Scene-Stealer Nam Kwon-ah Reveals “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Midnight Audition Story

Actor Nam Kwon-ah, who charmed audiences as the quirky housekeeper in the hit drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, has opened up about her unlikely journey to stardom—including a late-night audition that felt more like a scam than a serious casting call.

Appearing in a May 13 interview on the One Mic YouTube channel, Nam shared how life has changed since her breakout role:

“People recognize me on the street now. They’re like, ‘Aren’t you the ring guy from When Life Gives You Tangerines?’ It’s surreal—I kind of feel like a celebrity,” she laughed.

Nam was especially candid about his admiration for IU, who stars alongside Park Bo-gum in the series.

“I was thrilled to be acting with IU. She nailed the emotional struggles of youth from that era. She’s an amazing actress—and a really cool person too,” he said.

But the path to that role wasn’t exactly glamorous. Nam revealed that he got the audition notice for When Life Gives You Tangerines around 10 or 11 PM, which immediately raised red flags.

“I thought, ‘Why is an audition happening this late? Is this sketchy?’” she recalled. “But I trusted IU and Park Bo-gum, so I went anyway.”

When he arrived, the situation was even more unusual. “The director was sitting alone—no assistant, no camera, no reader. It felt strange. We ran through some lines together, and he kept saying things like, ‘Try this part differently,’ or ‘How about this?’ I remember thinking, ‘Wait, did I just get the part?’” Nam said.

At the time, Nam didn’t have a manager, handling everything from transportation to appearance fees by himself. “If a role seemed slightly bigger, I’d just ask, ‘Can you bump it up by 100,000 won (about $75)?’” he shared, showcasing the grind behind his now-rising fame.

What began as a late-night leap of faith turned into a career-defining moment for Nam Kwon-ah—proving that sometimes, a little trust and a lot of hustle can go a long way in showbiz.