Actress Kim Da Mi recently shared insights about her character Yoon Ena in the popular Disney+ original series 'Nine Puzzles.'
On June 5, Kim Da Mi met with media outlet Xports News at a café in Jongno, Seoul, to discuss the show.
'Nine Puzzles' is a mystery thriller that follows Ena (played by Kim Da Mi), a genius profiler and the sole witness to a 10-year-old unsolved murder case. She becomes entangled in a new string of serial killings, reawakening suspicions from Detective Han Saem (played by Son Suk Ku), who still considers her a suspect. Together, they unravel the secrets behind these puzzling crimes.
Ena is portrayed as the first eyewitness in her uncle's murder case, possessing extraordinary profiling skills and a distinctive tone and atmosphere that feel almost surreal or otherworldly.
Speaking about her character, Kim Da Mi said, “Ena is someone who speaks quickly because thoughts pop into her head instantly. I wanted to give her a rhythmic, almost cartoonish, and fairytale-like quality. Since she has a lot of explanatory lines, I used many hand gestures. I focused on capturing these elements during filming, her anxious demeanor, fast breathing, and how she often doesn’t listen to others.”
Some viewers interpreted Ena’s calm and emotionless expression, even in the face of death, as sociopathic. Kim Da Mi responded, “I think Ena is someone with an exceptional talent in a specific area. She's imaginative and has intense focus when profiling. She cares for her team and seeks love, so I don’t think she lacks social skills entirely, though I would say she’s not very socially adept. She’s a genius with highly developed abilities in one area, and she becomes anxious if that area isn’t working properly. But I never saw her as a sociopath.”
Ena’s unusual speech and expression, not typical of professional profilers, drew mixed reactions from audiences.
Kim Da Mi admitted. “I anticipated that some people might feel divided. It can be jarring when a character with such a high tone leads the story. Since she’s the focal point of the narrative, it might feel disconnected at times.”
Still, she added, “But I actually saw that as a defining trait. That contrast might be what makes 'Nine Puzzles' unique. I think the character’s quirks add a different dimension to the drama.”
Kim Da Mi continued, “I was worried that since Ina doesn’t express her emotions in a typical way, viewers might struggle to relate to her. At first, I thought that might be okay, but the director emphasized that viewers should be able to empathize with her. That’s why we added more emotional vulnerability in the scene where she confides in Seungjoo.”
The actress said, “Normally, I don’t speak in such a high tone. But since it’s still me playing the role, aspects of my personality naturally came through. I definitely acted in a much higher tone than usual, and that’s a side of me viewers will only see in 'Nine Puzzles'.”
'Nine Puzzles' is currently streaming on Disney+.
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