Claudia Kim admits the backlash over her casting in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' was "unexpected".
Claudia Kim
The South Korean actress has been cast as Nagini - a cursed woman who is transformed into a snake - in the upcoming movie, but the announcement was criticised by some fans, who felt uneasy about an Asian woman playing the pet of a white man.
She said, according to Allkpop: "It was unexpected. When I found out that I'm playing Nagini, I thought it was meaningful because it's an important character in the 'Harry Potter' series.
"'Harry Potter' is a franchise film with many caucasian actors, so I thought many Korean viewers would be happy."
Claudia, 33, has urged fans of the franchise to wait to watch the film before making their judgement.
She said: "I'm looking forward to viewers being satisfied and the controversy fading away once the film premieres.
"I don't perceive such controversy solely in a negative way. I believe changes can be made by giving attention to an Asian's promotions (like this) and through the people that look into such issues.
"I think Nagini should've been played by an Asian. J.K. Rowling probably searched for an Asian actress because she researched the origin of Nagini. I'm not sure if it's just my pride, but I think I was able to bring out a different vibe as a Korean in Hollywood where there are many Korean Americans.
"The scriptwriter is good at giving a twist to a story. She's able to bring out a new side through an unexpected character.
"Also, this film was directed by director David Yates who has taken charge of the' Harry Potter' series multiple times. He's knowledgeable about the original series as much as the writer so I followed him with trust."