Korean actress Claudia Kim, who starred in the blockbuster "Avengers" sequel, said she was pleased that her supporting role in the film was not the "stereotypical Asian character."

Kim plays a gifted scientist named Dr. Helen Cho, who aids the superheroes with her expert knowledge and technological devices in the film.

A reporter from Yonhap News Agency pointed out that she does not play the stereotypical caricature of an Asian warrior, or a seductive figure, in the American action film.

(Yonhap)

"I like that I'm not a stereotypical Asian character in the film," said Kim in the interview. "The director Joss Whedon said he saw both strength and fragility in my appearance. He also thought my English proficiency was a merit."

Kim said that it was actually more of a pressure to speak Korean in the film, such as in one fleeting scene in which she addresses her Korean coworkers.

"The script just said 'instructs her colleagues in Korean.' Even when I was acting in Korean, the crew didn't know what I was saying so that was more burdensome to act," said Kim.

Kim, who goes by the name Soohyun in Korea, lived in the U.S. for six years from the age of five, before returning to Korea, where she majored in a field related to International Studies.

The 30-year-old actress said she initially thought of becoming a journalist, having interned at an English media company during college.

Once she decided on a career path as an actress, she soon decided that she wanted to audition for a Hollywood film, though she said she wasn’t expecting success so soon.

(Yonhap)

"When I took part in the audition (for the 'Avengers' sequel), I saw and felt that they see people completely differently (in the U.S.)," said Kim. "Age, height, background -- those kind of things are not considered as part of your professional qualifications."

Kim said that the limits for Koreans starring in Hollywood movies are gradually disappearing, likening it to prejudices against actors from ethnic minority backgrounds. Kim, who has only starred in supporting roles in Korea, said she was proud to have achieved success abroad before becoming well-recognized in Korea.

"I thought the rule was that I had to succeed as a top star in Korea or achieve recognition for an introspective performance before entering Hollywood or on the world stage," said Kim. "I hope that I can continue to break this rule in the future."

Kim also took part in filming for the first season of historical TV drama "Marco Polo," alongside filming for the "Avengers" sequel.

"It was difficult but also enjoyable to keep going back and forth from the past to the future," said Kim of the different acting projects she was simultaneously engaged in.

(Yonhap)

Kim is currently filming the second season of "Marco Polo," in which she plays a warrior princess.

While Kim feels "energized" by her acting projects abroad and the widening vision it is offering her, she says she remains ambitious to star in Korean films as well.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" became the most successful foreign film debut in Korean film history Sunday, selling over 3 million tickets within four days of its release on Thursday.

By Yoon Sarah (sarah356@heraldcorp.com)

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