HONG KONG — Netflix subscribers all over the world are on an emotional roller coaster right now, thanks to a K-drama called Twenty-Five Twenty-One. The A-list lead actor Nam Joo-hyuk drew many in, then they were hooked by the nostalgic plot (set in South Korea’s financial crisis in the 1990s) and the well-crafted script. But a pleasant surprise to many is the lead actress, Kim Tae-ri.

Kim plays an aspiring fencer named Na Hee-do in this coming-of-age drama and has been making headlines with her refreshing tomboyish charm.

She might have been recognised recently for her acting chops, but still she isn’t as well-known internationally compared to actresses around her age, like Park Shin-hye or Park Bo-young. Understandably so, since her list of credits is not as extensive as theirs.

Here’s what you need to know about Kim — before she surely becomes a household name across the world.

SHE WAS BORN IN 1990

In Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Kim is four years younger than Nam’s character. In reality, however, she is 31 — almost four years older than the actor. And just like her character in the drama, she was born and raised in Seoul.

AS A STUDENT, SHE WAS PART OF THE THEATRE CLUB

Not much is known about Kim’s academic history, but we do know that she graduated from Youngshin Nursing Business High School in Seoul. Then she attended Kyung Hee University from 2008 to 2012, taking a journalism and communications course.

It was in her second year of univeristy that she joined a theatre club and started acting. During this time, she also juggled school with part-time jobs in cafes and convenience stores.

SHE DIDN’T DEBUT IN BROADCAST MEDIA RIGHT AWAY

Her acting career started with a theatre troupe in Daehakro, an arts and culture hub in Seoul. Originally part of the technical team, she was cast as an understudy in a production of the play Spoonface Steinberg. She didn’t get to perform then, but she scored other roles soon after.

HER FIRST MOVIE WAS AN INDEPENDENT FILM

Kim signed with J Wide Company in 2014 and starred in an indie movie called Moon Young, which debuted at the Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2015.

She also appeared in TV commercials and short films, but was reportedly rejected from many film roles. In July 2021, she switched to a new entertainment company, Management mmm, along with Jeon Yeo-bin (from the 2021 K-drama Vincenzo).

SHE GOT HER BREAK IN THE EROTIC PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, THE HANDMAIDEN

Also starring Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong, the critically acclaimed 2016 movie, The Handmaiden, put Kim on the map.

Not only was she chosen from among 1,500 actresses who auditioned, she won prestigious prizes too. Among those were best new actress awards at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Busan Film Critics Awards.

MORE AWARDS AND SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

The rest, as they say, is history. Kim has made headlines and garnered further award nominations in recent years. For instance, in 2017, she was in 1987: When The Day Comes in 2017 with Ha and other veteran actors, Kim Yoon-seok and Yoo Hae-jin. She also got a best actress nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in the 2018 historical drama, Mr Sunshine, with Lee Byung-hun.

You also might recognise her as the tough ship captain alongside Song Joong-ki in the 2021 sci-fi Netflix film Space Sweepers.

Now, Kim continues to charm viewers as Na Hee-do, and is slated to appear in other highly anticipated works soon, such as in the 2022 film Alien with Ryu Jun-yeol. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST