[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yoon] Young Isara from "The Glory," top star Eun Morae from "Diva," Dohwa from "Alchemy of Souls." That actress was this actress. The face is familiar, but the name is still unfamiliar. She is actress Bae Kang-hee. She went through auditions for each project to land her roles. Each time she met new characters, clashed on set, and grew step by step. And now she meets audiences through her debut film "Final Interview." She no longer remains an unfamiliar face. She takes the screen under her own name. Dispatch recently met Bae Kang-hee at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. We heard about the passion she poured into her first film and her next face as an actress. **◆ That actress, Bae Kang-hee** Bae Kang-hee became an actress on a slightly different path. After majoring in design in college, she worked as a model for three years. Later, she took a break from work for two years. She said, "I can't describe it exactly, but it seems I felt a thirst that wasn't being filled," and "At that time, I spent time like a comma in my life." Films she happened to encounter during that period captured her. She recalled, "I found comfort watching films that valued human worth and threw a lot to think about. The one that stands out most in my memory is director Lee Chang-dong's 'Poetry.' I received great solace from that film." The solace that film offered led her to the path of acting. tvN's "Alchemy of Souls" (2022), Netflix's "Somebody," "The Glory," tvN's "Diva" (2023), Netflix's "Praying Mantis" (2025). She appeared in major projects. She said, "Because I didn't predict box office success for each project and went to auditions, the results are even more surprising," and "Those experiences became opportunities for me to want more as an actress. I hope to approach the public more familiarly going forward." **◆ Audition, audition, audition** All the roles she has taken so far were won through auditions. She was never simply given a position. She confessed, "I failed many times. I always approached with a desperate heart to show as much as I had prepared." The roles she obtained that way were mostly cold and aloof characters. As works accumulated, so did the image of a "cold beauty." But she didn't stay with just one face. In tvN's short film anthology series "Opening 2023 - Shoot Me," she played a shooting athlete, portraying an anxious and desperate youth. She showed an inner wavering, different from her aloof image. She recalled, "Even amid desperation and uncertainty, don't we always have a sense of direction? Because I understand that kind of heart well, I acted with a feeling of wanting to support." Bae Kang-hee believes her image opens the next opportunity. At the same time, she didn't hide her desire to show new sides. "It seems I was able to be chosen for various projects thanks to that kind of image. But I have playfulness and bright energy inherent within me. Now I want to show those sides too." **◆ First screen** "Final Interview" depicts a story of six applicants gathered in a final interview hall who find mysterious envelopes containing each other's confessions, leading them to suspect one another and fall into confusion. For Bae Kang-hee, it is her debut film. She said, "It feels so unfamiliar and nerve-wracking to see my face on the big screen. I'm curious how our sincerity will be conveyed to audiences." In the film, Bae Kang-hee played the role of 'Cha Ju-won.' Ju-won is a character who doesn't hesitate to make direct "truth bombs." With sharp intuition, she senses the subtle currents flowing between applicants first. As successive confessions begin amid a situation where only one person can pass, she calmly grasps the situation and makes firm choices. She also won this role through audition. She said, "I had many scenes of conflict with actor Shin Seung-ho (who plays Baek Seung-bin), so I went for the audition focusing mainly on scenes where I push emotionally," and "The director said I didn't seem like I would be overwhelmed by that momentum." **◆ Owner of Cha Ju-won** Director Kim Jung-hoon entrusted Cha Ju-won to her. Rather than giving large directions, he respected her interpretation. Bae Kang-hee also discovered aspects of herself in Ju-won. "Ju-won had many similarities with me. And since I didn't major in acting, I was told my performance has a raw quality. It seems the director looked favorably upon my instinctive acting." She worked with Jo I-hyun, Kim Jae-won (playing Han Jin-u), Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, and Kwak Dong-yeon (playing Jeon Yo-han). Most were peers, but in terms of acting experience, they were seniors far ahead of Bae Kang-hee. Bae Kang-hee filled her place firmly among them. The highlight of the film is a confrontation scene in the interview room that lasts over 30 minutes. Six people clash sharply and engage in a battle of words. When acting opposite Shin Seung-ho, matching the temperature was key. "Senior Shin Seung-ho's energy was tremendous. I tried to follow that temperature while looking into his eyes. As I matched the decibels and shouted along with him, my throat even swelled." Despite the tension-filled shooting, the chemistry with colleagues was perfect. "During breaks, we drew portraits for each other and joked around. Jo I-hyun, who is younger than me, took good care of me, so I relied on her a lot," she hinted, "I was in charge of dad jokes." **◆ Next interview** The next stage that Bae Kang-hee envisions is the depth of acting. Having experienced various characters, now she wants to express emotions that are hard to describe in words with finesse. "As we live, there are emotions we can't express in words. I hope those are conveyed convincingly. I also like it when various interpretations come from watching my acting. I want to become an actress who handles ambiguous emotions delicately and well." Her life has changed since she began acting. "I'm feeling emotions I didn't know before acting. My life feels full of twilight," she said, adding "I didn't know I was someone who could feel this much vitality." Bae Kang-hee remembers the moment she found solace in film. Now she wants to return that comfort through her acting. "I received a lot of solace watching films. I was able to step back out the door. Just as I did, I want to give comfort to others through my acting. I think many people still find me unfamiliar. I hope many of you will be curious about me through 'Final Interview.'"