KOREAN STARS

KIM NAM JOO

Profile
김남주/ Kim Nam Joo (Kim Nam Ju)
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 1971-May-10
Birthplace: South Korea
Height: 169cm
Weight: 47kg
Star sign: Taurus
Blood type: AB
Family: second wife of Kim Seung Woo , married in 2005
Talent Agency: Wellmade STARM

Kim Nam-joo (김남주) (born May 10, 1971) is a South Korean actress.

Career

Kim Nam-joo won 4th place in a talent search by broadcaster SBS in 1994, and quickly became a popular television star in her twenties. Her characters in the hit TV series Model (SBS, 1997), The Boss (MBC, 1999)
and Her House (MBC, 2001), made her the epitome of a sophisticated, urban career woman in the 1990s. But after Her House , Kim went into semi-retirement, only appearing in lucrative commercials, mostly for cosmetics and luxury goods.

She married actor Kim Seung-woo in 2005, and for several years she lived as a full-time housewife and mother. Then in 2007 Kim stretched some acting muscle opposite Sol Kyung-gu in Voice of a Murderer, about the tormenting and ultimately unsuccessful attempts of two parents to bring their kidnapped child back home.
Based on the true story of a kidnapped child found dead in 1991, the film faithfully follows the 44-day quest to find the missing victim. Kim made a successful television comeback in Queen of Housewives (also known as My Wife is a Superwoman) in 2009.
A comedy drama that depicts the life of housewives who devote their entire lives to their husbands' success ("naego" but with a more aggressive twist), it became one of the most-watched shows during its run, topping Korea's TV ratings charts for three consecutive weeks. It also created new trends among married women in terms of confidence, fashion and makeup. Kim's character Chun Ji- ae was once the most popular girl in high school, and marries the smart but clueless Ohn Dal-soo (Oh Ji-ho ), dreaming of the perfect marriage. But when she realizes that Ohn is an underperformer at work, she is determined to support her husband and help him climb the corporate ladder. Chun meets her match, however, when she discovers that Ohn's boss is the husband of her high school frenemy.

Her portrayal of a modern Korean housewife won Kim numerous accolades.
Kim reunited with Queen of Housewives writer Park Ji-eun in another workplace romantic dramedy, 2010's Queen of Reversals. This time Kim played a strong and decisive career woman trying to balance work and married life. Her character Hwang Tae-hee experiences the many ups, downs, and reversals of work, family, and romance as she falls in and out of love and marriage. Ratings-wise Queen of Reversals was less successful than its predecessor, though Kim was awarded the highest award (Daesang or "Grand Prize") at MBC's year-end drama awards ceremony.
She also released her book that year, called Kim Nam-joo’s House . The collection of essays and photographs is a candid discussion of her family life and home. Kim then led the 2012 weekend family drama My Husband Got a Family (also known as You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly ), which took a comedic and serious approach to the trials and tribulations of a TV director dealing with her in-laws when her husband reunites with his biological parents.
Kim and Park's third collaboration was a big hit with audiences, it was number one in its timeslot for 25 consecutive weeks throughout its run and reached a ratings peak of 45.8 percent. The popularity of TV dramas that portray the lives of working women in their 30s and 40s represents a larger trend in Korean culture, mainly a reflection of women marrying at a later age and working more in their 20s. Kim is now considered one of the few established Korean actresses in their 30s, 40s and even 50s who have held on to the spotlight, reversing an ageist trend that dictated casting for decades.

TV Series
My Husband Got a Family (KBS, 2012) - Cha Yoon-hee
Queen of Reversals (MBC, 2010) - Hwang Tae-hee
Queen of Housewives (MBC, 2009) - Chun Ji-ae
Her House (MBC, 2001) - Kim Young-wook
Crystal (SBS, 1999) - Kim Eun-hye
The Boss (MBC, 1999) - Min-jae
Victory (SBS, 1998) - Seo Hee-jung
A Very Special Trip (SBS, 1998) - Camellia Line receptionist Soo-jung
Fascinate My Heart (SBS, 1998) - Han Ye-rin
Model (SBS, 1997) - Song Kyung-rin
Man's Great Exploration (SBS, 1996) - Oh Jin-joo
City Men and Women (SBS, 1996) - Radio program writer Na Min-joo
Hymn of Love (SBS, 1995) - Kim Jae-kyung
Mystery of Inside the Mirror (SBS, 1995) - Eun-ha
Hero's Diary (SBS, 1994) - Ma Cheong-mi
Dinosaur Teacher (SBS, 1993)

MoviesVoice of Murderer (2007)
I Love You (2001)

Variety Show

Win Win (SBS, 2012) - guest MC
Oh My Lifestyle (O'live TV, 2009)
Entertainment Relay (KBS, 2000-2001)
Joyful Super Sunday TV - 공포체험 돌아보지마 (KBS, 1998)
SBS Gayo Daejeon (SBS, 1997)
TV Date (KBS, 1997)
Between Night and Music (KBS, 1996)
Popular Music Best 50 (MBC, 1996)

Documentary
Miracle of Christmas (MBC, 2010) - Narration

Book
Kim Nam-joo's House (2010)

Awards
2012 Korea Drama Awards: Grand Prize/"Daesang" (My Husband Got a
Family)
2010 MBC Drama Awards: Grand Prize/"Daesang" ( Queen of Reversals)
2010 CETV Awards: Grand Prize (Queen of Housewives )
2010 CETV Awards: Top Ten Asian Actors (Queen of Housewives )
2010 Baeksang Arts Awards : Best TV Actress ( Queen of Housewives )
2009 MBC Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award, Actress ( Queen of
Housewives )
2009 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism : Actress of the Year ( Queen
of Housewives )
2009 Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards: Best TV Actress ( Queen of
Housewives )
2009 Style Icon Awards: Style Icon, TV Star category ( Queen of
Housewives )
2001 Best Dressed Awards: Awardee
2001 MBC Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actress ( Her House)
1998 SBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award
1992 Miss Match Jeans