Wikipedia

Kim Min-hee (actress, born 1982)

For the actress of the same name, see Kim Min-hee (actress, born 1972).
In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Min-hee (Korean: 김민희; born March 1, 1982) is a South Korean actress and model. She first gained recognition in the films Hellcats (2008), Helpless (2012), and Very Ordinary Couple (2013). Kim rose to international fame for her role as Lady Hideko in Park Chan-wook's 2016 film The Handmaiden. Since then, she has solely acted in the films of her partner, Hong Sang-soo. She won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for her performance in Hong's 2017 film On the Beach at Night Alone. In 2024, she won the Pardo for Best Performance at the 77th Locarno Film Festival for her role in By the Stream.

Kim Min-hee
김민희
Kim in 2022
Born (1982-03-01) March 1, 1982 (age 42)
South Korea
EducationDankook University (B.A. and M.A. in Theater and Film Studies)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1999–present
Agents
PartnerHong Sang-soo (2015–present)
Korean name
Hangul
김민희
Hanja
金珉禧
Revised RomanizationGim Minhui
McCune–ReischauerKim Minhŭi
Signature

In 2020, The New York Times ranked Kim sixteenth on its list of "The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century".[2]

Career

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1999: Early career

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Kim Min-hee began modeling when she was in middle school, and soon appeared as a cover girl in teen magazines. In 1999, she was cast in the campus drama School 2 (1999–2000) as a rebellious high school girl, which launched her to stardom. She became a popular young star at barely 20 years old, appearing in TV dramas and movies. However, a string of poor acting performances brought her negative criticism. Critics and viewers disparagingly called her an "attractive but blank actress," more famous for being a fashion icon and actor Lee Jung-jae's then-girlfriend.[3]

2006–present

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In 2006, after reading the synopsis of TV series Goodbye Solo, Kim knew that she wanted the role of Mi-ri more than anything, saying "I was ready to do anything to play her." She begged renowned screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung to cast her, and though Noh turned her down five times, Kim would not give up, and her determination eventually convinced Noh to see her hidden potential. Vowing to start over from the bottom, Kim went through strict acting training which included basic vocal and respiratory exercises; she got a hold of the script before anyone else, and continued to analyze the role and practice every day. Kim said that until Goodbye Solo, she hadn't been sure what to do with the rest of her life, but the drama made her feel that acting was her true calling, like she'd "finally opened up the first page of the textbook." She received good reviews for her performance, and despite the drama's low ratings, the role transformed her career.[3]

Her succeeding movie roles helped solidify her career reinvention, beginning with 2008's Hellcats (also known as (Korean: 뜨거운 것이 좋아; lit. "I Like It Hot" or "Some Like It Hot"), a light-hearted comedy that explored the lives and loves of three women at different stages of womanhood. Kim played an aspiring screenwriter in her twenties who's agonizing over her insecure career and shaky romance with a deadbeat musician boyfriend. Reviews praised her "compelling performance,"[4][5] and she later won Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Busan Film Critics Awards.[6]

Kim then joined the all-star cast of Actresses (2009), a semi-improvisational mockumentary directed by E J-yong (whom she had previously worked with in Asako in Ruby Shoes). Set during a Vogue Korea photo shoot, Kim gets upset in the film over a remark by a staffer that men don't find skinny women like her attractive, as compared to her more voluptuous costar Kim Ok-bin.[7][8][9] A supporting turn as a reporter in conspiracy film Moby Dick followed in 2011.[10][11]

Kim further stretched the limits of her acting range in psychological thriller Helpless (2012), adapted from Miyabe Miyuki's novel All She Was Worth (in Japanese, "one-way train/fire chariot to hell"). She said she had absolute trust in director Byun Young-joo and never even checked the monitors,[12] and Byun was likewise complimentary, saying, "I ended up adding more scenes for her to act because she was just exceptional. She knew what she was doing, and knew she was able to pull it off. She was rarely nervous throughout the production. She's got no fear and is always confident."[13] Kim said the role gave her a chance to show what she was capable of as an actress, adding, "I feel differently about acting now. I often feel a tremendous sense of achievement and really enjoy doing this job."[14][15][16][17][18] Displaying a striking screen presence as a mysterious girl who disappears without a trace while her bewildered fiancé discovers a trail of falsified information, Kim received several acting nominations and won Best Actress at the Buil Film Awards.[19]

After her contract with Lee Byung-hun's agency BH Entertainment ended in late 2012, Kim signed with Management SOOP, which also handles the career of her friend Gong Hyo-jin.[20]

In 2013, Kim again earned raves for her performance in Very Ordinary Couple. Unlike the typical romantic comedy, the relationship drama told a more realistic story of an on-and-off couple of three years.[21][22] During her acceptance speech as Best Actress at the 2013 Baeksang Arts Awards, Kim thanked her costar Lee Min-ki and director Roh Deok, who "helped shape (her) character Young on the screen."[23][24] Action-noir No Tears for the Dead followed in 2014, in which she played a grieving woman who becomes a hitman's target.[25]

 
Kim in 2015

Kim next starred in Hong Sang-soo's critically acclaimed film Right Now, Wrong Then (2015), which won her Best Actress at the Busan Film Critics Awards.[26] Kim shot to international stardom for her performance in the award-winning film The Handmaiden, Park Chan-wook's 2016 film adaptation of Fingersmith set in 1930s Korea.[27][28] Park called her "the most coveted a-list actress at the moment."[29]

In 2017, Kim became the first Korean actress to win the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival for her performance in the film On the Beach at Night Alone.[30] In 2018, she starred in Grass and Hotel by the River.[31]

Kim starred in The Woman Who Ran (2020) which won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival.[32] In 2020, The New York Times ranked Kim sixteenth on its list of "The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century".[2]

Kim received the Best Performance Award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival for her role as university acting instructor Jeonim in the 2024 Hong Sang-soo drama By the Stream.[33]

Personal life

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Hong Sang-soo and Kim admitted to their affair at a press conference in Seoul in March 2017.

In June 2016, Kim was reported to be having an affair with Hong Sang-soo, the married director of the film Right Now, Wrong Then, in which she starred as the lead actress in 2015.[34] At the Seoul premiere of On the Beach at Night Alone in March 2017, Kim and Hong openly admitted their affair.[35]

The controversy was allegedly the reason why Management SOOP decided not to renew Kim's management contract, which ended in early 2016.[36] She also lost endorsement deals, including that of a cosmetics company.[37]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 Asako in Ruby Shoes Mia
2002 Surprise Party Hwang Mi-ryung
2008 Hellcats Ami
2009 Actresses Kim Min-hee
2011 Moby Dick Sung Hyo-kwan
2012 Helpless Kang Sun-young
2013 Behind the Camera
Very Ordinary Couple Jang Young
2014 No Tears for the Dead Mo-kyung
2015 Right Now, Wrong Then Yoon Hee-jung
2016 The Handmaiden Lady Hideko
2017 On the Beach at Night Alone Young-hee
Claire's Camera Jeon Man-hee
The Day After Song Ah-reum
2018 Grass A-reum
Hotel by the River A-reum
2020 The Woman Who Ran Gam-hee [38]
2021 Introduction Painter
2022 The Novelist's Film Gil-soo, actress [39]
Walk Up Production manager [40]
2023 In Water [41]
In Our Day Sang-won [42]
2024 By the Stream Jeonim [43]

Television series

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Year Title Role
1999 School 2 Shin Hye-won
2000 Look Back in Anger Lee Hye-jung
2000 Juliet's Man Bol Yeo-woo
2002 Age of Innocence Ji-yoon
2004 My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law Choi Soo-ji
2006 Goodbye Solo Choi Mi-ri
2008 Love Marriage Lee Kang-hyun

Variety show

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Year Title Notes
2000 Inkigayo (Popular Music) Host with Ahn Jae-mo, April 23 – December 31, 2000

Awards

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1999 KBS Drama Awards Best Young Actress School Won
2000 SBS Drama Awards Best New Actress Juliet's Man Won
2001 Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Asako in Ruby Shoes Nominated
2002 SBS Drama Awards Netizen Popularity Award Age of Innocence Won
2006 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Goodbye Solo Nominated
Best Couple Award with Lee Jae-ryong Nominated
2008 Baeksang Arts Awards[6] Best Actress Hellcats Won
Korean Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Busan Film Critics Awards Best Actress Won
KBS Drama Awards Netizen Award, Actress Love Marriage Nominated
Best Couple Award with Kim Ji-hoon Nominated
2012 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Helpless Nominated
Buil Film Awards[19] Best Actress Won
Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2013 KOFRA Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Baeksang Arts Awards[23] Best Actress Very Ordinary Couple Won
Buil Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Women in Film Korea Awards Best Actress Won
Blue Dragon Film Awards[44] Best Actress Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
2016 Wildflower Film Awards Best Actress Right Now, Wrong Then Nominated
Busan Film Critics Awards[26] Best Actress Won
Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress Nominated
Buil Film Awards Best Actress The Handmaiden Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards[45] Best Actress Won
Director's Cut Awards[46] Best Actress Won
Austin Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Cine 21 Awards Best Actress Won
2017 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Nominated
Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress Nominated
International Cinephile Society Awards[47] Best Actress The Day After Won
Berlin International Film Festival[48] Best Actress On the Beach at Night Alone Won
Gijón International Film Festival[49] Best Actress Won
Buil Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2018 Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress Nominated
International Cinephile Society Awards Best Actress Runner-up
Wildflower Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
Asian Film Awards Best Actress The Day After Nominated
2019 Wildflower Film Awards Best Actress Grass Nominated
2020 Cine 21 Awards[50] Best Actress The Woman Who Ran Won
2021 Wildflower Film Awards[51] Best Actress Nominated
2024 Locarno Film Festival[52] Best Performance By the Stream Won

References

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  1. ^ "김민희" Archived February 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Epg (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Dargis, Manohla; Scott, A. O. (November 25, 2020). "The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Shin, Hae-in (March 16, 2006). "Actress Kim Min-hee enjoys limelight again" Archived November 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  4. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (January 27, 2008). "Hellcats Is Charmingly Off-Tune". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Yang, Sung-jin (January 8, 2008). "Hellcats rejects men, holds girl-only party". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "The 44th PaekSang Arts Awards Sparkles with Stars". KBS World. April 24, 2008. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  7. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (November 17, 2009). "Actresses to Present Off-Screen Personas Onscreen". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  8. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (November 23, 2009). "Actresses is a miracle achieved, says Koh (Part 1)". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  9. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (November 23, 2009). "Actresses is a miracle achieved, says Koh (Part 2)". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (June 2, 2011). "Conspiracy flick is painstakingly real". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Hong, Lucia (May 24, 2011). "Kim Min-hee cast as female lead in new thriller". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  12. ^ Lee, In-kyung (January 29, 2012). "Kim Min Hee Brings the Mystery for Train". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  13. ^ Lee, Claire (March 8, 2012). "Director explores financial, social horrors". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  14. ^ "Kim Min-hee Anything But Helpless in New Movie Role" Archived June 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. The Chosun Ilbo. March 3, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  15. ^ Lee, Nancy (February 16, 2012). "Kim Min Hee Thinks Happiness is Close By". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  16. ^ Lee, Jin-ho (March 10, 2012). "Interview: Kim Min Hee was Always Confident about Her Acting". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  17. ^ Lee, Jin-ho (March 13, 2012). "Kim Min Hee Opens Up About Love and Future". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  18. ^ Son, Hye-young (February 11, 2013). "Kim Min Hee, The Cherry Blossom Girl". 1st Look Magazine via enewsWorld. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Hong, Jeong-won (October 5, 2012). "최민식-김민희, 부일영화상 남녀주연상 수상 (BIFF)" [Choi Min-sik-Kim Min-hee, Best Actor and Actress at Buil Film Awards (BIFF)]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  20. ^ Lee, Tae-ho (August 14, 2012). "Kim Min-hee signs exclusive contract with Gong Yoo's agency". 10Asia. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  21. ^ An, So-hyoun (March 3, 2013). "Kim Min Hee Says She's Honest in Love Relationships". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  22. ^ Han, Jae-hee (April 4, 2013). "Kim stretches her acting chops". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ a b Lee, Claire (May 10, 2013). "Ryu Seung-ryong wins top prize at Paeksang". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  24. ^ Lee, Hye-ji (May 10, 2013). "On the Scene: 2013 Paeksang Arts Awards: He Said, She Said". 10Asia. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  25. ^ Kenigsberg, Ben (June 19, 2014). "A Hit Man Repents, With Barrels Blazing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "YOO Hae-jin and KIM Min-hee Take Acting Honors". Korean Film Council. December 16, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  27. ^ Kim, June (December 10, 2014). "KIM Min-hee and KIM Tae-ri Confirmed for FINGERSMITH". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "Actress wearing 'invisible' scarlet letter". The Korea Times. February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  29. ^ Jin, Eun-soo (May 3, 2016). "The Handmaiden generates a buzz". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  30. ^ "Kim Min-hee wins best actress award in Berlin film festival". The Korea Times. February 19, 2017. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  31. ^ Kristen Yoonsoo Kim (April 26, 2019). "In the Maze of Love: Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee's Intricate Tales of Romance". The Nation. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  32. ^ Roxborough, Scott (March 2, 2020). "Berlin: Cinema Guild Takes U.S. Rights to Hong Sang-soo's 'The Woman Who Ran'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  33. ^ Baek, Byung-yeul. "Kim Min-hee wins best performance at Locarno Film Festival". Korea Times. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  34. ^ "Actress wearing 'invisible' scarlet letter". The Korea Times. February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  35. ^ "Hong Sang-soo Speaks About Romance with Star". The Chosun Ilbo. March 14, 2017. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  36. ^ K. Do (June 21, 2016). "Actress Kim Min Hee and Director Hong Sang Soo Reportedly Having an Affair". Soompi. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  37. ^ E. Kim (August 1, 2016). "Kim Min Hee is Fined by Cosmetics Company Following Scandal". Soompi. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  38. ^ "Hong Sangsoo and KIM Min-Hee Return to Berlin Competition with THE WOMAN WHO RAN". Korean Film Biz Zone. January 31, 2020. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  39. ^ Kim Kyung-hee (January 20, 2022). "홍상수 감독 '소설가의 영화' 3년 연속 베를린영화제 경쟁부문 공식 초청" [Director Hong Sang-soo's 'Novelist's Film' officially invited to the competition section of the Berlin Film Festival for the third year in a row]. iMBC (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  40. ^ Kang Min-kyung (August 3, 2022). "[공식] 홍상수 감독♥김민희 제작 실장 '탑', 토론토·산세바스티안 영화제 초청" [[Official] Director Hong Sang-soo ♥ Kim Min-hee, Production Manager 'Top', invited to Toronto San Sebastian Film Festival] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  41. ^ Flew, Thomas (March 1, 2023). "In Water: a gently gorgeous delight from Hong Sangsoo". British Film Institute. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  42. ^ Kiang, Jessica (October 11, 2023). "'In Our Day' Review: Hong Sang-soo Murmurs Sweet Little Somethings About Life's Unseen Connections". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  43. ^ Lodge, Guy. "'By the Stream' Review: Hong Sangsoo's Wry, Strangely Sweet Ode to Art, Love and Eel". Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  44. ^ "HOPE Scores Best Film at 34th Blue Dragon Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. November 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  45. ^ "INSIDE MEN Deemed Best Film at 37th Blue Dragon Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  46. ^ "NA Hong-jin Nabs Best Director from Director's Cut Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  47. ^ "ICS Cannes Awards 2017 are revealed". Icsfilm.org. May 28, 2017. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  48. ^ "Prizes of the International Jury". Berlinale. February 18, 2017. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  49. ^ "Kim Min-hee wins best actress at Gijon Int'l Film Fest". The Korea Herald. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  50. ^ "[스페셜] '씨네21'이 선정한 올해의 영화인①". Cine 21 (in Korean). December 31, 2020. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  51. ^ Lee Nam-kyung (April 20, 2021). "제8회 들꽃영화상' 10개 부문 후보작 공개…홍상수X김민희도 후보(공식)". Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  52. ^ Guy Lodge (August 17, 2024). "Lithuanian Teen Drama 'Toxic' Wins Big at Locarno Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
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