The first monologue Daniel Dae Kim ever performed was by David Henry Hwang.
He had to do one for his college summer programme at the National Theatre Institute in the US state of Connecticut. Kim chose a scene from FOB, Hwangโs 1980 play about the assimilation struggles of a Chinese-American.
So it is fitting that 35 years later Hwang โ the first Asian-American to win the Tony Award for best play โ would be the one to bring Kim into the Tony spotlight.
Known for TV series such as Lost and Hawaii Five-0, Kim, 56, is the first Asian nominee in the category of best leading actor in a play in the Tonysโ 78-year history for his work in a Broadway revival of Hwangโs Yellow Face.
Itโd be a huge surprise if I won, but I will say that even getting the nomination is a win
โI can imagine a lot of things, but I did not imagine this scenario with David,โ Kim said.