‘Cobra Kai’ star Alicia Hannah-Kim, first female sensei in ‘Karate Kid’ history, asks why it took so long
As the first and only female sensei in the “Karate Kid” franchise’s 40-year history, Alicia Hannah-Kim is walking into the finale of “Cobra Kai” with mixed emotions.
As the first and only female sensei in the “Karate Kid” franchise’s 40-year history, Alicia Hannah-Kim is walking into the finale of “Cobra Kai” with mixed emotions.
The final five episodes of Netflix’s spinoff of the 1984 hit, out Thursday, have her feeling honored to be part of the series, but also admittedly wondering why it took so long.
“It’s a double-edged sword because you’re excited to be the first, then you’re asking yourself, ‘Why are you the first?’” she told NBC News. “I’m very conscious of the responsibility of it. We have to be conscious of celebrating the first, but then make sure we’re opening the door for everyone coming after us to make it.”
The 37-year-old Korean Australian actor said she moved from Sydney to Los Angeles in 2008 because she was stuck with stereotypical roles in Australia. She made several guest-starring roles in “Two and a Half Men” and “Hawaii Five-0” before being cast as the antagonist South Korean sensei Kim Da-Eun in the fifth season of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.”
“I really welcome the choices that they’ve made in the last couple of years … making space for me in that lineup of predominantly white male senseis.”
Rating: 5