Kim Nam Gil recently opened up about his evolving on-screen identity, one that consistently leans toward righteousness, through roles ranging from the hit drama The Fiery Priest to his latest Netflix project, Trigger.
On Tuesday, Kim sat down for an exclusive interview in Seoul’s stylish Samcheong-dong neighborhood to discuss the highly anticipated release of Trigger, written and directed by the creative duo Kwon Oh Seung and Kim Jae Hoon.
Responding to fans and critics who’ve noted his pattern of playing justice-driven characters, Kim Nam Gil was quick to push back on the idea of being typecast. “It’s not about making a big show of justice,” he said. “These roles represent the basic values we all should live by. I’m not always brave, sometimes I want to run and hide, just like anyone else. But as an actor, I feel a duty to speak for those in vulnerable positions. That’s what draws me to these kinds of characters. I think my roles are evolving in that direction naturally.”
Kim Nam Gil also shared his interest in exploring more emotionally raw territory. “Everyone has a cowardly side,” he admitted. “If the right role came along, one that lets me fully expose that vulnerability, I’d absolutely go for it.”
The conversation turned lighthearted when Kim Nam Gil addressed the fact that his character in Trigger, Lee Do, is written as being born in 1988. Laughing, he recalled, “Some fans asked if I cut my hair short to look younger. But really, I wanted to tap into the mindset of a sniper, someone focused, efficient, and unwilling to waste time on anything unnecessary.”
Now 44, Kim Nam Gil joked about playing a character nearly a decade younger. “At first, I thought someone my age could pull it off. If Lee Do has a solid philosophy and has been through some life, it works,” he said. “They might’ve wanted to cast someone younger originally, but maybe it didn’t work out. Who knows, maybe they just couldn’t find anyone else,” he added with a grin.
