She started off on Lost as a meek, Korean-speaking wife. Now she's a tough cookie—and fan favorite—who has shot a woman, revealed a steamy affair and turned up mysteriously pregnant, a puzzle that will be solved in April 25's episode. Kim, 33, a single Staten Island native ("I'm always on an island!"), became a movie star in South Korea in her 20s before taking on the castaway life.

• ON HER SEXIEST COSTAR
Stubbled Matthew Fox? Swaggering Josh Holloway? Her square-jawed screen hubby Daniel Dae Kim? Nah. "Terry O'Quinn [Locke] is the sexiest guy. You're just captivated by him."

• ON HER MOST PAIN-AVERSE COSTAR
She has slapped three castmates—but only Holloway insisted on faking it. "He had a photo shoot the next day and he didn't want to be swollen. I teased him, saying he wasn't a real man. He said, 'I don't care.'"

• THE BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB
"Working in Hawaii—it truly is a magical place. I feel at home."

• THE WORST THING ABOUT THE JOB
"Flying cockroaches. I swear, they are like birds. One flew into my condo. I called a security guard to help me."

• THE WEIRDEST THING ABOUT THE JOB
"When I go to Korea and I watch Lost, it's dubbed in Korean—someone else is speaking my lines."

This week's cover

On Newsstands Now!

Saved by the Bell Reunion

The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires

The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!

Get 4 FREE PREVIEW Issues! Click here now