Meet Kim Da-mi, star of Netflix’s Our Beloved Summer – the monster rookie won awards for Itaewon Class, loves binge-watching K-dramas … and ideally sleeps 15 hours a day

Dec 30 , 2021

Kim Da-mi stars in Netflix K-drama, Our Beloved Summer. Photo: @andmarq_ent/Instagram

Kim plays a fiercely independent public relations specialist opposite Choi Woo-shik – a departure from her lead role in thriller The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion

The 26-year-old, who dreamt of acting since she was a kid, swept newcomer awards at various Korean film festivals like the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards

Netflix K-drama Our Beloved Summer has delighted audiences since its debut earlier this month thanks to the great chemistry between on screen couple Kook Yeon-soo and Choi Ung, portrayed by Kim Da-mi and Choi Woo-shik.

Kim’s dazzling performance in particular has caught the attention of many fans. By taking on the role of a fiercely independent public relations specialist, the 26-year-old actress has reinforced her “monster rookie” title.

So what do we know about the rising star?

Kim’s childhood dream was to become an actress

Our Beloved Summer actress Kim Da-mi has wanted to become an actress since she was a child. Photo: @d_a__m_i/Instagram

Kim dreamed about becoming an actress since she was a little kid. The young star revealed in an interview with W Korea that she battled her naysayers by focusing on her acting chops instead; she would spend a copious amount of time watching dramas to learn and perfect the craft of acting, according to AllKpop. She would even re-enact scenes by splashing water under her eyes to mimic crying for fun.

Her first lead roles won awards

Kim Da-mi in South Korean thriller film The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion. Photo: Gold Moon Film Production

Growing up, Kim took a step towards following her dream when she enrolled at Incheon National University’s department of performing arts. Though the actress debuted in 2017 with independent film 2017 Project with the Same Name, it was her lead role in thriller The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion in 2018 that made her an overnight star. Kim beat 1,500 auditioners to land the coveted role, according to KoBiz. Her memorable performance in the film as Ja-yoon, a young girl who escapes from a laboratory and turns into a fearless and deadly superhuman, impressed audiences and won her critical acclaim as well.

Kim Da-mi in hit K-drama series Itaewon Class. Photo: JTBC

Her success continued when she starred as Jo Yi-seo, a multitalented restaurant manager with an IQ of 162, in hit K-drama series Itaewon Class in 2020. The “monster rookie” swept up many newcomer awards at various Korean film festivals such as the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards and London Asian Film Festival, among others, according to K Profiles.

She wanted to show a different side to herself in Our Beloved Summer

Kim Da-mi plays Kook Yeon-soo in Our Beloved Summer. Photo: @d_a__m_i/Instagram