Versatile leading lady, Kim Hee-ae, is an award-winning actress best known for her lead roles in several television dramas. The Jeju-born South Korean icon has won more than 25 awards in her acting career, and is not planning to stop any time soon.
As she turns 53 on Thursday, April 23, here are five things you should know about the powerful lead actress of JTBC’s new hit drama, The World of the Married.
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She debuted as an actress in 1983
Kim Hee-ae was discovered by a sibling of one of her high schoolteachers, when she was a freshman. The man worked for an advertising agency, and opened the doors for her first modelling job for a school uniform commercial. She debuted as an actress in the 1983 film, The First Day in the Twentieth Year, and continued her career in both acting and modelling.
She is the leading actress in several dramas
She has been a successful TV and film actress since her roles in Beyond the Mountains in 1991 and Sons and Daughters in 1992 led her to win her first Daesang. Kim Hee-ae has also taken on several notable roles such as Lee Hwa-young, the sexy woman who has an affair with her best friend's husband, in 2007’s My Husband’s Woman and Yoon Seol-hee from the film The Vanished.
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She loves to travel
Kim Hee-ae proves that even the biggest actresses can take some time to relax and travel around the world. She has visited Thailand, Italy and Los Angeles, and posts her beautiful travel photos on Instagram, showing her fans the majestic scenery and delicious food she has tried.
She’s regarded as a fashion icon for middle-aged women
She went on a brief hiatus from acting and focused on appearing in magazines and commercials, where she was considered a fashion and style icon for ahjummas (middle-aged women) by inspiring them be more confident in wearing trendier and edgier clothing.
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She is happily married
Unlike her role in The World of the Married, Kim Hee-ae is happily married to Lee Chan-jin, former CEO of web portal, DreamWiz. The couple has two sons and keep their relationship private.
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