Impossibly tall and ridiculously gorgeous, Lee Da-hee is the 5’9” stunner who got her start in showbiz when she won an elite model contest at only 17. She eventually entered the small screen playing supporting roles in dramas like Secret Love and The Legend. She garnered enough bit roles until she broke out in 2013’s Secret Love with Ji Sung where she won a Best Supporting Trophy and a Best Couple Award which she shared with Bae Soo-bin. She quickly followed it with another acting trophy win for I Can Hear Your Voice. The tide then totally turned in her favor when she was cast as the lead for 2014’s Big Man, and she’s been working with A-listers ever since.
But it is in the variety show circuit where Lee truly reigns, having been a host and cast member for shows like Entertainment Weekly, Law of the Jungle, Queendom, Road to Kingdom, and Single’s Inferno.
From playing small and forgettable bit roles (as a palace guard in 2007’s The Legend) to leading one of the most anticipated fantasy k-dramas (Island), this stunner hard work and humble ethic is certainly paying off.
We take a look at the roles and dramas that made her not only a glamorous star to watch, but a serious actress to reckon with as well.
I Can Hear Your Voice (2013)
The model finally broke out when she appeared in the 2013 courtroom drama I Can Hear Your Voice with Lee Bo-young and Lee Jong-suk. She played Seo Do-yeon, a prosecutor who’s been Jang Hye-sung’s (Lee Bo-young's) rival since they were young. She also happens to to be a witness to a murder but refuses to testify, because her illustrious background won’t allow her to do so.
Big Man (2014)
Her first lead role came in the 2014 revenge drama Big Man. She played So Mi-ra, the object of both Kang Ji-hwan's and Choi Daniel’s affections. As the chauffeur’s daughter, she finds herself falling for Kang’s character as he tries to bring down the evil family who had ruined his life. Yey, makjang (over-the-top drama) craziness!
Mrs. Cop (2015)
Headed by Kim Hee-ae, Mrs Cop revolves around a hardened detective and her team who fight hard to keep the streets of Seoul safe. Lee plays Min Do-yeong, the maknae (youngest) of the violent crimes unit. Smart, hardworking, and humorous, Lee plays the role to the hilt and has an enjoyable chemistry with the rest of the squad.
Search: WWW (2019)
As part of three brilliant women trying to make it big in Korea’s ultra-competitive IT industry, Lee plays Scarlett, who quickly becomes everyone’s crime-fighting, drama-loving, ultra-gorgeous girl crush. She also enters her “noona” phase in this drama, becoming the object of Seol Ji-hwan’s (Lee Jae-wook's) puppy-like affections.
The Beauty Inside (2018)
In this identity-bending drama, Lee plays Kang Sa-ra, the competitive stepsister of Han Se-gye (Seo Hyun-jin), an A-list actress who suffers from a condition that changes her entire appearance every month. Icy and standoffish, Lee does the heavy lifting to play a rather strong character, and her relationship with a young priest (Ahn Jae-hyun) makes the already interesting drama even more interesting.
Love Is for Suckers (2022)
As Goo Yeo-reum, Lee plays a woman with conflicting feelings for her long-time male best friend (played by Choi Si-won). Having been brokenhearted and betrayed too many times, the gorgeous pair don't seem to have love in the cards. But alas, hope springs eternal, and Love Is for Suckers playfully challenges all the notions about being friends with the opposite sex, the pressures of marriage, and what true love could really mean for those who have given up on it.
*Lee Da-hee will appear in the fantasy thriller web drama S-Line.
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