Another wannabe actor turns wannabe Hollywood debut-er

Meh.

The “female Rain” pop dance-singer Sohn Dambi is making her Hollywood acting debut.

One thing she’s got going for her is that her debut comes in a dance-themed movie, Hype Nation, and even if her vocals are mediocre, she’s a decent (though overhyped) dancer (see MV below). The flick is backed by Universal and, according to the article, was in search of a female lead “with East Asian appeal.” Hence Sohn Dambi taking the role.

She’ll star alongside hip-hoppers B2K, who face off in the movie against top Korean b-boy group Gambler. Because she’ll speak entirely in English, she plans to start studying with an English tutor.

Apparently she also hopes of breaking through to the U.S. music scene, but is starting with film. (I say: A pan-Asian superstar like Boa has the odds stacked against her, so it’ll only be that much harder for a B-list singer like Sohn Dambi to break through…) Also, she’s pretty, but she’s never acted before, and the fact that she was cast despite non-fluency in English plus an absence of demonstrated acting ability doesn’t make me approach this movie with high hopes.

Check out her “Cry Eye” video (which makes me laugh, for all the wrong reasons):

Via My Daily


Tags: , , ,

28 Comments

  1. This girl just rubs me the wrong way. I know we’re supposed to see her talent and her personality, everything behind the facade. But all I see is just a bimbo, or worse, a slut.

  2. I’m kinda with Deeta. The light blue outfit above is going to give her some bad rep if she thinks she wants to be taken seriously and her singing voice is kinda bleh.
    But she seems to be a nice down to earth girl from what I saw in “We go Married”.

  3. i only liked her song “bad boy”. But I’m hesitant to celebrate Son Dambi’s US debut in the entertainment industry. Here’s the rough summary of the movie on imdb:

    Set against the bright neon lit streets of Seoul South Korea, the Mach 1 B-Boy battle of the year. Ryan and Kevin (b2k) and their crew from Los Angeles are hired by the U.S. Interpool to be matched up against the notorious Gambler Crew from South Korea, known to the b-boy world as the best of the best. Their mission is to gather information about Tony Kai (Cary Tagawa) an “ex yakuza” member who controls the Asian underworld in the United States. Tony Kai is in South Korea planning a worldwide monopoly on drugs, sex, and gambling. Ryan and Kevin struggle as they go deeper into the Asian underworld. Ryan falls for a beautiful Korean girl named Esther who happens to be the sister of “Kicker” the leader of the mafia ran Gamblers crew. Their love is put to the test as the rivalry between the two crews escalate. As reality sets in, the crew from LA is no match against the world champion Gamblers crew in the Mach 1 competition. Ryan, Kevin and the crew go into hiding where they meet underground b-boy legend “Chubbs”, and together they prepare for an against all odds battle against Tony Kai, Kicker and the Gambler crew.

    i’m glad that it depicts the South Korean dance scene- because not many Americans know how talented some of the south korean dancers are…but the whole Asian underworld stereotype is being dished out again and again. At least this time, instead of having Hong Kong and Chinese guys dressed in black and holding suitcases full of money earned off the black market , it’s the south koreans. I hope the Ryan x Esther relationship will bring Koreans and Black Americans (or just Americans in general) together- that their relationship will overcome any of those black americans versus koreans feelings.

  4. Dance movies to me are like really long music videos. I don’t watch them for plot…just the dancing basically.

  5. Her moves in the video seem kind of stiff…I don’t think she can dance

  6. She’s pretty, i think the video is alright… just that i didn’t like the concept of the video, the director’s problem… but anyways, i wish her best of luck. Although i doubt she will succeed. She got a decent voice and she’s okay with her dancing, her dancing isn’t amazing but it’s decent…

  7. @ asianromance

    Ugh…this movie sounds… like something I’ve seen before.

    Every single movie where [random Western guy] goes to [exotic Asian place] and falls in love with the [daughter/sister/ex-gf] of [evil Asian antagonist].

    I’ll pass…

  8. I like her.

    But this singer-to-actor transition thing is getting really old.

  9. meh. i was starting to like her as a new member on 우리결혼했어요/we got married…

    but half the singers i like i only really like because of their tv lovable personas. (ie, super junior)

  10. what is up with the one two steps

  11. Hmm… she’s a wee bit stiff in the dance department.

  12. ummm I was under the impression that b2k broke up like a long time ago

  13. another one wishing for a career in the States. Is the pasture really greener there?

    i wish her the best.

  14. I’m so agree with Sue. Most of the k-pop artists that I like are based on their tv personality, not because of their singing. I like Son Dambi in We Got Married but not really her singing.

  15. Don’t like her dancing at all, she looks too stiff, needs some dancing lessons.

  16. [...] Traduzione: Dramabeans [...]

  17. …whut.

  18. She definitely looks like she’s been to Park Shi Yeon’s plastic surgeon. Twice.

  19. Why does her video make me think of the “1,2, step” video? Not song wise just graphically.

  20. Wow, was anyone else too distracted by the fact that she was a) wearing bright pink MC Hammer pants (?!?! Ouch, just had a flashback to the early ’90’s!!!) and b) waiting for the massive stereo to blow her clothes off to actually pay attention to her singing and dancing??? No bueno. I know there are more talented K-pop stars out there…so why her???

  21. I just read the summary for Hype Nation and its one of those movies that makes you think, “Why are you wasting money? It’s a bad mixture of Romeo Must Die, You’ve Got Serve and Romeo and Juliet. What a waste. I won’t be watching this movie.

  22. i thought BoA was the female Rain. but i haven’t seen much of her. Dambi kinda looks like Park Si Yeon. can Dambi act? i hope she didn’t get the part cause she is pretty.

  23. Err….that video did nothing to showcase her dancing abilities (which she must have if she is being hailed as the “female Rain” right…..?). Because its never a good sign if *I* feel like I could easily master your dance moves (and I assure you, Im not a professional dancer).

    If they were going for a pretty girl, who isnt really known for her acting abilities, but can dance well, why didnt they go with Hyori? At least she can dance….

  24. What is she wearing?! Xx Bad way to start man.
    Clean up the image.

  25. I don’t understand why she’s called “female Rain”.. her dance moves are kind of stiff

  26. yeah everybody has a right to has debuted anywhere , lets see the result American not blind . korean singer iis the most stupid singer ever they still thought sexyness can conquer anywhere maybe your country not others..

    yeah lack singing ability she must be another pathetic paris hilton ~ PH better since she has “hilton” name but who is she.

    BOA maybe better singing, famous in japan she has the odds stacked against her!!.. lets see the result

  27. Boa is the better dancer.

    I think there’s also a singer turned actress who’s a good dancer. She’s one of the cast of Witch Yoo Hee, the 2nd female lead. Forgot her name, but saw her video and she’s way better.

  28. WHAT.IS.THIS.GIRL.WEARING?!??!

    seriously! that blue “top”… with a half bra (!?)

    hahahah…..ewwww….

Rant and/or Rave