Meet AUDREY KANG

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AUDREY KANG a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

AUDREY, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Depression, rage, hopelessness, and God.

That’s how I found the purpose of life. I finished my International British education in Malaysia and moved back to Seoul, South Korea. Everything was completely different and chaotic. I wasn’t able to adapt to the cultures or school systems properly. I was going through changes, and some thoughts were harmful. Meanwhile, I still had hope for God, so I prayed. “Dear God, if you are there, please tell me what to do. Give me the purpose of life. My life is meaningless until then.” And suddenly, an epiphany happened. Do you believe that? It was when I was watching this nun who was getting a ceremony in the Catholic Chapel. She was so beautiful, cutting her hair and wearing a veil. “Be an actress like her.” That was the sentence. Who was she? I Googled it. It was Audrey Hepburn from *The Nun’s Story*.

I tried acting because that’s what I’ve been told. I still remember the first time I ever tried after receiving that message. I was on the stage reading lines and felt catharsis. After all this time, I felt alive. “Yes, I am alive!”

Well, this has been my motivation and purpose in life. Audrey Hepburn and her acting gave me the courage to keep living life with hope. I cried and laughed. There is a strong connection I cannot explain by just watching her. Acting and films do it. I’ve been wanting to be of service to others through my acting.

I’ve played many roles in theaters, off-Broadways, commercials, short films, and many more, but recently, I found myself discovered worldwide in RM’s (leader of BTS) second solo album title song, “Lost!” music video. I played RM’s confident persona. After that release, lots of people, as well as beloved ARMYs, encouraged and supported me genuinely, for which I am truly grateful.

“Oh, finally, after all these years, my acting carried positive messages to many people (or consciousness).”

By following my heart, I’ve been living the life I would not regret. And that was the point. We live once with what we were born with, right? Also, when you do this, life presents you with more amazing experiences than you can imagine. And that’s the beauty of life.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an international actress who has lived in Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Michigan, New York, and London. I also have filming experience in Sydney and Romania.

I have been studying acting since 2010 and graduated from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York in 2017. I believe that having a strong foundation is important, so studying acting in New York was one of the highlights of my life.

I have tried acting in various mediums such as theaters, off-Broadway productions, musicals, commercials, featured films, short films, and music videos.

Working with global talents has been wonderful. I always find joy in experiencing raw connections through acting. There are moments when I feel the reality of the scene is more vivid than daily life. Controlling the action while also letting it go and fully focusing on the present helps me to embody myself to grow into a better human being.

As I mentioned before, RM’s “Lost” video was recently published, so please go and watch it! I have also recently shot a featured film to make a debut in Hollywood officially, so please continue to follow my journey toward fulfilling my dreams!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are courage, patience, and kindness. While having skills and knowledge in various areas is valuable, the essence of your personality is crucial. It’s essential to remember that as social beings, we thrive through collaboration with others!

Firstly, courage is needed to tread a path that may lead to failure. Taking action is vital, but before that, ask yourself, “Am I being courageous enough to be honest with myself and follow my heart?” You have to admit and accept who you are, including your flaws and desires.

Secondly, how much can you endure before your dreams materialize? Will success come swiftly? Perhaps, if luck favors you greatly. However, even then, instant gratification is rare. Success often emerges after enduring countless rejections and failures with patience.

Lastly, kindness holds immense power. Throughout my journey, I’ve encountered many individuals, and often, those at the pinnacle of success are the kindest. True beauty emanates from within and serves as the key to fostering collaborative relationships. Surrounding yourself with kind-hearted individuals cultivates comfort and fosters a supportive environment. Can you be that person?

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m eager to collaborate with like-minded and authentic individuals and be a part of featured projects. Genre isn’t a limiting factor for me; I’m open to any compelling scripts, talented actors, visionary directors, and passionate producers. At this stage, I prefer roles that allow me to portray who I am rather than becoming someone else. Please feel free to contact me via email to discuss potential collaborations.

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