In Disney+’s series Nine Puzzles, Kim Da-mi transforms into Yoon E-na, a character unlike any typical female lead in Korean crime dramas. Witnessing her uncle’s murder as a teenager, Yoon grows up to become a profiler chasing down a string of mysterious killings. Eschewing the typical gritty detective archetype, E-na follows her intuitive stream-of-consciousness style—often quirky, but consistently insightful.

In a recent interview in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong, Kim Da-mi opened up about portraying Yoon E-na, revealing her thoughtful approach to crafting a character who is both cartoonish and emotionally grounded.

“Because E-na is such a stylized character, I paid attention to the rhythm and speed of her lines. She’s childlike, sometimes forgetful, and only expresses her own emotions so I portrayed her as someone unfamiliar with empathy but brilliant in profiling,” Kim explained.

Yoon E-na’s striking visual identity complete with bright red ties, bold accessories, and colorful nail art was no accident. “Director Yoon Jong-bin wanted the tone of the series to sit somewhere between comic and real,” Kim said. “I added items like star-shaped earrings and glasses for profiling scenes to express E-na’s playful yet analytical mind.”

Kim chose Nine Puzzles after reading the script in a single sitting.“There were no confirmed cast members yet. It was just the script, and I couldn’t stop reading,” she shared. Having previously explored grounded yet expressive female roles in Itaewon Class and Soulmate, Kim found the genre-blending crime thriller a new and enticing challenge.

Working with veteran actors like Son Suk-ku, Lee Sung-min, and Hwang Jung-min could be daunting, but Kim described the experience as enriching rather than intimidating. “They made me feel safe to try anything in a scene. Especially with Son Suk-ku, I trusted that whatever I did, he’d respond truthfully,” Kim said.

She also emphasized the non-romantic dynamic between E-na and Han Saem (played by Son Suk-ku), which she felt strengthened the narrative’s focus on psychology and mystery. Despite the surreal tone of Nine Puzzles, Kim rooted her performance in emotional truth. “I always try to make the character feel like a real person,” she said. “That’s what I want viewers to see—not me, but someone who might exist in real life.”

With every role she chooses, Kim Da-mi continues to build a reputation as an actress who vanishes into her characters, offering performances that resonate deeply without ever feeling artificial.

“There’s no secret to my consistency,” she concluded. “I just choose roles I’m curious about. Even if something doesn’t succeed commercially, I don’t want to have regrets.”Through Nine Puzzles, Kim Da-mi once again proves that sincerity, paired with sharp instinct and emotional intelligence, is the true hallmark of a compelling actor.