Daniel Dae Kim Talks About His Role as a Spy and Representation in Hollywood

Daniel Dae Kim, best known for his role on ‘Lost,’ stars in the new thriller ‘Butterfly’ on Amazon Prime Video, where he portrays David, a former spy who fakes his own death to protect his daughter. Now, almost a decade later, his daughter has become an assassin, and David reappears to save her. The series explores themes of family dynamics, trauma, and the lengths a parent will go to for their child. Kim, who also executive produced the show, reflected on the emotional depth of the father-daughter relationship. He shared personal insights from his own life, such as his experiences performing his own stunts and how important it is for actors to stay grounded in their roles. Kim also touched on the evolution of Asian representation in Hollywood, acknowledging progress but emphasizing that there’s still more work to do. Despite a successful career, he hasn’t been cast as a romantic lead in over 30 years, a role he has long aspired to. He hopes for more diverse roles that go beyond stereotypes and reflect the full spectrum of human experiences. Kim also spoke about the impact of his work on his children and how representation extends beyond the screen into real-life perceptions.