Kim Tae-ri

Kim Tae-ri (; born April 24, 1990) is a South Korean actress. Known for her work in both television and film, she has received various accolades, including three Baeksang Arts Awards, one Blue Dragon Film Award and one Buil Film Award, in addition to nominations at the Grand Bell Awards and Chunsa Film Art Awards.

Kim gained widespread recognition for her breakthrough role as Sook-hee in Park Chan-wook's critically acclaimed film The Handmaiden (2016), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best New Actress. She subsequently appeared in the political thriller 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) and the drama film Little Forest (2018), which earned her Best Actress nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

On television, Kim received the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress for her performances in Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) and Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024), and earned additional critical praise for Mr. Sunshine (2018) and Revenant (2023). In 2019, Kim was featured by Forbes in their 30 Under 30 list in the Entertainment & Sports category, and in 2024, Gallup Korea ranked her as Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

Early life Kim was born on April 24, 1990, in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang District, Seoul, South Korea. She was inspired to become an actress in her second year of university after joining a theater club.

Career Early work and breakthrough (2012–2017)

After graduating from university, Kim spent a year working as part of the technical crew for the Iru theatre troupe in Daehangno. She was later cast as the understudy for Kang Ae-shim in the 2012 production of Spoonface Steinberg, although she did not perform on stage. She went on to appear in the plays Pansy and Ask for Love, and was double-cast in the 2013 rerun of Spoonface Steinberg. That same year, she filmed Moon Young, a short film that premiered at the Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2015, with a theatrical version released in 2017. In 2014, Kim signed with J-Wide Company and began appearing in various television commercials. During this period, she continued acting in short films and auditioned extensively for feature film roles, but faced numerous rejections. Her performance earned her multiple Best New Actress awards, including at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Director's Cut Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Busan Film Critics Awards. Park Chan-wook later remarked that his first impression of Kim strongly reminded him of his initial meeting with actress Kang Hye-jung, who achieved her breakthrough in his film Oldboy (2003).

The following year, Kim appeared in the ensemble political thriller 1987: When the Day Comes, which earned her Best Actress nominations at the Grand Bell Awards and Chunsa Film Art Awards.

Established actress (2018–present) In 2018, Kim headlined the Korean film adaptation of the manga series Little Forest, alongside Ryu Jun-yeol and Jin Ki-joo. Her performance won her a Director's Cut Award and garnered Best Actress nominations at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards and Buil Film Awards. earning her a third nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards, this time for Best Actress in Television.

In 2019, Kim was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Entertainment & Sports category. Kim was drawn to the film due to its genre and her character's role, as she said: "I don't think there has ever been a [Korean] film in which a woman was a captain." the film received generally positive reviews, complimenting the characters and the special effects. In a review for Decider, Johnny Loftus described Kim's performance as the "picture of laconic cool" and likened her interpretation of the character's selfishness and greediness to Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).

In July 2021, Kim moved to Management MMM after her contract with J-Wide expired.

She returned to television in 2022, starring in the coming-of-age romance series Twenty-Five Twenty-One, which marked her second collaboration with one of the directors of Mr. Sunshine, Jung Ji-hyun. Upon reading the script, Kim was drawn to the "bright, energetic nature" of her character Na Hee-do, a high school fencer overcoming difficulties during the IMF crisis. At the time, Twenty-Five Twenty-One was the 18th highest-rated series in Korean cable television history and achieved success on Netflix, leading to Kim's rise in popularity among international audiences. Cine21 's Song Kyung-won deemed Kim vital to the success of the series. For her portrayal of Na Hee-do, she was named both Best Actress in Television and Most Popular Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Later that year, Kim starred as Lee Ahn in the first part of Choi Dong-hoon's two-part science fiction action film Alienoid, alongside Little Forest co-star Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Woo-bin. Kim attended action school and learned gymnastics, various types of martial arts and shooting to prepare for the role. Alienoid was shot simultaneously with its follow-up film for 13 months. It received mixed reviews in South Korea, International critics wrote more positive reviews, often praising the film's ensemble cast.

In 2023, Kim starred in Revenant, alongside Oh Jung-se and Hong Kyung. She was praised for her dual portrayal of Gu San-yeong and the malicious spirit within her, and received the Grand Prize at the SBS Drama Awards. The following year, Kim starred as the titular character in the television adaptation of the webtoon Jeong-nyeon, written by Seo Yi-re and illustrated by Na Mon. The artist said that she had initially used Kim's character in The Handmaiden as reference while drawing Jeong-nyeon. Kim's performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and vocal versatility, earning her a second Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress in Television. Gallup Korea later ranked her as Korea's Television Actor of the Year. it opened at first place on Korean box office with 103,467 admissions and a gross of US$746,073.

Kim made her voice acting debut in the 2025 South Korean animated science fiction romance film Lost in Starlight, which was the first South Korean feature-length animated film to be released on Netflix.

In 2026, Kim appeared as a regular cast member in Curtain Up, Class!, a new variety show produced by tvN.

Endorsements

Since 2017, Kim has served as a brand ambassador for the South Korean high-end cosmetics brand O Hui. In 2018, she was chosen as face of Kenzo's signature fragrance, Flower by Kenzo'', and was also appointed the Korean ambassador for the American luxury jewelry house Tiffany & Co., a role she held until 2021. In 2021, she became a brand ambassador for Italian luxury fashion house Prada. In January 2022, the South Korean women's fashion brand Itmichaa announced her as its new muse.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Note 2015 Moon Young Kim Moon-young Independent film 2016 The Handmaiden Nam Sook-hee 2022 Alienoid Lee Ahn 2024 Alienoid: Return to the Future 2025 Lost in Starlight Joo Nan-young Voice

Television series Year Title Role Note 2016 Entourage Herself Cameo (Ep. 1) 2018 Mr. Sunshine Go Ae-shin 2023 Revenant Gu San-young 2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Yoon Jeong-nyeon

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2026Curtain Up, Class! Cast member

Hosting Year Title Notes 2024 2024 MAMA Awards November 23 ceremony

Theater + Theater play performances Year Title Role 2012 Spoonface Steinberg Flounder (understudy) Spoonface Steinberg Flounder I'm Disappointed in You Yuna Pansy Min-hee

Discography Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album KORGaon KORHot "Segimalui Norae" 2016 — — The Handmaiden OST "Hidden Road by Lee Hanyeol" 2018 — — 1987: When the Day Comes OST "Hidden Road by Yeonheui" — — "With" 2022 40 54 Twenty-Five Twenty-One OST "—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award and the result of the nomination Award Year Category Nominee(s) / Work(s) Result APAN Star Awards 2018 Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine 2022 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Twenty-Five Twenty-One Popularity Star Award, Actress 2023 Top Excellence Actress in Medium-Length Series Revenant 2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Grand Prize (Daesang) Asia Artist Awards 2017 Best Entertainer Kim Tae-ri Asian Film Awards 2017 Best Newcomer The Handmaiden Baeksang Arts Awards 2017 Best New Actress – Film 2018 Best Actress – Film Little Forest 2019 Best Actress – Television Mr. Sunshine 2022 Twenty-Five Twenty-One Most Popular Actress 2025 Best Actress – Television Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born 2018 Best Actress Little Forest Brand of the Year Awards 2022 Best Actress Kim Tae-ri Buil Film Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden 2018 Best Actress Little Forest 2022 Popular Star Award – Female Alienoid Busan Film Critics Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Chunsa Film Art Awards 2017 2018 Best Actress 1987: When the Day Comes 2019 Little Forest Cine21 Film Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Director's Cut Awards 2018 Best Actress Little Forest Grand Bell Awards 2018 Best Actress 1987: When the Day Comes Fundex Awards 2024 TV Drama Female Lead Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Huading Awards 2023 Best Global Teleplay Leading Actress Twenty-Five Twenty-One Kinolights Awards 2022 Actress of the Year (Domestic) K-Culture Trend Forum 2024 MVP of the Year (Drama category) Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born KOFRA Film Awards 2017 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Korea Advertisers Contest Advertisers Night-KAA Awards 2022 Advertiser's Model Award Kim Tae-ri Korea Broadcasting Awards 2024 Best Actress Revenant Korea Drama Awards 2018 Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine 2022 Grand Prize (Daesang) Twenty-Five Twenty-One Korea First Brand Awards 2025 Best Actress (Drama) Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Korea World Youth Film Festival 2017 Favorite New Actress The Handmaiden 2018 Popular Actress Award Little Forest Marie Claire Film Festival 2017 Best Newcomer The Handmaiden SBS Drama Awards 2023 Grand Prize (Daesang) Revenant Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama The Seoul Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress 1987: When the Day Comes Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine Shinfilm Art Film Festival Choi Eun-hee Actor Award Little Forest University Film Festival of Korea Best Actress Women in Film Korea Festival 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Yang Hye-sook Korean Theater Award 2024 Special Award Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country Award ceremony Year Honor or Award South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2018 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation 2025 Prime Minister's Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Cine 21 2020 Actress to watch out for in 2021 2022 Actress to watch out for in 2023 Elle Japan 2022 Top 16 Hallyu Best Actress Forbes 2018 30 Under 30 – Asia 2019 Korea Power Celebrity 40 2023 Gallup Korea 2018 Television Actor of the Year 2023 2024