For Joey Albright, acting has always been driven by curiosity rather than attention. Long before appearing in major Korean productions, he was a child sitting backstage at a local theater, fascinated by the process of watching actors rehearse and gradually bring stories to life. Years later, that early interest would lead him to South Korea, where he began building a career in an industry far from home.

Since then, Albright has steadily established himself as a working actor, appearing in Korean and international productions while continuing to refine his craft through training, workshops, and on-set experience. Along the way, he has shared scenes with acclaimed performers, learned from some of the industry’s most respected actors, and taken on projects that have continually challenged him to grow.

Audiences recently saw him in Bloodhounds Season 2, where he plays Ian, a businessman navigating a high-stakes investment opportunity, and in My Name, a historical drama inspired by real events. Though the projects are vastly different in tone and setting, both offered unique opportunities for Albright to explore new characters and continue evolving as an actor.

When we spoke, Albright reflected on his journey into acting, the lessons he’s learned from working alongside industry veterans, his approach to building characters, and the experiences that shaped his performances in both projects.

Nexus Point News: How did your journey into acting begin, and what led you to start building your career in Korea?

Joey Albright: My journey into acting began when I was around 11 years old. My mom had joined a local community theater and was cast in a small role in Annie. She would take me to rehearsals with her, and I’d sit backstage amazed at everything unfolding. Eventually I went so much that the crew asked me to look after Sandy, the dog in the show. That was the first time I caught the acting bug. It was fascinating to watch the actors rehearse daily and gradually bring a story to life.

After that, acting was always secretly something I deeply wanted to pursue, but I wasn’t sure when or how to. It wasn’t until I entered Korea University in South Korea that I decided to take on this challenging dream. While I was there, I had an unexpected opportunity to appear on Running Man during a university competition. I loved the energy and the experience of being in front of the camera, but I also realized I wasn’t interested in chasing attention for its own sake. That moment helped me understand how I would pursue an acting career going forward. I knew that what I really was interested in was the craft itself—building characters, telling stories, and growing as an actor.

Being in Korea at that time, where access to English-language acting classes was limited, pushed me to become resourceful. As an introvert, I didn’t have the confidence needed in the beginning to perform in front of people. But I didn’t want to give up before I even tried so I began self-training, studying acting techniques, attending workshops, and eventually taking online classes with coaches in Los Angeles. Since then, I’ve focused on consistently growing and challenging myself with new techniques and new characters so I could push myself past my own barriers.

Nexus Point News: And when you first started working there, what was the moment where you realized “okay, this is actually working”?

Joey Albright: The moment I realized that was when I started being cast and trusted with more responsibility on set. Over time, I found myself being brought back into auditions and cast on sets with the same teams. This helped me gain a sense of continuity in the Korean film industry. I was performing in scenes alongside established actors in both Korean and international productions, gradually taking on larger roles and more responsibility. That’s when I realized things had shifted for me. I was no longer an aspiring actor, I was a working actor.

Nexus Point News: Do you remember a set or a project where you felt completely out of your comfort zone, but in a way that made you better?

Joey Albright: Every new character I attempt puts me slightly out of my comfort zone. This is because you’re always stepping into something you’re still discovering, especially for films or TV shows that are new. There is no specific tone established so you come to set and work it out, discuss things if needed to help you better understand and navigate this made up world. When you arrive on the day, you must come in prepared with an idea, but you have to stay loose and not locked into any specific concept. Then you have to trust your scene partners, the director, and the writer to shape it with you. For me, preparation and active listening are what make me better each time.

An example of this was the movie Space Sweepers. I was cast as a reporter in a scene with Richard Armitage. The intensity and realism that he brought to that scene elevated my own performance. This left a strong impression on me as an actor. It was the first time I experienced a scene with that level of emotional and physical commitment. I felt intimidated by his character and in turn it made me very vulnerable in the scene. Seeing how fully he inhabited the moment changed my understanding of acting and what it requires, and it pushed me to train even harder afterward.

Nexus Point News: What’s something about acting that you only really understood after being on set multiple times?

Joey Albright: Everyone has doubts and acting is subjective. But the one thing I noticed about the leading actors is that they are prepared and know the script inside and out. They have confidence in themselves, their character choices and are able to adapt quickly. That is what makes them stand out. When I worked on the set of Disney+’s Big Bet, I had the privilege of watching Son Suk-ku and Choi Min-sik perform live many times. They were living in the scene, actively listening and adjusting in the moment while confident in it all. They are the best at what they do because they give and also adapt.

Nexus Point News: What kind of roles still make you a little nervous in a good way?

Joey Albright: There are many roles that make me nervous in a good way. Anything with stunts makes me nervous because, while they are fun to do, the risk of injury is high. In this case, committing to the stunt versus holding back is the only answer. Getting the timing right for the stunt on film in as little attempts as possible is key to reducing injury. But after the training and everything is caught on film, you feel a huge sense of accomplishment and part of a team for having done an action scene.

Nexus Point News: When someone watches your work for the first time, what do you hope they pick up on that isn’t obvious?

Joey Albright: If someone watches me for the first or tenth time, as different characters in different projects, I don’t want the audience to realize it is me, the actor. I hope they are locked into the scene and enjoying it. Because the less I stand out as an actor, the better I am doing my job. If there is something they do pick up on, I hope it’s something subtle. For example a hint of sarcasm or humor in a scene that hopefully brightens their day.

Nexus Point News: When you’re given a character with limited screen time, what’s the first thing you try to understand, their function in the story, or something more personal underneath it?

Joey Albright: I really struggled with co-star auditions and smaller supporting roles early in my career. After some time, I came to realize that no matter the size of the role, it’s the preparation that matters most. For a smaller character, it’s not about building a long elaborate backstory, but about understanding the given circumstances and how you fit into the world of the story. It usually boils down to listening, staying present, and serving or aiding the scene, rather than trying to make it about you.

The way to make these things happen naturally in a scene is by building a foundation which usually comes from training and discovery in acting classes, rehearsals in theater, and on-set experience. Once you understand the world your character is entering, then it just becomes about being truthful in the moment whether that’s simply delivering a line or reacting honestly in the scene.

Nexus Point News: Do you tend to build your characters from the inside out, or do small external details, like posture, voice, timing, come first for you?

Joey Albright: Personally, I tend to build characters from the inside out. For a smaller role it isn’t necessary, but for more complex roles this is the approach I take. I don’t aim for a caricature where I adjust posture and put on a voice I feel is best. I build everything and let it live through me. I start with the script and approach it like detective work. I figure out who the character is, what they want, and how they exist within the world of the story.

From there, I look for clues in the script to understand relationships and point of view on the world in the story. How I see others and how they see me. That helps shape a history and emotional perspective. After I have built the base of the world around me, I focus on subtext and let behavior emerge naturally. On the day of filming, I try not to lock anything in so I can stay present, listen, and adapt to my scene partner and the director. Each time I train in class or work on a set, I grow and progressively get more efficient at this process.

Nexus Point News: What was your first impression of the set and the cast when you joined Bloodhounds Season 2?

Joey Albright: I have been on many big projects prior to Bloodhounds but I will say I was impressed by the set and cast. For my scenes, we ended up filming on location instead of a studio set. The yacht was absolutely beautiful and the hotel was luxurious. During the fitting and rehearsal for both scenes, Rain and Myeong-ro Lee were very friendly and supportive. Even though they had a lot of requirements and scenes on set, they still took the time to greet me.

Nexus Point News: What can you tell us about your character Ian?

Joey Albright: Ian was a very challenging and interesting character for me. I didn’t want to fall into any trope when playing a businessman. So instead I tried to align my actor choices more with what I believed true to Ian as the character. I came to set having built my version of Ian which was very against the grain. Ian is looking to invest in a legitimate company but has an offer from IKFC. He hears them out but isn’t impressed with the first meeting. The second meeting he sees the money but it doesn’t end how he planned. He was one of my favorite characters to bring to the screen. The director paid me a huge compliment saying “it was very different than I expected but I like it.”

Nexus Point News: Working alongside Rain and the rest of the cast, did anything about their working style or energy influence how you approached your own scenes?

Joey Albright: When you work with Rain or Myeong-ro Lee, you immediately see the level of discipline they bring to each scene. They were professional, but it was more than that. There was a consistency in how they approached their characters. This drove me to make sure I had maintained character consistency through my scenes. I had to stay present and not lock into one rhythm so I could keep up with them. It was truly inspiring to work with those two. They pushed me to hold myself to a higher level.

Nexus Point News: Do you remember what stood out to you during the casting process, what made you feel like this was a role you understood right away?

Joey Albright: During the casting process I initially auditioned for a boxing coach via selftape. Then I got a callback and the director asked me to read for Ian instead. I looked over the script and immediately knew I could play Ian. So, I performed the audition as a cold read and the director liked my version of Ian. After the audition the director told me I was one of the best American actors he saw in Korea. I was dancing all the way home. It was truly an honor to work with a director at this level. He was very supportive and his kind words inspired me even more to keep growing.

Nexus Point News: Do you remember anything specific from the casting process or filming that stayed with you?

Joey Albright: The one thing I took away from the whole casting process and filming is to stay true to myself as an actor. I don’t get many opportunities to audition for roles of this caliber because there are a lot of tropes for businessmen and I don’t fit them. Old gentleman, gray hair, powerful, bearded and someone who has lived business. But instead, I embodied what I felt true to Ian. He is a young money, tech guy. It worked for the scene. After I was cast for Ian, I put a lot of time and preparation into the character. I wanted there to be depth but also to match what was needed. Having the director there to guide me to his vision was what got Ian on film. And my scene partners brought me up to a new level with everything they did in the scene.

Nexus Point News: When you first spoke with the director about My Name, what was the key thing that helped you understand your character’s place in the story? And what can you tell us about him?

Joey Albright: When discussing with the director about the story of My Name, I was informed that the scenes with my character were actual historical events. I play a real US Military Officer who was on Jeju Island and had unofficially requested certain events to go down at a small village. My character is the match that starts the fire for the event in the village. He isn’t cold but just doing his mission in my opinion. There was accurate recording of what was discussed during that time so the dialogue had to be said as closely as possible. The movie itself isn’t a documentary but about a woman who survived and was trying to remember what happened.

Nexus Point News: Was there a moment during filming where the emotional tone of the project really clicked for you?

Joey Albright: In my scene there were two little girls running through a barley field while I am hunting for pheasant birds. My character was firing towards the birds but without knowing they were there, towards them. It hit me that it was a sign for things to come. I didn’t have the full script but I could feel the weight of my actions when I left the set. It wasn’t until after I watched the film at the premiere, that I could truly connect everything with my character.

Nexus Point News: Looking at these projects together, do they feel like a step forward for you, or just part of a longer process you’ve already been in?

Joey Albright: Every project is an opportunity to grow and challenge myself. Bloodhounds Season 2 and My Name are two very different stories and worlds, released around the same time, and they both reflect the skills and growth I’ve achieved so far as an actor. This is true of my previous projects as well. Each one has been an amazing opportunity that helped me reach the next step.

Seeing the positive responses from audiences inspires me to keep moving forward in my acting career, no matter how challenging it is. Acting is endless; you constantly evolve as long as you keep challenging yourself. These two projects are the next step in that ongoing journey of growth. I was honored to be a part of these projects and enjoyed every minute on set.