How XO, Kitty's Gia Kim Relates to Her Character Yuri

Okay, good one. Okay. Yeah. You might give me a this, okay. Um, it's something that you hold, so you don't tell anyone if it's this is something you don't tell people.

A secret.

Yes. Oh. Yeah. I was like, is there more to it? Okay. Yeah. So obviously you had a big secret.

Yes. Yes.

Well, your mom did too. Holding like kicking Juliana out. Right. Um, so shady. But besides that, so with X O Kitty, when do you like the way that the storylines all unfolded? Um, Would you write anything differently if as like a fan versus someone who's in the show?

Oh, I don't, I don't know. I don't know if I would write anything differently, because I think the way the writers wrote it, even as we were getting the scripts like one by one by one and we were reading it, it was so addictive. Like we wanted to know, oh my God, what happened in the next episode, because they always leave with cliffhangers, you know. And so many things happen in season one, as you know. So many twists and turns just in 10 episodes and I feel like that was kind of an homage to Korean, some of the Korean drama types where a lot of ridiculous things happen at the same time, it's called in Korean. Um, and I think a lot of directors and writers kind of lean towards like what is the K drama style? And so, I think it was just, it just everything kind of, they knew the formula. I think. They knew what to do.

Yeah. And so many comments in the trailer before the show was even out was like emphasis on that. Like the K drama aspect and everything. So, it was really good. Right. Yeah. What do you think was Yuri's most iconic outfit? You got everyone's designer on X O Kitty. Like you look good.

Uh, I think the party dress with the the Lady Gaga esque like luminous, I don't even like a foil type of dress, it was just perfect for the party scene, because it was just bouncing off all the lights. It was, it was fun. It was fun to wear. Yeah.

Okay. Ready for the next one?

Yes. Oh, wait. No, I shouldn't see this. Hold on.

Okay, yeah. Okay. Okay, you might get this pretty fast because it's really easy. Okay. Okay, so it is, it's music it is related to music.

K-Pop?

Yep. That was, that was, that was fast. That was a really fast one. Okay. So, you have the scene with Kitty though, it was one of her dreams. But you guys like she's about to kiss you. What was the scene filming that like?

Oh, well, I think by then I had already done my scene with Juliana, that was really intimate. And so it was less nerve wracking for me, although it was my first time kissing on screen with a partner in the show. Um. Ever. Would Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. So, I was nervous, but then we also had a great intimacy coach which, you know, she really helped us relax and ease into it before we started shooting. So, that really helped us a lot and Anna and I were so close by then and comfortable with each other that we didn't really think much of it and I knew that the anticipation is worse than the actual day of. Yeah. So, I think by then we were pretty comfortable with it.

And it's crazy though, because obviously, like on the carpet, we asked everybody if they're team Min Ho or Dae. But every all a lot of our comments are no, no, no, like we're team Yuri. Like so many people picked up on that one too, which of course like it makes sense, because I only got through so many screeners, but now like it makes sense people were team Yuri. It's so funny how like there's like literally three teams. Like people are all different types of people, but everybody loved that scene, like the breakup scene. What what team are you on?

Oh my gosh. I am team Min Ho, I think. Just because, okay, the love thing was a lot. Like he just he had done all that, like he needed to chill. Well, like that's like me in real life. I'll be like, oh my God, I'm literally in love with him. So like I'm like the same. Like him and I are the same person. But I am team him. But like I also, I would not be ever team Dae. Well, not ever. But like I would be team Yuri next.

Okay, okay, okay, yeah. I think me too, personally, just because that trope of enemies to lovers is so, you know, you gotta show love that. Yeah. And like she did her facial expressions so good on the plane that it's like, oh she might actually be like, wait a second, like and give him a chance. We don't know. That's why we need season two.

Yeah, exactly.

Okay. Ready? Is it my turn?

Yes.

Okay. Let's grab a random one. Oh. This is what Kitty calls Dae when she finds out he had another girlfriend while she thought that they were in a relationship together. Oh, cheater. Yes. Okay. Yes, yes, yes, yes. The cupcake scene. The big, the big cupcake scene. Yeah. Okay, how did it feel though for you to play that going back to school? Um, were you nervous to take that on?

It, I was, I was, because I think I was obviously, the prep phase was really stressful, not only because it was my first big TV role, but also, you know, it was hard for me to it was just a lot for me to, um, kinda merge with the character and not try to play it off as just a Queen Bee, you know. Yeah. And going back to high school, it's been a minute since I graduated from high school personally. So, it took me, I guess it took me back to like how what kind of person was I when I was in high school, you know, and how am I different from Yuri and how do I bridge that difference? And it was interesting. Also, because I feel like I've always been told that I'm mature for my age. Right. And then to like step into that joyous, kid like, you know, oh love kind of 16-year-old, that was kind of hard, you know. And then my mom character was actually the one that gave me a bit of advice on that. She was like, you know, instead of trying to, you know, play a 17 or 16-year-old, just kinda think back to what kind of songs you listened to when you were 16 and 17 and in love, you know. And then that's when I was like, oh okay. So, I started listening to oldies, like what I listened to in high school and like think about my high school crushes and all of that, you know, to get into it. So, that was interesting.

Oh my gosh. You bet. It's funny because like high school love is so different than real life love. Like you're saying. So, it's like that was smart advice. Because it's like you have to go back to the crush phase and like you're nervous and like jittery and like it's not all hookups. Like it's just kissing, you know what I mean.

Yeah, exactly. The innocent love.

Do you find that you're alike with Yuri in any way?

The scene with my mom was definitely something that I was, it was, first of all, Yuri's big moment. Right? Like this is me, this is who I am. Either love me and accept me or I'm gonna walk away. You know, obviously she's like, please like accept me and love me. But, you know, the struggles of trying to be who I am, also figuring out who I am, but also trying to fight against external expectations from parents, society, whatever it is. I think that part I really related to. Yeah.

Yeah. A lot of people did too. Like that are watching that aren't actually Yuri.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like a lot of people are relating to the character in different ways.

Yeah, I love that. Yeah. Okay. Ready?

Okay. All right.

Oh, this one could be good. Okay. So, I'm gonna, I could give it away in two seconds. Okay. So, you had a lot of scenes with him in the detention scene, which was all of them. Professor Lee? No. No. He's a different one, he was in there. I'm not gonna give it away. Min Ho? He's from France or Greece?

Oh, Tae-il. Well, um, Florence. Yeah.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Floren, not Florian. Florent. Florent. Who were you closest to on set?

You mean like personally?

Yeah. Other than my brother?

Other than my brother. We're not excluding him. Okay. Um, I don't know. I was close to everyone. Um, but I think in terms of one-on-one hangouts, I probably spent the most time with Jocelyn. Yeah. Yeah, just in terms of like other outside of group hangouts. Jocelyn, I think, um, right before she left back because she left a little bit earlier than the rest of us.

Gotcha.

So, I remember just taking her to Hangong, which is the Han River and it's a tradition if you go there, you either have cup noodles or order chicken and eat it by the river. So, I wanted her to have that experience before she goes, so.

Yeah, you have to. I mean, you're in Korea, like.

Yeah, exactly.

And filming like a Netflix show, like that's insane. What was your favorite scene to film?

I think the one with my mom. And as hard as it was and I think the most nerve wracking it was for me, I think after it was done, I was like, oh my God, like it's done, you know, it was my big scene. So, that was I think my favorite moment, especially just because it's the favorite moment for Yuri, so I think that's why. Yeah.

It's a big one. Yeah. Okay. We'll do one more. Okay. Hopefully I'm able to get it good. He is the father of Kitty. Wait, say him. I don't know what you're saying. I don't. He's white. Yeah.

I mean. I know the dad. Yeah. I think he just the last name. It's like what's Kitty's last name? Kitty Song. No, I'm not gonna get it. Mr. Kim. Okay. That was a hard one. Because I know him. I can picture him. I can describe him to you. Yeah. His name is not very often said in the show, so that was fair. Okay. Okay, but there's a lot of obviously, like you had said in a different interview that you had wished that you had the show growing up. How important is it for you and what kind of comments have you been seeing about the show, um, and how much it's like helping people honestly, like relate to it and stuff?

Well, first of all, it makes me really happy when fans say things like, they love the show and they love Yuri and I had a few people specifically say that they are so thankful to see a character like Yuri, because they're going through something similar in terms of finding out who they are or specifically in terms of their sexuality and it is still, at least when I was growing up, and even now, we still live in a pretty heteronormative society. So, a lot of storylines are more hetero love than, you know, other otherwise. But growing up, I didn't see anything like that. So, in my mind, I think, you know, the more you're exposed to something, the more normalized it becomes, right? So, that's why I wish that we had more diverse forms of love shown on screen. And especially, because I grew up mostly in Asia and especially in Korean content, it's kind of still rare to see, um, queer story love line be the center, main storyline and not like a side thing or like, you know, um, it's still rare to see. So, I I was really happy that this show is kind of like a collaboration between K-dramas and American TV and it just kind of came together and showcasing all these different forms of love, I think is something that everyone should see more of.

Yeah. It's definitely like it tackles everything honestly. Like it's it's a great show and you don't see it anywhere else. Like it's a really good show. Did you did you meet Jenny? Was she there with you guys?

Yeah. Yeah. She was there in Korea.

Yeah. All her social media is popping off too. Like anything she posts with you guys, it's like a million likes. They love that.

Yeah. Yeah. I know. It's crazy. She's a genius though.

But besides X O Kitty, I know you've just talked about it for like 15 minutes. But what do you love to do? Um, like hobbies?

Yeah. Uh, I love yoga and I'm sad I haven't been able to go in the past week or so, because I've just been running around. Um, that's just something that I need for my mental and spiritual health. Of course. Like, I need it. Like every time I'm there, I'm like, oh my God, I'm finally breathing. I'm okay.

Yeah. Exactly. Everything's fine.

Exactly. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm okay. Um, um, also this love listening to music. I like driving around, listening to music. I think it's very healing. Right?

Yeah. Like the best thing in the world.

Yeah. Like singing in the car and no one can hear you and I mean, I don't know if you've seen, but like my brother and I when we're in the car together.

Oh, I saw the collab post. I saw the collab post. I did see that.

Yeah. So, we do that a lot. We have a lot of fun in the car together. It's just like I'm driving, so I can't go, you know, too crazy. But like it's fun when he's around and we do that together. And, you know, we love watching movies together too. So, right now he's crashing at my place. So, um, we're spending a lot of time together. A lot of time together. Yeah. So, yeah. But we love watching movies together too. So.

And you said that you got recognized like three days out from when the show dropped.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. In the most, in the places that I usually just go to, you know. Um, so that was unexpected.

Yeah. Is there any place that you are expecting to get caught soon? Like I know that's like a weird question, but like you've mentioned Starbucks, like yoga, you got recognized. So, like maybe a place you'd avoid now?

Oh, I don't know. I because other than that, I'm I haven't been out in public that much.

You guys are just in the house.

And neither has my brother. Yeah. We're we're pretty, you know, we're homebodies. Um, but I don't know. I I don't think I should avoid any places. Like I still don't assume people are gonna recognize me if I'm at Trader Joe's or something, you know. Like I assume I'm not gonna get recognized, but I don't know who knows. It's crazy though. That's like, oh my gosh, just wild.

In Times Square? Were you in Times Square when the the billboard?

No. No. Anthony and Anna went like on a whim just to go see the billboard and I couldn't, but I I'm I don't know. I might. I don't know how long it's up there for, but.

Might need a quick trip to New York real quick.

Yeah, I would love that.

Yeah. But you're amazing the show. The show is also amazing and thank you so much for playing Heads Up. Even though you killed it. You literally the perfect game. You did too. We got everything right.

Thank you. Thank you. Because we just love X O Kitty so much.

Thank you. Thank you so much for watching us play the game. I hope you enjoyed it and remember to subscribe to Young Hollywood YouTube channel and go watch X O Kitty if you haven't.