Lee Tae-ran (Korean이태란; born 25 March 1975) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as Yellow Handkerchief, My Rosy Life, Famous Princesses, Wang's Family, and Sky Castle.

Lee Tae-ran
Lee in November 2018
Born (1975-03-25) 25 March 1975 (age 49)
NationalitySouth Korean
Alma materHanyang University
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
AgentSTAR PAGE Entertainment
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
SpouseShin Seung-hwan (m. 2014)
Korean name
Hangul
이태란
Revised RomanizationI Tae-nan
McCune–ReischauerI T'ae-nan

Early life and education

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Lee Tae-ran was born in Seoul on 25 March 1975. She is the second of two daughters. Lee moved to Seoul as a child. After graduating from Haeseong International Convention High School, she worked in a company for three years and supported herself with part-time jobs at a cafe in Myeong-dong or a Japanese restaurant in Daehangno.[1][2] Lee once expressed her sadness at being a mere high school graduate in a television show. In 2008, she enrolled as a theatre and film student in the College of Art in Hanyang University.[3]

Career

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1997–2004

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Lee was discovered by an agent while doing part-time jobs. She had a small role in the SBS drama The Brothers' River, marking her TV debut.[1] Lee next entered the 1997 SBS Top Talent Competition after a friend's suggestion and won the Grand Prize.[4] She has since appeared in many television dramas in the late 1990s, such as Fascinate My Heart, Goodbye My Love, Days of Delight and Soonpoong Clinic. For her performance in Fascinate My Heart and Days of Delight, she was honoured with 1998 SBS New Star Award and 1999 MBC New Star Award respectively.[4]

By the early 2000s, Lee's career was gaining momentum. In 2002, she received KBS Excellence in Acting Award for her portrayal of the bubbly model Lee Ha-na in the romantic comedy Who's My Love. The following year, she landed a lead role in the well-received drama Yellow Handkerchief, co-starring Jo Min-ki. Lee received her first KBS Top Excellence in Acting Award for her portrayal of Yoon Ja-young, a designer who was dumped by her boyfriend of ten years and raised a child alone.[4][5]

2005–2012

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In 2005, she appeared in the highly popular KBS series My Rosy Life,[6] written by Moon Young-nam, which also featured Choi Jin-sil. She earned the KBS Popularity Award for her character of Maeng Young-yi, a successful career woman who didn't believe in love. After the success of My Rosy Life, she played the lead in the KBS drama Famous Princesses, also written by Moon.[7] The drama recorded high audience rating and garnered several award nominations and wins for its actors.[8] Lee's portrayal of Daewi Na Seol-chil has been widely acclaimed, earning her second KBS Top Excellence in Acting Award and Best Couple Award with Park Hae-jin in 2006.[9]

 
Lee at the My Precious You press conference in September 2008

Lee next starred in lead role of Jang In-ho in KBS’s My Precious You alongside Kim Sung-soo in 2008.[10] In 2010, she appeared in KBS’s war drama Legend of the Patriots, opposite Choi Soo-jong, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.[11] In 2012, Lee starred in JTBC’s drama How Long I've Kissed, alongside Lee Sung-jae.

2013–present

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In 2013, Lee returned to SBS in the drama Goddess of Marriage, after a three-year hiatus from major Korean TV networks.[12] She also played the role of Wang Ho-bak in the KBS weekend drama Wang's Family, which was her third work written by Moon Young-nam.[13][14]

In 2018, she starred in the hit drama Sky Castle as Lee Soo-im, a novel writer and the humble and loving housewife and stepmother in the Hwang household.[15]

China

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In conjunction with her success at home, Lee has become one of the most recognised Korean actresses in China.[16] In 2001, she had a supporting role in CCTV’s drama Modern Family, playing a Korean daughter-in-law who married into a Chinese family.[17] Her works Yellow Handkerchief and My Rosy Life were shown on CCTV-8. In 2009, Famous Princesses was shown on Hunan Television. It became a huge hit nationwide and was voted “Overseas TV Drama of the Year”.[18] In 2010, Lee landed a lead role in the Chinese TV drama The Lure of Cloud.[19] In 2011, she appeared in the Chinese historical drama Di Jin with Korean actor Kangta.[20] In 2012, she had a lead role in another historical drama For the Sake of Beauty with Hong Kong actor Patrick Tam.[21] In 2013, Lee filmed a drama The Way We Were, produced by Huayi Brothers, a big-shot Chinese entertainment agency.[22]

Films

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In 1997, Lee made her film debut in Story of A Man, opposite Choi Min-soo as the film's title character. In 2007, she starred in Love Exposure, the Korean version of Sex and the City, alongside Lee Mi-yeon.[23] In 2012, she appeared alongside Cha In-pyo in the film My Boy, on a pro bono basis and was also involved in the production.[24] The film made its world premiere at the 18th Busan International Film Festival in October 2013,[25] and hit Korean theatres on 10 April 2014.[26]

Personal life

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On 17 February 2014, it was announced that Lee was going to marry businessman Shin Seung-hwan.[27][28] The couple wed in a private Christian ceremony at Villa de Bailey in Seoul on 1 March 2014.[29][30]

Philanthropy

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In May 2008, Lee travelled to Nepal with the ‘’Seollebal Mountain Club’’ to carry out volunteer work. She joined singer Lee Moon-sae, actor Park Sang-won and film director Han Ji-seung to help reconstruct a school.[31] Lee's self-portrait, based on a photo taken in Nepal, was made public for the first time in Korea Art Summer Festival 2009. She hoped that proceeds from the sale of her painting would go to charity.[32] In March 2009, alongside Hanyang University celebrity alumni Jang Keun-suk, Ha Seok-jin, Park Mi-sun and Jung Il-woo, Lee participated in the Blood Donation Festival “Seventy Days of Miracles”, an effort to raise money for children with heart disease and other people in dire need.[33] On 8 July 2011, Lee attended charity-sponsored fashion show and bazaar “Wello! Africa’’, with Sistar and Jo Dong-hyuk, to promote education in Africa. The event was hosted by World Vision. In October 2012, Lee travelled to Tanzania for the filming of MBC’s reality show “2012 KOICA’s Dream”, alongside Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Park Sung-woong, Kim Hyuk and other volunteers. It's a show where celebrities do community service work in underprivileged countries.[34]

Lee was named an ambassador at the Mapo Happiness Sharing Food Market in 2009. She volunteers at the food market, donates rice, and also visits elderly citizens living alone, people with disabilities, and low-income families at least twice a month. Her service was recognised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the 4th Food Bank National Food Sharing Convention in 2010 and the 7th Food Bank National Food Sharing Convention in 2013.[35][36] On 6 December 2013, she donated 2.76 tonnes of fan rice to the Mapo Happiness Sharing Food Market.[37]

Lee arrived in Uganda in April 2014, just one month after her wedding. She travelled to remote villages where many people are suffering from elephantiasis and found it "heartbreaking".[38] Her week-long mission was featured in "2014 SBS Hope TV", a show designed to raise awareness about the issues that Africans face, and bringing in donations at the same time.[39]

On February 15, 2023, Lee donated 10 million won to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through Warm Day.[40]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network Notes
1997 The Brothers' River SBS TV debut[41]
Over the Horizon Cho Soo-hee
1998 Fascinate My Heart Eun Hee-soo Won – SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award
Seven Brides
1999 Love Now Jang Hye-ji
Goodbye My Love Choi Hee-jung MBC
Days of Delight Goo Yoo-jung Won – MBC Drama Awards: Best New Actress
2000 Soonpoong Clinic Oh Tae-ran SBS
More than Love Seo Hee-joo MBC
All Above Eve Cameo
2001 Hong Guk Young Ms Seo
Navy Park So-yeon
How Should I Be Yoo Ri
Modern Family Park Yeon-hee CCTV, MBC
2002 Who's My Love Lee Ha-na KBS2 Won – KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress
2003 Yellow Handkerchief Yoon Ja-young KBS1 Won – KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award, Actress
Long Live Love Lee Min-joo SBS
2004 The Woman Who Wants to Marry Jin Soon-ae MBC
2005 Best Mother Yoon So-young SBS
My Rosy Life Maeng Young-yi KBS2 Won – KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award
2006 Famous Princesses Na Seol-chil Won – KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award, Actress
Won – KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Park Hae-jin
2007 Several Questions That Make Us Happy Cameo
2008 My Precious You Jang In-ho Nominated – KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress
2010 Legend of the Patriots Lee Soo-kyung KBS1 Nominated – KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress
The Lure of Cloud Shu Lin Hunan Television
2011 Di Jin Jin Yuan Shanghai East Movie Channel
2012 How Long I've Kissed Hong Ji-sun JTBC
For the Sake of Beauty Han Yingzhu Zhejiang Television First aired on Shanghai TV Drama Channel
2013 The Way We Were Kazuko Miura Post-production
Goddess of Marriage Hong Hye-jung SBS
Wang's Family Wang Ho-bak KBS2 Won – KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress
2015 Make a Woman Cry Choi Hong-ran MBC
2018 Sky Castle Lee Soo-im JTBC [42]
2022 The Driver Mi-seon MBN [43][44]
2023 Delightfully Deceitful Jang Kyung-ja tvN

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Story of A Man Hee-kyung Film debut
2006 My Boss, My Teacher Mi-ran's sister Cameo
2007 Love Exposure Yoon Hee-soo Nominated – 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards (2007) for Best New Actress
Nominated – 45th Grand Bell Awards (2008) for Best New Actress
2013 My Boy I-cheon's mother
2015 Granny's Got Talent Mi-hee
Helios Yoon Hee-seon Cameo
Twenty Again Min-ha Nominated – 53rd Grand Bell Awards (2016) for Best Actress

Variety show series

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Year Title Network Notes
2016 Let Me Home tvN MC

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Educating Rita Rita[45] Stage comedy

Other work

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Music

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Year Song Notes
2005 Reunion My Rosy Life OST

Photo album

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Year Title Notes
2009 Butterfly · Lee Tae-ran Shot and published in China[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b 박지련 (30 January 2014). 이태란 “연예계 데뷔전 3년간 회사다녔다” (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  2. ^ 저도 아침편지 가족입니다 탤런트 이태란 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  3. ^ 강승훈 (28 February 2008). 이태란, 15년만에 대학생.. 한양대로 확정 (in Korean). asiae.co.kr. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Profile" (in Korean). Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  5. ^ "2003 KBS Drama Awards - Winners List" (in Korean). KBS. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Final episode of "My Rosy Life" records viewership of 41.5%". KBS. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  7. ^ 이태란ㆍ김혜선, 문영남 작가 차기작 출연 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Dramas Sweep the Top 10 Ratings List". KBS. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  9. ^ "2006 KBS Drama Awards - Winners List" (in Korean). KBS. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Youthful drama targets weekend audience". Koreanmovie. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  11. ^ "War drama Legend of the Patriots premieres this weekend". Koreanmovie. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  12. ^ "이태란 SHE'S BaCK" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Wang's Family". KBS World. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  14. ^ Cho Suyoun (29 August 2013). "Lee Tae ran, I'm coming back with a new series!". BNT News. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  15. ^ "The Soaring Ratings And Scandals Of 'SKY Castle'". Forbes. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  16. ^ 韩娱每周一星:李泰兰-温婉熟女化身英勇战士 (in Chinese). Sina. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  17. ^ 央视电视剧频道提前贺岁 《摩登家庭》开播 (in Chinese). Xinhua. 23 January 2002. Archived from the original on 2 April 2002. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  18. ^ 年度引进电视剧 《传说中的七公主》 (in Chinese). QQ. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Lee Tae-ran to Star in Chinese Drama". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  20. ^ 가수 강타, 중국 사극 '제금'서 황제 역 맡아 (in Korean). SBS. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  21. ^ "For the Sake of Beauty". Lafeng Entertainment. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  22. ^ Park Jin-hai (19 June 2013). "Korean stars faring well in China". The Korea Times. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  23. ^ Lee Hyo-won (2 October 2007). "Actresses Gain Presence Onscreen". The Korea Times. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  24. ^ ""The Weight" director Jeon Kyu-hwan to Present New Human Drama Pic Next Year". asiae.co.kr. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  25. ^ "My Boy". BIFF. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  26. ^ Sunghee Park (18 March 2014). "New film 'My Boy' Holds Press Conference". BNT News. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  27. ^ 백지은 (17 February 2014). 이태란, 3월 동갑내기 벤처사업가와 결혼! 웨딩화보 공개 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  28. ^ Park Si-soo (17 February 2014). "Lee Tae-ran to marry next month". The Korea Times. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  29. ^ 김슬기 (1 March 2014). 3월의 신부 이태란, `아름다운 드레스 자태` (in Korean). sportsseoul.com. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  30. ^ "Lee Tae-ran Ties the Knot After Soaps Give Her Change of Heart". The Chosun Ilbo. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  31. ^ Han Sang-hee (4 May 2008). "Celebrity Hiking Club to Visit Nepal". The Korea Times. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  32. ^ 才女李泰兰展示自画像 (in Chinese). 163. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  33. ^ Kang Dong Ho (March 2009). "Celebrating Hanyang's 70th Anniversary with Love". Weekly Hanyang. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  34. ^ Stewart Ho (10 December 2012). "Nichkhun's time in Tanzania to air on KOICA's Dream". Yahoo! Singapore. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  35. ^ 이창섭 (22 November 2010). "콩나물로도 이웃사랑 실천할 수 있어요!" ‘맛있는 나눔 ! 행복한 세상’"제4회 푸드뱅크 식품나눔 전국대회" 개최 (in Korean). Ministry of Health and Welfare. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  36. ^ 황규준 (15 November 2013). 배우 이태란, 보건복지부장관 표창 수여 (in Korean). Star Daily News. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  37. ^ 이나래 (9 December 2013). 이태란 쌀화환 2.7톤 기부, 한겨울 훈훈선행 (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  38. ^ 박설이 (11 April 2014). 새신부 이태란, 아프리카 봉사 근황 "마음 아파" (in Korean). tvreport.co.kr. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  39. ^ 코끼리 발의 마을 (in Korean). SBS Hope TV. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  40. ^ Lee, Jung-beom (15 February 2023). "이태란, 따뜻한 하루에 튀르키예 지진 구호 성금 1000만 원 기부…선한 영향력" [Lee Tae-ran donates 10 million won to Turkey earthquake relief on a warm day... good influence] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved 16 February 2023 – via Naver.
  41. ^ 윤여수 (28 March 2011). "[스타, 그때의 오늘] 회사원 출신…97년판 '슈스K'" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  42. ^ "[공식]'SKY 캐슬' 염정아X이태란X윤세아X오나라, 출연 확정…11월 첫 방송". Sports Chosun (in Korean). 28 August 2018.
  43. ^ Kang Nae-ri (18 August 2021). "김승우 연출작 '더 드라이버', 안재욱·이태란 등 출연…9월 첫 촬영" ['The Driver' directed by Kim Seung-woo, Ahn Jae-wook, Lee Tae-ran, etc. first shoot in september]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  44. ^ Kim Na-young (10 January 2022). "김승우 연출 '더 드라이버' 2월 방송, 안재욱·이태란·안길강 출연" [Directed by Kim Seung-woo, ‘The Driver’ aired in February, starring Ahn Jae-wook, Lee Tae-ran, and Ahn Gil-kang] (in Korean). MK SPORTS. Retrieved 10 January 2022 – via Naver.
  45. ^ 리타 길들이기 (in Korean). Play DB. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  46. ^ 李泰兰写真集元旦发售 新年伊始北京办签售 (in Chinese). Sina. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
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