Soo Ae

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Soo Ae
박수애
Soo Ae in 2016
Born
Park Soo-ae

(1979-09-16) 16 September 1979 (age 44)
Other namesSu Ae
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
AgentMakestar
Korean name
Hangul
박수애
Hanja
Revised RomanizationBak Su-ae
McCune–ReischauerPak Suae

Park Soo-ae (Korean박수애; born 16 September 1979), known mononymously as Soo Ae, is a South Korean actress best known for portraying Kim In-hae in the 2013 film The Flu and Oh Soo-yeon in the 2018 film High Society.

Soo Ae began her career on television, but after her breakout role in A Family (2004), she became well-known as a leading actress in films, notably in Sunny (2008) and Midnight FM (2010).

She also appeared in the popular television melodramas Emperor of the Sea (2004), A Thousand Days' Promise (2011), Queen of Ambition (2013) and Mask (2015). In 2016, she made her romantic-comedy drama comeback in KBS2's Sweet Stranger and Me.

Career[edit]

Pre-debut[edit]

Soo Ae nearly became a member of a K-pop idol group. Fresh out of high school, a record agent approached the young stunner on the street in the trendy Apgujeong area. She spent six months in grueling practice, but in the end had no album to put out. She reminisced in an interview, "I didn't sing well, but the six months I spent with the team was so fun. I was lucky to get into acting."[2]

2002–2008[edit]

Soo Ae made her small screen debut in 2002 in a one-act drama on MBC,[3][4] then went on to star in Love Letter,[5] Merry Go Round,[6] and April Kiss.[7] She rose to fame after starring in 2004 hit historical drama Emperor of the Sea, which was exported to other Asian countries, South America and the Middle East, introducing Soo Ae to a wider international audience.[8][9]

With her classical beauty and innocent, elegant image, Soo Ae gained the moniker "queen of tears" for her well-received takes in melodramas. But she revamped that image in the 2007 romantic comedy Two Outs in the Ninth Inning opposite Lee Jung-jin, playing a 30-year-old foul-mouthed, disheveled and jaded single woman struggling with life and love. Soo Ae in reality was known for her a husky, neutral voice, which helped her tomboyish performance feel so natural. But her voice wasn't always a plus. She said, "I've been told many times that my voice would be a detriment to my career. When I first got started, a lot of viewers posted comments online that they changed the channel because of the way I talk. [...] It was odd because I thought of my husky voice as my biggest asset. So I would tell people, "Keep on listening, you'll get to like it."[2][10]

After a successful big screen debut in A Family,[11] Soo Ae starred opposite Jung Jae-young in the comedy Wedding Campaign, and Lee Byung-hun in the melodrama Once in a Summer.[12][13]

In 2008, she was cast as the titular Sunny in a film about an ordinary housewife who becomes a "consolatory band" singer in order to search for her husband who has been dispatched to fight alongside American troops in the Vietnam War. Director Lee Joon-ik sought to tell a war story from a female-centric point of view, saying the film deals with the meaning of love and humanitarian as it depicts a long voyage of self-discovery.[14] In a scene where she drinks heavily at a U.S. army base, Soo Ae revealed that she drank more than half a bottle of whisky at the director's criticism that she didn't look convincing enough. As a result of drinking so much alcohol, she became really drunk, adding reality to the scene where she throws up in the toilet and blacks out.[15] Her commitment to the film paid off, and Soo Ae received multiple Best Actress awards for her performance.

2009–2012[edit]

Her 2009 film The Sword with No Name depicted a desperate romance between the last queen of the Joseon Dynasty and her bodyguard. Empress Myeongseong, a forward-thinking advocate of modernity, wields her political influence to further her ideals, but is often at odds with her orthodox father-in-law, regent Daewon-gun. The movie is loosely based on history, with clearly fictional elements.[16] Soo Ae said the role "was something I had always wanted to do from the moment I started my acting career. When I got the screenplay, I said yes without a moment's hesitation.[17] [...] Playing Empress Myeongseong was not easy, because in addition to the mother of the nation, I had to show her womanly and human side, the joy and anguish she felt at being in love." Having to wear heavy wigs and layers of Korean traditional costumes in the steamy hot summer made the job even more difficult. The fact that she had to appear in almost every scene was another challenge.[18] Describing herself as "timid" and "too introverted," Soo Ae credits her co-star Cho Seung-woo for making it easier for her to fully absorb herself in the love aspect of her role, such that it felt "like [they] were actually in a relationship during the shoot."[16][17]

Frustrated by usually receiving melodrama scripts and wanting to take on roles in different genres, Soo Ae next starred in the 2010 suspense thriller Midnight FM. She said she decided to challenge herself by choosing the role of a strong female character fighting against a villain. She talked about the heightened fear she felt in a confined studio as her radio DJ character receives threatening phone calls from a kidnapper (played by Yoo Ji-tae), as well as the physical difficulty of filming chase and fight scenes in high heels.[19][20] She tied with Yoon Jeong-hee (Poetry) for Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.[21]

In her return to television, Soo Ae played a cold-blooded double agent in Athena: Goddess of War, undergoing martial arts training to perform her intense action scenes in the spy series.[22]

Then in the miniseries A Thousand Days' Promise by famed drama writer Kim Soo-hyun, Soo Ae impressed critics and audiences with her unsentimental portrayal of a woman who is slowly losing her memory due to Alzheimer's disease.[23][24]

2013–present[edit]

In 2013, she played an amorally ambitious woman who wants to become the First Lady of South Korea in Yawang ("Queen of Ambition"), from the same manhwa artist as Daemul.[25] This was followed by disaster outbreak film The Flu, in which she said she played a doctor and single mother who searches for a cure after her daughter is infected. Soo Ae said she is attracted to roles with an oeyunaegang quality, which literally translates to "iron fist in a velvet glove," meaning those who appear gentle but are determined and strong.[26][27][28]

In September 2013, Soo Ae left Star J Entertainment, her agency of 12 years,[29] and joined Management Soop.[30][31] She returned to Star J Entertainment in January 2015. Soo Ae next played dual roles in Mask, about a debt-ridden department store clerk who takes on an heiress's identity and marries into a chaebol family.[32] Her performance won her Best Actress at the 28th Grimae Award, an honorable award chosen by directors in every broadcasting station in Korea. She was then cast as a North Korean defector who becomes part of the first South Korean women's national ice hockey team in Take Off 2, the sequel to the 2009 hit sports drama.[33]

Nine years after her last romantic-comedy drama Two Outs in the Ninth Inning, Soo Ae starred in KBS2's romantic-comedy Sweet Stranger and Me in 2016.[34]

In 2018, Soo Ae starred in the drama film High Society.[35] In May 2019, Soo Ae signed with new agency Huayi Brothers.[36]

In November 2022, Soo Ae signed with Ghost Studio.[37]

In August 2023, Soo Ae signed with new agency Makestar.[38]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role
2004 A Family Lee Jeong-eun
2005 Wedding Campaign Kim Lara
2006 Once in a Summer Seo Jung-in
2008 Sunny Soon-yi / Sunny
2009 The Sword with No Name Min Ja-young, later Empress Myeongseong
2010 Midnight FM Ko Sun-young
2013 The Flu Kim In-hae
2016 Take Off 2 Ji-won
2018 High Society Oh Soo-yeon

Television series[edit]

Year Title Role Network
1999 School 2 guest appearance KBS1
2002 MBC Best Theater: One Sided Love MBC
The Maengs' Golden Era Heo Joo-yeon
2003 Love Letter Jo Eun-ha
Merry Go Round Seong Jin-kyo
2004 April Kiss Song Chae-won KBS2
Emperor of the Sea Lady Jung-hwa
2007 Two Outs in the Ninth Inning Hong Nan-hee MBC
2010 Athena: Goddess of War Yoon Hye-in SBS
2011 A Thousand Days' Promise Lee Seo-yeon
2013 Queen of Ambition Joo Da-hae
2015 Mask Byun Ji-sook/Seo Eun-ha
2016 Sweet Stranger and Me Hong Na-ri KBS2
2021 Artificial City Yoon Jae-hee JTBC

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2003 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actress Love Letter, Merry Go Round Won [39]
2004 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress April Kiss Nominated
25th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress A Family Won [40]
3rd Korean Film Awards Best New Actress Won [41]
3rd CGV Viewer's Choice of the Year Awards Won
7th Director's Cut Awards Won
Cine 21 Awards Won
2005 42nd Grand Bell Awards Nominated
41st Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actress (Film) Won [42]
2nd Max Movie Awards Best Actress Won [43]
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Emperor of the Sea Won [44]
Best Couple Award with Song Il-gook Won [45]
2006 2nd Premiere Rising Star Awards Best Actress Wedding Campaign Nominated
2007 15th Chunsa Film Art Awards Once in a Summer Nominated
Korea TV Advertising Festival Best Couple Award with Jang Dong-gun Maxim CF Won [46]
2008 28th Arts Council Korea Best Artist of the Year in Film Sunny Won [47]
31st Golden Cinematography Awards Most Popular Actress Won [48]
29th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Leading Actress Nominated
4th Premiere Rising Star Awards Best Actress Won [49]
17th Buil Film Awards Won [50]
28th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Won [51]
2009 46th Grand Bell Awards Won [52]
17th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Won [53]
45th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (Film) Nominated
2010 47th Savings Day Prime Minister's Commendation Won [54]
31st Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Leading Actress Midnight FM Won [55]
6th University Film Festival of Korea Best Actress Won [56]
2011 8th Max Movie Awards Nominated
47th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (Film) Nominated
15th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival Actor's Award Won [57]
27th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Dressed, Movie Actress Category Won [58]
SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama A Thousand Days' Promise Won [59]
Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama Athena: Goddess of War Nominated
Top 10 Stars A Thousand Days' Promise, Athena: Goddess of War Won
2012 48th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) A Thousand Days' Promise Nominated
5th Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Nominated
2013 2nd APAN Star Awards Queen of Ambition Nominated
6th Korea Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Nominated
SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Nominated
2015 4th APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Mask Nominated
28th Grimae Awards Best Actress Won [60]
2016 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Sweet Stranger and Me Nominated
2017 1st Korean Screenwriter Association Best Actress Take Off 2 Won [61]
2018 7th Korea Best Star Awards High Society Won [62]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kyunghyang Shinmun: 수애 “달동네 아이들 꿈꿀 수 있게” 1억 기부
  2. ^ a b "Soo Ae Sheds Refined Image for Boorish New Role". The Chosun Ilbo. 17 August 2007.
  3. ^ "반항아로 돌아온 수애". Seoul (in Korean). 26 August 2004.
  4. ^ "주목할만한 모델, 수애". DT (in Korean). 4 April 2003.
  5. ^ "[인터뷰] MBC 드라마 '러브레터' 주연 탤런트 수애". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 5 February 2003.
  6. ^ "죽었다 살았다…수애 결국 살아난다". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 13 February 2004.
  7. ^ "<연합인터뷰> KBS '4월의 키스'의 수애". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 16 April 2004.
  8. ^ "Su Ae Picked Best Actress of 2004 by Internet Users". KBS Global. 28 January 2005.
  9. ^ "Emperor of the Sea Drawing Attention of International TV Market". The Chosun Ilbo. 15 April 2005.
  10. ^ Jeon, Su-mi (4 August 2013). "Soo Ae Talks About Trust and Being an Actress". enewsWorld.
  11. ^ Kim, Gab-sik (25 August 2004). "Suae Sounds Off on Her Role in Family". The Dong-a Ilbo.
  12. ^ "Farmer Looks for Love in Upcoming 'Wedding Campaign'". The Korea Times. 21 August 2005.
  13. ^ "First Love". The Dong-a Ilbo. 23 November 2006.
  14. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (1 July 2008). "Sunny to Bring New Light to Vietnam War". The Korea Times.
  15. ^ "Su-ae Admits to Passing Out in Film". KBS World. 8 August 2008.
  16. ^ a b Yang, Sung-hee (1 October 2009). "Sword presents the softer side of actress Soo-ae". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  17. ^ a b Park, Sun-young (27 August 2009). "Another side to Empress Myeongseong". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  18. ^ "Su-ae on Playing Empress Myeongseong". The Chosun Ilbo. 17 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Soo Ae: 'I Want to Show a Strong Image'". KBS Global. 15 October 2010.
  20. ^ "Soo Ae: 'I Felt Relieved After Filming Scenes Heaping Insults'". KBS Global. 20 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Today's Photo: November 27, 2010". The Chosun Ilbo. 27 November 2010.
  22. ^ Chung, Ah-young (9 April 2010). "Su Ae Cast in Sequel to Hit Drama Iris". The Korea Times.
  23. ^ Oh, Jean (12 October 2011). "Kim Rae-won returns in melodramatic sob fest". The Korea Herald.
  24. ^ "Fear No Barrier for Actress Su-ae After All". The Chosun Ilbo. 7 January 2012.
  25. ^ An, So-hyoun (11 January 2013). "Soo Ae Says She's Pressured about Having to Act as a Young First Lady on Yawang". enewsWorld.
  26. ^ Lee, Claire (19 August 2013). "Soo Ae: Best characters have iron fist in a velvet glove". The Korea Herald.
  27. ^ Son, Bo-kyung (23 August 2013). "Interview: Soo Ae Praises The Flu, Jang Hyuk and Kim Sung Soo". enewsWorld.
  28. ^ Lim, Hyun-dong (12 September 2013). "Soo Ae ready for a little romance". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  29. ^ "Agency announces Soo Ae's departure". Korea JoongAng Daily. 28 August 2013.
  30. ^ "Soo Ae Changes Agencies and Joins Gong Yoo and Gong Hyo Jin at Soop Entertainment". Soompi. 15 September 2013.
  31. ^ "Su Ae". Management Soop. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  32. ^ Doo, Rumy (20 May 2015). "Two sides of Soo Ae". The Korea Herald.
  33. ^ Jin, Min-ji (31 July 2015). "Soo Ae gets top role in first hockey flick". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  34. ^ "'Sweet Stranger and Me,' a rom-com with suspense". Yonhap. 20 October 2016.
  35. ^ "Su Ae, PARK Hae-il, and LEE Jin-wook to Perform Together in High Society". Korean Film Biz Zone. 9 November 2017.
  36. ^ "수애, 화이브라더스와 전속 계약…유해진X이다희와 한솥밥 [공식]". OSEN. 31 May 2019.
  37. ^ Park, Ah-reum (November 1, 2022). "주원X수애X이다희X김옥빈X김성오, 신생 고스트 스튜디오서 새 출발[공식]" [Joo Won X Soo Ae X Lee Da Hee X Kim Ok Bin X Kim Seong Oh, A New Start at the New Ghost Studio [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Naver.
  38. ^ Kang Seo-jeong (September 1, 2023). "수애, 메이크스타와 전속계약…박해일과 한솥밥" [Soo Ae, exclusive contract with Makestar... Park Hae-il and Hanpot Rice] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Naver.
  39. ^ "'대장금' 이영애 MBC 연기대상". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 1 January 2004.
  40. ^ "'실미도' 청룡영화상 작품상 수상". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 29 November 2004.
  41. ^ "강동원·수애, 대한민국영화대상 남녀 신인상". Star News (in Korean). 5 December 2004.
  42. ^ Kim, Soo-jin (20 May 2005). "'말아톤' '파리의 연인' 백상예술대상 대상 (종합)" [Marathon, Lovers in Paris are Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize winners]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  43. ^ "장동건-수애, 16일 관객이 뽑은 영화상 받는다". Star News (in Korean). 14 February 2005.
  44. ^ "수애 이혜숙, '2005 KBS 연기대상' 여자 우수연기상". Star News (in Korean). 1 January 2006.
  45. ^ "최진실-손현주등, "나이먹은 커플도 수상한다"(KBS베스트커플상)". My Daily (in Korean). 1 January 2006.
  46. ^ "장동건·수애, 광고 페스티벌 베스트 커플상". My Daily (in Korean). 18 September 2007.
  47. ^ "홍상수 '밤과낮', 평론가 뽑은 올 최고영화..두 영평상 작품상 영예". Newsen (in Korean). 5 November 2008.
  48. ^ "Filmmakers Honored at Golden Cinematography Awards". HanCinema. KBS World. 23 December 2008.
  49. ^ "HA Jung-woo and SU Ae are tomorrow's stars". Korean Film Biz Zone. 10 October 2008.
  50. ^ Yi, Chang-ho (24 October 2008). "The Chaser extends awards lead". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  51. ^ "수애, 올해의 최우수 예술가상 영화부문 수상". Newsis (in Korean). 5 December 2008.
  52. ^ "Grand Bell Film Fest Puzzles Movie Fans". The Korea Times. 8 November 2009.
  53. ^ "소녀시대·송승헌·설경구 문화연예대상 대상". Star News (in Korean). 30 November 2009.
  54. ^ "[연예 뉴스 스테이션] 이다해 수애, 저축상 수상…양희은 국무총리 표창상". Financial News (in Korean). 27 October 2010.
  55. ^ ""Secret Reunion" wins best picture at Blue Dragon awards". 10Asia. 29 November 2010.
  56. ^ "원빈-수애-이민정, 대학생 선정 영화인상…대학영화제 개막". Naver (in Korean). 13 October 2010.
  57. ^ "Park Hae-il, Soo-ae, Choi Daniel, Sin Se-gyeong to win awards at PiFan". 10Asia. 13 July 2011.
  58. ^ "[포토엔]문채원 '베스트 드레서로 선정됐어요'". Newsen (in Korean). 12 December 2011.
  59. ^ Jessica Kim (2 January 2012). "Han Suk-kyu reclaims glory at SBS Drama Awards". 10Asia. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  60. ^ "Yeon Jung-hoon and Soo Ae to receive Excellence in Acting Awards at Grime Awards 2015". HanCinema. Star News. 10 December 2015.
  61. ^ "Oh Dal-soo, Park Hae-il and Soo Ae, Best Scenario Award". The Dong-a Ilbo. 23 April 2017.
  62. ^ "이순재·김윤석·장동건·수애, 베스트 주연상 수상..12일 시상식 [공식입장]". Osen (in Korean). 12 December 2018.

External links[edit]