Lee Tae-ran

This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.
Lee Tae-ran
Born 6 May 1975
Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea
Nationality South Korean
Alma mater Hanyang University
Occupation Actress
Years active 1997 – present
Agent Star Page Entertainment[1]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Religion Christianity
Spouse(s) Shin Seung-hwan (m. 2014)
Korean name
Hangul 이태란
Hanja 李泰蘭
Revised Romanization I Tae-nan
McCune–Reischauer I T'ae-nan

Lee Tae-ran (Hangul: ; Hanja: ; born 6 May 1975 or 25 March in Korean calendar) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as Yellow Handkerchief, My Rosy Life, Famous Princesses and Wang's Family.

Early life and education

Lee Tae-ran was born in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla on 6 May 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.[2][3] 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.[4]

Career

1997–2004

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.[5] Lee next entered the 1997 SBS Top Talent Competition after a friend’s suggestion and won the Grand Prize.[6] 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.[6]

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.[6][7]

2005–2012

In 2005, she appeared in the highly popular KBS series My Rosy Life,[8] 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.[9] The drama recorded high audience rating and garnered several award nominations and wins for its actors.[10] 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.[11]

Lee next starred in lead role of Jang In-ho in KBS’s My Precious You alongside Kim Sung-soo in 2008.[12] 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.[13] In 2012, Lee starred in JTBC’s drama A Wife’s Credentials, alongside Lee Sung-jae.

2013–present

In 2013, Lee returned to SBS in the drama Goddess of Marriage, after a three-year hiatus from major Korean TV networks.[14] 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.[15][16]

China

In conjunction with her success at home, Lee has become one of the most recognised Korean actresses in China.[17] 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.[18] 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”.[19] In 2010, Lee landed a lead role in the Chinese TV drama The Lure of Cloud.[20] In 2011, she appeared in the Chinese historical drama Di Jin with Korean actor Kangta.[21] In 2012, she had a lead role in another historical drama For the Sake of Beauty with Hong Kong actor Patrick Tam.[22] In 2013, Lee filmed a drama The Way We Were, produced by Huayi Brothers, a big-shot Chinese entertainment agency.[23]

Films

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.[24] 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.[25] The film made its world premiere at the 18th Busan International Film Festival in October 2013,[26] and hit Korean theatres on 10 April 2014.[27]

Personal life

On 17 February 2014, it was announced that Lee was going to marry businessman Shin Seung-hwan.[28][29] The couple wed in a private Christian ceremony at Villa de Bailey in Seoul on 1 March 2014.[30][31]

Philanthropy

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.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.[35]

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.[36][37] On 6 December 2013, she donated 2.76 tonnes of fan rice to the Mapo Happiness Sharing Food Market.[38]

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".[39] 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.[40]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes
1997 The Brothers' River SBS TV debut[41]
Over the Horizon Cho Soo-hee SBS
1998 Fascinate My Heart Eun Hee-soo SBS Won - SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award
Seven Brides SBS
1999 Love Now Jang Hye-ji SBS
Goodbye My Love Choi Hee-jung MBC
Days of Delight Goo Yoo-jung MBC Won - MBC Drama Awards: Best New Actress
2000 Soonpoong Clinic Oh Tae-ran SBS
More than Love Seo Hee-joo MBC
All Above Eve MBC Cameo
2001 Hong Guk Young Ms Seo MBC
Navy Park So-yeon MBC
How Should I Be Yoo Ri MBC
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 KBS2 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 KBS2 Cameo
2008 My Precious You Jang In-ho KBS2 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 A Wife's Credentials 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

Film

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
2014 Helios Choi Min-ho's wife Cameo
2014 Granny’s Got Talent Mi-hee
2015 The Second Twenty Min-ha

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Educating Rita Rita[42] Stage comedy

Other Work

Music

Year Song Notes
2005 Reunion My Rosy Life OST

Photo Album

Year Title Notes
2009 Butterfly · Lee Tae-ran Shot and published in China[43]

References

  1. "STAR PAGE Entertainment(주)스타페이지 엔터테인먼트" (in Korean). Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  2. 박지련 (2014-01-30). 이태란 “연예계 데뷔전 3년간 회사다녔다” (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  3. 저도 아침편지 가족입니다 탤런트 이태란 (in Korean). Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  4. 강승훈 (2008-02-28). 이태란, 15년만에 대학생.. 한양대로 확정 (in Korean). asiae.co.kr. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  5. 박지련 (2014-01-30). 이태란 “연예계 데뷔전 3년간 회사다녔다” (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Profile" (in Korean). Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  7. "2003 KBS Drama Awards - Winners List" (in Korean). KBS. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  8. "Final episode of "My Rosy Life" records viewership of 41.5%". KBS. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  9. 이태란ㆍ김혜선, 문영남 작가 차기작 출연 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  10. "Dramas Sweep the Top 10 Ratings List". KBS. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  11. "2006 KBS Drama Awards - Winners List" (in Korean). KBS. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  12. "Youthful drama targets weekend audience". Koreanmovie. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  13. "War drama Legend of the Patriots premieres this weekend". Koreanmovie. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  14. "이태란 SHE’S BaCK" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  15. "Wang's Family". KBS World. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  16. Cho Suyoun (2013-08-29). "Lee Tae ran, I'm coming back with a new series!". BNT News. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  17. 韩娱每周一星:李泰兰-温婉熟女化身英勇战士 (in Chinese). Sina. 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  18. 央视电视剧频道提前贺岁 《摩登家庭》开播 (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2002-01-23. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  19. 年度引进电视剧 《传说中的七公主》 (in Chinese). QQ. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  20. "Lee Tae-ran to Star in Chinese Drama". The Chosun Ilbo. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  21. 가수 강타, 중국 사극 '제금'서 황제 역 맡아 (in Korean). SBS. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  22. "For the Sake of Beauty". Lafeng Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  23. Park Jin-hai (2013-06-19). "Korean stars faring well in China". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  24. Lee Hyo-won (2007-10-02). "Actresses Gain Presence Onscreen". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  25. ""The Weight" director Jeon Kyu-hwan to Present New Human Drama Pic Next Year". asiae.co.kr. 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  26. "My Boy". BIFF. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  27. Sunghee Park (2014-03-18). "New film 'My Boy' Holds Press Conference". BNT News. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  28. 백지은 (2014-02-17). 이태란, 3월 동갑내기 벤처사업가와 결혼! 웨딩화보 공개 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  29. Park Si-soo (2014-02-17). "Lee Tae-ran to marry next month". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  30. 김슬기 (2014-03-01). 3월의 신부 이태란, `아름다운 드레스 자태` (in Korean). sportsseoul.com. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  31. "Lee Tae-ran Ties the Knot After Soaps Give Her Change of Heart". The Chosun Ilbo. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  32. Han Sang-hee (2008-05-04). "Celebrity Hiking Club to Visit Nepal". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  33. 才女李泰兰展示自画像 (in Chinese). 163. 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  34. Kang Dong Ho (March 2009). "Celebrating Hanyang's 70th Anniversary with Love". Weekly Hanyang. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  35. Stewart Ho (2012-12-10). "Nichkhun’s time in Tanzania to air on KOICA’s Dream". Yahoo! Singapore. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  36. 이창섭 (2010-11-22). "콩나물로도 이웃사랑 실천할 수 있어요!" ‘맛있는 나눔 ! 행복한 세상’"제4회 푸드뱅크 식품나눔 전국대회" 개최 (in Korean). Ministry of Health and Welfare. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  37. 황규준 (2013-11-15). 배우 이태란, 보건복지부장관 표창 수여 (in Korean). Star Daily News. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  38. 이나래 (2013-12-09). 이태란 쌀화환 2.7톤 기부, 한겨울 훈훈선행 (in Korean). newsen.com. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  39. 박설이 (2014-04-11). 새신부 이태란, 아프리카 봉사 근황 "마음 아파" (in Korean). tvreport.co.kr. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  40. 코끼리 발의 마을 (in Korean). SBS Hope TV. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  41. 윤여수 (2011-03-28). "[스타, 그때의 오늘] 회사원 출신…97년판 ‘슈스K’" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  42. 리타 길들이기 (in Korean). Play DB. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  43. 李泰兰写真集元旦发售 新年伊始北京办签售 (in Chinese). Sina. 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2014-05-16.

External links