“Squid Game 3” Noh Jae-won: Didn’t Want to be Outshined by Thanos, Praises T.O.P

In a candid interview held at a café in Seoul, “Squid Game 3” star Noh Jae-won reflected on his journey portraying Nam-gyu (Player 124), a former club promoter turned game participant who returns as an intensified villain in the third season of Netflix’s global hit.

“From the moment I read the script, I was Nam-gyu”, said Noh. Though he wasn’t sure he’d land the part, he prepared with all his heart and eventually made the cut, not just as one of the 456 faceless participants, but as a character who would evolve and explode with unexpected energy.

Nam-gyu, introduced in Season 2 as a minor antagonist, returns as a full-fledged villain in Season 3, notably alongside Thanos, played by Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P). Noh admitted he was initially concerned his character would fade into the background, stating, “I didn’t want to just stand next to Thanos. I wanted Nam-gyu to have a reason, a purpose.“

According to the actor, he worked closely with the director to strike a balance, sharing, The director told me not to go over the top too early. Nam-gyu becomes more unhinged after Thanos dies, so I had to control the energy until the right moment.

When asked about his portrayal of a drug-intoxicated state, Noh Jae-won revealed, “I didn’t use any reference from other works because the context was so specific. Instead, I tapped into sensations. Which is like the itchiness you can’t shake off, or the kind of restlessness you feel with a hangover.“

He also added his own flair to the character, including his now-viral “Thanos impersonation” scene. “That wasn’t in the script. But when I saw Nam-gyu start using English and say something like ‘Let’s kill half the humans,’ I thought ‘why not go full Thanos?’ I did it during rehearsal, and the director said to keep it in“, the actor shared.

Noh also spoke highly of his co-star Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P), stating, He really gave everything in his performance. Watching him made me more focused. I think Thanos helped shape Nam-gyu into what he is.

When asked about his co-star’s past controversies or K-pop fame, Noh shrugged, I didn’t think of him as a BIGBANG member. I saw him as Thanos, and that helped my immersion.

From roles in “D.P. 2” and “Daily Dose of Sunshine”, to “A Normal Family” and “A Killer Paradox”, Noh’s knack for making characters feel alive has made him one of the most-watched actors on Korean Netflix. When asked about being labeled “Netflix’s son”, he laughed, saying, There are a lot of Netflix actors out there. I’ll just work hard to be the first son.

Despite the praise, Noh remains grounded, sharing, Sometimes I think, ‘Am I getting noticed too quickly?’ I’ve had moments of anxiety. But I remind myself to stay focused on the work — not on the compliments.

Known for gritty, complex characters, Noh now has his eyes set on romance: I’ve never played someone who loves freely. I’d like to explore that someday. As for where he sees himself in a decade, the actor answered, I don’t know what I’ll be like in 10 years, but right now I’m doing what I love. My goal isn’t about a specific status, for I just want to keep improving as an actor.

Meanwhile, according to Netflix Tudum, “Squid Game Season 3” recorded approximately 46.3 million views between June 30 and July 6, topping the Netflix TOP 10 list in all 93 countries for the second consecutive week.

Reflecting on the show’s release, Noh said, “I gave my all to prepare for this role. After the final shoot, I felt an emptiness, as if there’s a hole in my heart. Seeing the project finally released, I was excited. It felt like the work that changed me the most as an actor. I’m not sure I’ll ever experience something like this again.“

He also added while laughing, “The biggest change is that my father is proud of me. He’s seen a lot of my work, but this one he really enjoyed. In our family chat, they even joked, saying ‘Director Hwang Dong-hyuk is Korea’s Steven Spielberg,’ and ‘Your acting was great, though we’re a bit worried you’ve got a little Nam-gyu inside you.’“

Noh Jae-won also attended the “Squid Game 3” press conference on June 9. The final installment of the series premiered on June 27 via Netflix.