I’m associated with. And the fact that people want me to be a part of them, I am just grateful for it. All we can ask for as actors is the luxury to choose good projects to be in, because for so long in my career, I would take whatever I could do – that wasn’t offensive to me, because I had a family to feed.”
A groundbreaking moment
Kim’s latest achievement, starring in National Geographic’s new series, The Hot Zone: Anthrax, is a milestone moment for the veteran actor – this is his first leading role after working for 31 years in television.
“This has meant a lot to me, because it was a goal of mine. I fully understand that there are some actors for whom it is not a goal. And they say, ‘I’m just happy doing this kind of character, a part or working here and there.’ But from the time I started 30 years ago, it was my goal to be a leading man. And the fact that I was able to achieve that goal is really satisfying.”
Kim fully realises his privilege. “There’s nothing written in stone that says ‘if you work 30 years, you’re going to be the No 1 on the call sheet.’ Nothing is guaranteed like that. And I know a lot of actors who work for much longer with the same goal who have not been able to do it. And so I don’t take it for granted for a second. And I’m grateful for the opportunity.”