She’s a K-drama legend, but Kim Sun Young is tired of playing the same role over and over.

If you’ve watched a K-drama in the last decade, you’ve seen Kim Sun Young. She’s the warm but sharp tongued mother, the nosy neighbor, or the market vendor who steals every scene she’s in. And she’s brilliant at it. But here’s the problem. She’s brilliant at other things too. And nobody’s letting her prove it.

In a recent candid interview, the actress opened up about the quiet frustration of being pigeonholed. After breakout roles in hits like When the Camellia Blooms and Reply 1988, Kim became the go to name for “relatable middle aged woman.” But she’s hungry for more. Not necessarily more screen time, she clarifies. More depth. More dimension. The chance to play a villain, a criminal, a woman unraveling. Anything that isn’t a variation of the same archetype she’s been handed for years.

There’s something heartbreaking about hearing an actor this talented admit she rewinds her own scenes just to watch herself for a few extra seconds because her parts are so brief. Or that she once spent 24 hours a day obsessing over her craft, only to be met with offers that don’t challenge her. It speaks to a larger issue in entertainment. Women, especially as they age, are often funneled into roles that serve someone else’s story rather than their own. Even when they have the skill and passion to carry something bigger.

What’s ironic is how beloved Kim Sun Young is in these supporting parts. Fans adore her precisely because she brings so much humanity to even the smallest moments. In Crash Course in Romance, her snippy banter with Jung Kyung Ho was a highlight. In Reply 1988, she made a gossipy mother feel like someone you’d actually know. But that success has become a trap. The industry sees her as safe. Predictable. And predictability is the enemy of artistic growth.

This isn’t just about one actress. It’s about how the entertainment machine works. Typecasting isn’t new, but in an era where K-dramas are more global than ever, you’d think there’d be room for risks. Instead, the same faces get recycled into the same types of stories. Young leads get romance. Older women get to nag or nurture. And if you dare to want more? Well, good luck.

Kim’s vulnerability in this interview is a rare glimpse behind the curtain. Actors aren’t supposed to admit they’re frustrated. They’re supposed to be grateful for any work. But talent like hers deserves better than gratitude. It deserves a chance to surprise us. Here’s hoping someone in a casting room was listening.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any entertainment entity.