Kim Ok-bin (born 29 December 1986) is a South Korean actress and model. The eldest of three siblings,[1] Kim made her debut in an online beauty contest in 2004, and began her acting career with a role in 2005 film Voice. Subsequent appearances include the television drama series Over the Rainbow and films such as Dasepo Naughty Girls and The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan. Kim has received several award nominations, and won Best Actress at the 2009 Sitges Film Festival for her role in Thirst.
Contents
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* 1 Career
* 2 Criticism and other pursuits
* 3 Filmography
* 4 Music videos
* 5 Awards and nominations
* 6 References
* 7 External links
Career
Kim made her debut in an online beauty contest hosted by web portal Naver in 2004.[2] Despite having little prior acting experience, she was cast of one of the three leads in the 2005 film Voice,[3] a role which saw her nominated for "Best New Actress" at both the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards.[4][5]
Kim next starred as the lead actress in Hanoi Bride, a two-part SBS drama aired during the Chuseok holidays to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam war. Her performance as Vietnamese girl Lý Thị Vũ caught the attention of film director E J-yong, who subsequently cast her as the main character in his 2006 film Dasepo Naughty Girls, based on a popular webcomic. E commented that, "Not many young actresses would be mature enough to completely understand the heroine who has to support the family by selling herself as a prostitute... But Kim seemed like an actress who had the ability to understand the character."[1] Despite her initial reluctance due to the original comic having some explicit scenes, she ultimately took the part, having faith in the director because of his previous works.[6]
Kim Ok-bin at the Thirst press conference in Seoul CGV Apgujeong Coach Park
Kim auditioned for a part in the 2006 KBS drama series Hello, God, and after impressing director Ji Yeong-soo with her "intense determination", was handed a leading role as confidence trickster Seo Eun-hye. During filming she expressed self-doubts, saying, "I used to cry two or three times everyday when the shooting began because I felt that I was a rubbish actress", and with a tight schedule that allowed her less than two hours of sleep per day, was reported to have collapsed on set.[1] Later that year, she appeared in MBC drama Over the Rainbow as aspiring pop singer Jeong Hee-su, a part which required her to sing and master difficult breakdance moves. Series producer Han Hee complimented Kim, saying, "She is a bold actress. She’s very enthusiastic about her role with an almost perfectionist attitude."[2] However, she caused some concern when she admitted to only eating one meal per day while filming the drama.[7] In her next film, The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan, Kim starred alongside Lee Jung-jae as a Joseon-era kisaeng. Kim said that she found it difficult performing a historical role, but was helped by consultations with director Yeo Gyoon-dong and studied traditional Korean dance for two months. The film opened in South Korea in December 2008.[8]
In February 2008, Kim was announced as the female lead in Park Chan-wook's Thirst, in a part that required numerous adult scenes with co-star Song Kang-ho.[9] Kim felt that she learned much from working alongside Song, while Park commended her versatility in showing the different sides to her character.[10] Thirst topped the South Korean box office over it's opening weekend with over one million admissions,[11] and was invited to the 2009 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize.[12] Richard Corliss of Time praised Kim's performance in the film, saying, "it's the lovely Kim, just 22, who is the revelation here. She can play — no, she can be — a creature of mute docility, then searching ardor, then explosive eroticism, then murderous intent. She is Lady Chatterley and Lady Macbeth in one smoldering package".[13] The Hollywood Reporter's Maggie Lee was more critical, commenting, "[Kim's] high-pitched neurosis is sometimes grating, but for a relative newcomer, she keeps her continuous personality transformations in stride",[14] while Kyu Hyun Kim of OhmyNews said, "Kim is stunningly sexy in both wilted-housewife and full-blown femme fatale modes, and throws all of herself into the role", but also considered her "a bit too young and contemporary" for the role.[15] She was a co-recipient of the Best Actress award at the 42nd Sitges Film Festival (shared with Elena Anaya for Hierro),[16] and has been nominated for Best Actress at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards, due to take place on 2 December 2009.[17]
Kim was reunited with director E J-yong for Actresses, a low-budget film in which she and five other leading Korean actresses portray themselves at a special Vogue magazine shoot. Like her co-stars, Kim agreed to take part with no guarantee and shared writing credits. The film is due to open on 10 December 2009.[18][19]
Speaking of her own ambitions as an actress, Kim has said, "I am not attracted to easy and simple roles... I only feel alive when I am challenged with difficult roles that push me to improve my acting skills".[1]
Criticism and other pursuits
Kim faced criticism after appearing on a TV show and saying, "I don’t like men who use discount cards at fancy restaurants", with some calling her doinjangnyeo, a term referring to women who rely on rich parents or boyfriends rather than their own income. The incident had a negative impact on her popularity, though she later stated that her comments were taken out of context.[2]
A keen martial artist, Kim has attained third dan in Hapgido, and second dan in Taekwondo. She also practices Muay Thai.[2]
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