Actress Kim Jung-nan Opens Up About Overcoming Slump Before 'SKY Castle'

Actress Kim Jung-nan, who is 53 this year, revealed that she experienced a slump before filming the hit drama 'SKY Castle'.

On November 2, a video titled 'Kim Jung-nan's Drama Behind-the-Scenes Stories Revealed for the First Time' was uploaded to Kim Jung-nan's YouTube channel. In the video, she reminisced about her acting career, recalling her notable works such as 'SKY Castle', 'Crash Landing on You', and 'Queen of Tears'.

Kim Jung-nan spoke about the period when she faced a slump, saying, "I was stuck in a rut, receiving similar roles repeatedly." She added, "Before 'SKY Castle', I mostly played comedic and light characters. I wanted to take on darker roles, but none came my way, so I boldly took a year off."

Kim Jung-nan expressed her excitement upon reading the script for 'SKY Castle', stating, "As soon as I read it, plans started forming in my mind. It was the character I had been waiting for, and even though it was a brief role, I really wanted to do it."

She also shared the pressures she faced as an actress. Kim Jung-nan admitted, "There were many times I cried because I wasn't satisfied with my acting, and there were moments I cringed at how I looked on screen." She continued, "I still get nervous during the first script reading. On set, things are somewhat established, but during readings, it's nerve-wracking to showcase my tone in front of all the actors."

When the production team mentioned that she has been acting for 35 years, Kim Jung-nan remarked, "It feels like a miracle. There were times I thought about quitting." She added, "It's so hard that I sometimes don't want to go out, but once I'm on set, it's fun. When I'm acting, I forget everything. Even when I'm exhausted and wondering how I'll get through filming, it all disappears in front of the camera."

Reported by Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr