Kim Tae-ri
Kim Tae-ri is a South Korean actress. Known for her work in both television and film, she has received various accolades, including three Baeksang Arts Awards and a Blue Dragon Film Award, in addition to a nomination for a Grand Bell Award.
Kim gained widespread recognition for her breakthrough role as Sook-hee in Park Chan-wook's critically acclaimed film The Handmaiden, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her the Blue Dragon [Film Award for Best New Actress]. She subsequently appeared in the political thriller 1987: When [the Day Comes] and the drama film Little Forest, which earned her Best Actress nominations at the Baeksang Arts [Award for Best Actress – Film|Baeksang Arts Award] and the Blue Dragon Film Award.
On television, Kim received the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress for her performances in Twenty-Five Twenty-One and Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, and earned additional critical praise for Mr. Sunshine and Revenant. In 2019, Kim was featured by Forbes in their 30 Under 30 list in the Entertainment & Sports category, and in 2024, Gallup Korea ranked her as Korea's Television Actor of the Year.
Early life
Kim Tae-ri was born on April 24, 1990, in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang District, Seoul, South Korea. After graduating from Youngshin Nursing Business High School, Kim studied Journalism and Communication at Kyung Hee University from 2008 to 2012. Kim was inspired to become an actress in her second year of college after joining a college theater club.Career
Early work and breakthrough (2012–2017)
After graduating from college, Kim spent a year working as part of the technical crew for the Iru theatre troupe in Daehakro. She was later cast as the understudy for Kang Ae-shim in the 2012 production of Spoonface Steinberg, although she did not perform on stage. She went on to appear in the plays Pansy and Ask for Love, and was double-cast in the 2013 rerun of Spoonface Steinberg. That same year, she filmed Moon Young, a short film that premiered at the Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2015, with a theatrical version released in 2017. In 2014, Kim signed with J-Wide Company and began appearing in various television commercials. During this period, she continued acting in short films and auditioned extensively for feature film roles, but faced numerous rejections.In 2016, Kim made her feature film debut in Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden, having been selected from among 1,500 actresses who auditioned for the role. Her performance earned her multiple Best New Actress awards, including at the Blue Dragon Film Award, the Director's Cut Award, the Buil Film Award, and the Busan [Film Critics Awards]. Park Chan-wook later remarked that his first impression of Kim strongly reminded him of his initial meeting with actress Kang Hye-jung, who achieved her breakthrough in his 2003 film Oldboy.
The following year, Kim appeared in the ensemble political thriller 1987: When the Day Comes, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards.
Established actress (2018–present)
In 2018, Kim headlined the Korean film adaptation of the manga series Little Forest, co-starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Jin Ki-joo. Her performance won her the Director's Cut Award and garnered Best Actress nominations at the Blue Dragon Film Award, Baeksang Arts Award and Buil Film Award. The same year, she made her television debut in the period melodrama Mr. Sunshine, written by Kim Eun-sook,' earning her a third Baeksang Arts Award nomination for Best Actress. Mr. Sunshine became the sixth-highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. In 2019, Kim was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Entertainment & Sports category.In 2021, Kim starred alongside Song Joong-ki in Space Sweepers, marketed as South Korea’s first space blockbuster. Originally scheduled for a July 2020 theatrical release—which was cancelled due to COVID-19,—the film premiered on Netflix in February 2021. It debuted at No. 1 on Netflix in at least 16 countries and attracted more than 26 million household views within its first 28 days. In August 2021, Kim signed with Management MMM following the expiration of her contract with J-Wide.
Kim returned to television in the 2022 tvN coming-of-age drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One, co-starring Nam Joo-hyuk. The series was a commercial success and became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history. For her portrayal of Na Hee-do, Kim won Best Actress – Television and Most Popular Actress at 58th Baeksang Arts Awards. The same year, she appeared in Choi Dong-hoon's sci-fi crime film Alienoid. To prepare for her role as Lee Ahn, she trained in action choreography, martial arts, shooting, and gymnastics.
In 2023, Kim starred in [Revenant (TV series)|Revenant] alongside Oh Jung-se and Hong Kyung. She was praised for her dual portrayal of San-yeong and the malicious spirit within her. The following year, Kim received critical acclaim for her portrayal of titular character in tvN’s historical musical drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born alongside Shin Ye-eun. Her performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and vocal versatility, earning her a second Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress. Gallup Korea later ranked her as Korea's Television Actor of the Year. She also reprised her role as Lee Ahn in Alienoid: Return to the Future, which was released theatrically. Despite mixed reviews, it opened at first place on Korean box office with 103,467 admissions and a gross of US$746,073.
Kim made her voice acting debut in the 2025 South Korean animated science fiction romance film Lost in Starlight, which is the first South Korean feature-length animated film to be released on Netflix.'
Kim will appear as a regular cast member in a new variety show produced by tvN.