Imagine you are an actor in one of the biggest Netflix series in the world, but no one knows who you are because your character does not reveal their face. While the actors portraying The VIPs in Squid Game have recently been mocked for their acting skills, it is important to note that there are real people behind each of their masks. Yes, their names may be attached to the project, but could fans pick them out of a lineup?
Since the series became a global Netflix hit last month, actors from the series have been interviewed left, right, and center. A group of actors who also found unexpected fame were those who played the illusive VIPs in episode seven. Keep reading to get to know the individuals behind the terrifying animal masks.
The only VIP to show his face in the series was VIP four portrayed by Geoffrey Giuliano. Many would recognize his name as being the VIP actor who is currently under fire for his past statements. An anonymous individual once filmed Giuliano spewing abuse and racist remarks at customers in a Thailand supermarket in 2017. The video has since resurfaced online due to his newfound fame for the Netflix series. In an interview with The Guardian, Giuliano bragged about “sexual invitations” received by both male and female fans around the world. His big claim to fame, however, is his career as an author, writing 32 books about The Beatles.
VIP two has a different outlook on his sudden fame as part of the hit Netflix series. Daniel C. Kennedy isn’t new to the acting scene (he’s been acting since 2014), but the amount of criticism the VIPs have received from Squid Game fans is more than he bargained for. Many fans critique the VIPs for their bad acting skills and unclear English (which is another problem within itself). But Kennedy explains that this criticism has deepened his “extreme clinical depression,” opening a dialogue about celebrity status and the ability to hide behind a computer screen.
A third VIP has come forward to defend the criticisms against the VIPs’ acting skills: John D. Michaels who played VIP one. He explained that English-speaking roles in content that is mainly another language are often awkward and stilted. He goes on to say, “we are only given our scenes, so we have no idea of the tone [of the show].” Seeing as the VIPs are only relevant for one episode, it is not surprising that the actors would only receive one script and not the entire show. Perhaps this is why episode seven of Squid Game stands out, much like episode seven of Stranger Things season three does.
You can read more about The VIPs here. If you’re interested in what has been said about Squid Game season two, take a look here.
FEATURED IMAGE VIA THE GUARDIAN